Pte 26113 Noel Trewavas Harvey

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 12th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Bernafay Wood Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: F.5

Noel Trewavas Harvey was born 1895 in Liverpool the only son of Roland Charles Harvey and his wife Christiana (nee Newcombe) who were married 09th December 1894 at All Saints Church, Princes Park, Liverpool. Roland was a 25 year old bank clerk of 5 Cairns Street, Toxteth, father Richard Trewavas, whilst Christina was aged 28 of 15 High Street, Wavertree, father Frederick. 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 57 Russell Road, Toxteth Park. His father, Roland C. is aged 31 and is employed as a bank clerk, his mother, Christiana, is aged 34. They have one son Noel T. aged 5 and all members of the family were born Liverpool. 

By the time of the 1911 Census they have moved to 35 Oxford Road, Waterloo. His father, Roland C., now aged 41 is still a bank clerk, and his wife Christiana is aged 44 with no occupation listed. They have been married for 16 years and have the one child., a son Noel T. aged 15who is a fruit brokers apprentice.

Prior to enlistment Noel was working at Royal Exchange Assurance.

He enlisted in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 26113. 

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915. 

Noel as part of the 17th Battalion was involved in the liberation of Montauban on 01st July 1916. The Pals next objective was to assist with the clearance of Trones Wood.

The murderous fighting that went on inside Trones Wood rendered it impossible to put specific dates on some of the casualties which is why many of the 17^th Battalion losses have been bracketed as killed in action between 10^th – 12th July 1916. The conditions are best described in the following passage from Everard Wyrall’s book The History of The King’s Regiment (Liverpool) Volume II. 

The remembrance of Trones Wood in July 1916 to those who passed through it is of a noisome, horrible place, of a tangled mass of trees and undergrowth which had been tossed and flung about in frightful confusion by the shells of both sides. Of the ghastly dead which lay about in all directions, and of DEATH, lurking in every hole and corner with greedy hands ready to snatch the lives of the unwary. The place was a Death trap, and although the attacks were made with great determination,   the presence of snipers who could not be detected and often fired into the backs of our men made the clearing of the wood impossible.

Noel was killed in action during the engagement at Trones Wood, he now rests at Bernafay Wood British Cemetery, where his headstone bears the following epitaph:

"HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY AND HIS HEART TO GOD" 

Montauban village was taken by the 30th and 18th Divisions on 1 July 1916 and it remained in Commonwealth hands until the end of March 1918. It was retaken on 25 August 1918 by the 7th Buffs and the 11th Royal Fusiliers of the 18th Division. The Bois De Bernafay is a pear-shaped wood close to the east end of Montauban village. It was taken on 3 and 4 July 1916 by the 9th (Scottish) Division. On 25 March 1918, in the retreat to the Ancre, the same Division was driven from the wood but recaptured it for a time. On 27 August 1918 it was finally regained by the 18th Division. The cemetery was begun by a dressing station in August 1916 and used as a front-line cemetery until the following April. It contained at the Armistice 284 burials but was then increased when graves were brought in from Bernafay Wood North Cemetery and from the battlefields immediately east of the wood. BERNAFAY WOOD NORTH CEMETERY was opposite the North edge of the wood, a little East of the Longueval - Maricourt road. It was begun by an Advanced Dressing Station, and used from July to October 1916. It contained the graves of 80 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 1 German prisoner. Bernafay Wood British Cemetery now contains 945 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 417 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 11 soldiers known or believed to be buried here. Other special memorials commemorate 12 soldiers buried in Bernafay Wood North Cemetery whose graves were destroyed by shell fire. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

Noel was initially reported as Missing in the Liverpool Echo on 07th August 1916:

A MISSING "PAL."

Official information has been received that Private Noel Harvey is posted as missing after the engagement of July 10-12 last. He joined the "Pals" in April 1915 and went to France with the first contingent in November. He was employed on the staff of the Royal Exchange Assurance Company. Any news of him would be gratefully received by his parents who reside at 4 Victoria Terrace, Wavertree.

The family also posted a request for information in the Liverpool Evening Express on 08th August 1916: 

Missing information regarding the following soldiers will be welcomed by their relatives at the address mentioned:- Private Noel Harvey, Liverpool Pals, of Victoria Terrace, Wavertree, Liverpool.   

The anxiety for the family went on until October 1916 when his death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 13th October 1916 - 

DEATHS - Killed in Action – HARVEY –
Private Noel Harvey (KLR) The beloved son and only child of Roland and Christina Harvey of Wavertree (late of Waterloo) 

July 10 previously reported missing now officially reported killed in action. He was in his 21st year and went to France with his regiment last November. He was formerly on the staff of the Royal Exchange Assurance Co.  

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his father Roland C.

An anniversary notice was also placed in the Liverpool Echo on 10th July 1918:

- Roll of Honour = IN MEMORIAM - HARVEY –

"In loving memory of our only son Noel Harvey (1st Pals)Killed in action Nr. Trