MILITARY HISTORY

Bombardier Hugh Charles Harvey – B 85384 – ACTIVE SERVICE (World War II)

On May 17, 1941 Hugh Charles Harvey completed the Attestation Paper for the Canadian Active Service Force (CASF) at Toronto, Ontario. He was 24 years, 1 month and 17 days old when, as a single man, he enlisted for the duration of the War. Hugh Charles was born at Newmarket, Ontario and gave his birth-date as March 30, 1917. He lists his present address as 117 Farnham Avenue, Toronto. Hugh Charles indicated that he had previous Military experience in a Reserve Formation with the Queen’s York Rangers from July 15, 1940 to May 17, 1941; he had not served in an Active Formation or Unit of The Canadian Army. As far as his Trade or Calling is concerned, he lists Clerk. Hugh Charles was 6′ 1 1/4″ tall, weighed 163 pounds, had a 39″ Chest (expanded), he had blue eyes and light brown hair. Hugh Charles completed Grade 11 (Junior Matriculation) at an urban School in 1935.

Hugh Charles’s medical examination took place in Toronto on May 9, 1941. He had no medical issues or physical limitations and as such he was deemed fit (Category A), for Overseas duty with the CASF. His next-of-kin was listed as his mother, Mrs. Leila Euphemia of Lakefield, Ontario. Hugh Charles signed the Oath on May 17, 1941 in Toronto. The Certificate of Magistrate was signed by the Justice in Toronto on May 17, 1941 at the No 2 District Depot (DD), Active Force (AF), Toronto. On May 17, 1941 Hugh Charles Harvey was taken-on-strength from the Queen’s York Rangers to the No 2 District Depot (AF) with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, (RCASC) CASF “B” Wing as a Driver (Dvr) and was assigned Service Number B 85384. June 5, 1941 he was tested in the RCASC garage and was qualified as a Driver, Class III.

On June 27, 1941 Drv Harvey was struck-off-strength from the No 2 DD, (AF) on attachment to No 20 Basic Training Centre (BTC) at Brantford, Ontario. June 28, 1941 he was taken-on-strength to the No 20 BTC. On August 8, 1941, after about 5 weeks of training Drv Harvey was struck-off-strength from The No 20 BTC on transfer to the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA), Anti-aircraft (AA) Battery as a Gunner (Gnr) at Petawawa, Ontario. On August 28, 1941 he was taken-on-strength with the Canadian Army Training Center [CATC (A2)] for all purposes. September 11, 1941 Gnr Harvey was granted 7 days Embarkation Leave to September 17, 1941. September 20, 1941 he struck-off-strength from the CATC (A2) and all purposes and was taken-on-strength with the 4th Anti-tank Regiment (Anti-tk Regt), RCA. September 21st Gnr Harvey was posted to the 24th Battery (Batt), RCA, still on strength to the 4th Anti-tk Regt and was struck-off-strength to the Canadian Armoured Corps (CAC) on embarking at Halifax, Nova Scotia on September 28, 1941. On October 7, 1941 he was taken-on-strength to the Canadian Army Overseas and October 8, 1941 Gnr Harvey disembarked at Glasgow, Scotland. On October 27, 1941 he was granted 5 days Landing Leave with a Free Warrant.

January 6, 1942 Gnr Harvey was granted Privileged Leave to January 13, 1942. Then on May 1, 1942 Gnr Harvey was granted Privileged Leave to May 8, 1942. He then was granted Privileged Leave from July 17 to 24, 1942. Again, October 16, 1942 Gnr Harvey was granted Privileged Leave to October 24, 1942 with a Ration Allowance.

January 1, 1943 Gnr Harvey is granted a Pay Raise to $1.50. February 5, 1943 Gnr Harvey was granted 7 days Privileged Leave to February 11, 1943 with a Ration Allowance; still on strength to the 4th Anti-tk Regt in the United Kingdom (UK). May 14, 1943 Gnr Harvey is granted 7 days Privilege Leave to plus 48 hours to
May 22, 1943 with a Ration Allowance. May 17, 1943 he is awarded one Good Conduct Badge.

September 23, 1943 Gnr Harvey is struck-off-strength from the 4th Anti-tk Regt to increment the 1st Canadian Corps (CC), Meteorological Section (Met Sec) in the UK. September 24, 1943 he is taken-on-strength to the 1st CC, Met Sec. On September 27 Gnr Harvey was struck-off-strength from the 1st CC Met Sec to the 2nd Canadian Army Reinforcement Unit (CARU) on a 5 week Meteorological (Met) Course at the Met Training School in London, England. September 28 he was taken-on-strength to the 1st CC, Met Sec while on the Met Course.

On November 1, 1943 Gnr Harvey qualified as a Meteorology Observer (Met Obs), Group A. November 2, 1943 Gnr Harvey returned to the 2nd CARU from the Met Course. November 4, 1943 he was struck-off-strength to the Inc 1st Canadian Army (CA), Met Group. November 5, 1943 Gnr Harvey was taken-on-strength to the 1st CA Met Group from the 2nd CARU and was granted Trades Pay for Met Obs “A”. November 21, 1943 Gnr Harvey’s next-of-kin (mother), Leila Euphemia Harvey, address was changed to Lakefield, Ontario. November 23, 1943 he was granted 14 days Privilege Leave to December 8, 1943.

January 4, 1944 Gnr Harvey was struck-off-strength from the Inc 1st CA Met Group to the 22nd Canadian Met Section as a Met Obs “A” in the UK. January 5, 1944 he was taken-on-strength to the 22nd Canadian Met Section as a Met Obs “A”. January 15, 1944 Gnr Harvey was awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp. February 7, 1944 Gnr Harvey was appointed to the Rank of Acting Bombardier (A/Bdr). February 21, 1944 A/Bdr Harvey was attached to the Headquarters (HQ), 2nd Canadian Corps for all purposes. May 7, 1944 A/Bdr Garvey was promoted to the Rank of Bombardier (Bdr) Garvey.

July 4, 1944 Bdr Harvey embarked at the UK for France. July 6, 1944 he disembarked France. August 7, 1944 Bdr Harvey ceases to be attached to the HQ, 2nd Canadian Corps and is attached to the HQ, 3rd Canadian Infantry. August 15, 1944 he ceases to be attached to the HQ, RCA 3rd Canadian Infantry. August 16, 1944 he was struck-off-strength to the 14th Canadian Meteorological Section (Met Sec) as a Met Obs, Group A. August 17, 1944 Bdr Harvey was taken-on-strength to the 14th Canadian Meteorological Section (Cdn Met Sec) as a Met Obs “A”. October 6, 1944 Bdr Harvey reclassified from a Met Obs RCA “A” to a Meteorological Observer, Class “A”.

April 11, 1945 Bdr Harvey is granted 9 days Privilege Leave with Allowances to the UK and returned on April 20, 1945. June 22, 1945 he was attached to the HQ, 1st Canadian Army as a Met Obs RCA “A”. August 2, 1945 Bdr Harvey was struck-off-strength to the Y-3 List, No 1 Canadian Reception Depot (on Hospital Admittance) as a Met Obs “A”. August 3, 1945 Bdr Harvey was struck-off-strength to the UK on admission to the No 22 Canadian General Hospital (CGH) and taken-on-strength to the 14th Cdn Met Sec, as a Met Obs “A”. Also on August 3, 1945 he was taken-on-strength with Y-3 List on being admitted to the No 22 CGH while on BLA Leave. August 14, 1945 Bdr Harvey was struck-off-strength to No 2 CGRU while in Hospital and was taken-on-strength to the 1st Canadian Reception Depot (Met Obs “A”) in the UK. August 31, 1945 an Officer Commanding (O/C) under the Canadian Military HQ attaches Bdr Harvey to the Canadian General Reinforcement Unit (CGRU) in the UK. October 1, 1945 Bdr Harvey was taken-on-strength from No 2 CGRU while On-Command to Canadian Military HQ (CMHQ).

November 1, 1945 the O/C of CTB attached Bdr Harvey to No 1 CGRU and was attached On-Command from the Canadian Forces in the Netherlands (CFN). Also on November 1, 1945 he ceases to be On-Command to CMHQ. Bdr Harvey is struck-off-strength from No 2 CGRU to 855 Convalescent Detachment (CD), Military District 2, Toronto (No 3 Repatriation Depot) with effect from (wef) December 27, 1945. December 28, 1945 Bdr Harvey is taken-on-strength to the 855 CD from No 1 CGRU.

January 4, 1945 Bdr Harvey was struck-off-strength from the 855 CD to the Support Transfer Station at No3 Wing. January 5, 1946 he is taken-on-strength from the 855 CD to the No 3 Repatriation Depot. On January 22, 1946 Bdr Harvey was struck-off-strength from the No 3 Repatriation Depot to the 1st Canadian Repatriation Depot. January 23, 1946 he is taken-on-strength to the 1st Canadian Repatriation Depot.

Bdr Harvey is struck-off-strength from the 1st Canadian Repatriation Depot to Canada Overseas on January 28, 1946.

January 29, 1946 Bdr Harvey was taken-on-strength from the Canadian Army (Overseas) to the No 1 Canadian Repatriation Depot at No 3 District Depot at Kingston, Ontario. February 6, 1946 Bdr Harvey was granted 36 days Disembarkation Leave with Ration Allowance to March 13, 1946. August 29, 1945 the Medals that Bombardier Hugh Charles Harvey earned are the: Defense Medal; 1939 – 45 Star and France and Germany Star. On March 16, 1946 Bdr Harvey was detained at the Kingston Military Hospital for Isolation for a Lumbar Puncture. The Spinal Tap fluid was obtained and he was discharged on March 17, 1946 to his Unit.

On March 20, 1946 Bombardier Hugh Charles Harvey was Discharged from the Canadian Army due to demobilization and granted a Clothing Allowance of $100.00 and a Rehabilitation Grant at No 3 DD, Kingston, Ontario.

Bombardier Hugh Charles Harvey’s Military File indicates that he was eligible to receive the following Medals:

1939 – 45 Star;
France & Germany Star;
Defence Medal;
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp; and
War Medal 1939 – 45.
He also qualified for the War Service Badge, Class A; No 528624 which was dispatched from
No 3 DD on March 20, 1946.

According to Bombardier Harvey’s Military File he served a total of 4 years, 10 months, and 3 days with the Canadian Active Service Force; the Royal Canadian Artillery: 5 months and 28 days in Canada; 3 years, 2 months, and 24 days in the UK; 1 year and 20 days in Europe; and about 22 days travel time.

An excerpt from an article in Maclean’s by Barbara Ameil, September 1996:

”The Military is the single calling in the world with job specifications that include a commitment to die for your nation. What could be more honorable”.

PERSONAL HISTORY

HUGH CHARLES HARVEY

Hugh Charles Harvey was born in York County, Toronto, Ontario on March 30, 1917. He was the son of John Franklin Harvey and Leila Ross. He received his schooling in Toronto but left high school with his Junior Matriculation and obtained a position as a clerk with the Canadian Personal Trust Company in Toronto and worked there for six years as a bookkeeper until his enlistment. Hugh was a tall, clean cut, well groomed man who had a polite and courteous manner. He enjoyed reading, swimming, hunting and fishing. He played hockey, rugby and tennis.

Hugh Charles Harvey married Elizabeth “Betty” C. Munroe, born in 1916, and they resided in Toronto. After he returned home to Toronto, he returned to his bookkeeping position with the Canadian Personal Trust Company in Toronto. Upon his retirement Hugh and Betty moved to Lakefield, Ontario and made their home at 30 Parr Traill in Winfield Shores. Upon returning to Lakefield Hugh renewed his friendship with local resident, Joe Blewett. Betty passed away on August 26, 1993 and Hugh Charles Harvey died on May 27, 1997; both are buried in Hillside Cemetery in Lakefield.

THE HUGH CHARLES HARVEY FAMILY OF LAKEFIELD

Hugh Charles Harvey’s paternal great grandparents were Simon Harvey and Esther Blakely.

Hugh Charles Harvey’s maternal great grandparents were Charles and Euphemia Ross.

Hugh Charles Harvey’s paternal grandparents were William Blakely Harvey born in 1843 and Jean “Jennie” Watt, daughter of Catherine Black and John Watt of Fergus, Ontario born in 1843. They married in Fergus on July 19, 1871. William was a teacher and they were living in Toronto. In 1881, the family was living in Barrie, Ontario. They had a family of three children Catherine Elizabeth, Franklin and John Norman. William Blakely Harvey died January 15, 1913 and is buried in Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario.

Hugh Charles Harvey’s maternal grandparents were Charles George Ross born in 1860 and Mary Sophia Dudley, daughter of Walter and Anna Dudley, born in 1862. They married in Newmarket, York, Ontario on August 13, 1884 and had children Elsie Gretchen and Irvine Dudley Ross.

Hugh Charles Harvey’s parents were John Franklin Harvey born in Meaford, Ontario in July 1874 and Leila Euphemia Ross born Sherbrooke, Québec in March 1885. Leila and John were married in Newmarket, York, Ontario on July 8, 1908. John was a school teacher and they had two children John Ross born May 18, 1909 and Hugh Charles born on March 30, 1917. In 1911, John, Leila and John Ross were living at 139 Hunter Street East in Peterborough. In 1927 John Franklin became Principal of Lakefield District High School and the family moved to Lakefield residing on the east side of Regent Street. John Franklin Harvey was their esteemed Principal until 1944. John Harvey passed away on January 30, 1957 and his wife Leila died in 1976; both are buried in St. John’s Anglican Church Cemetery in Port Hope, Ontario.

Hugh Charles Harvey is remembered and honoured on a framed document that hangs in St. John the Baptist Anglican Church in Lakefield Ontario.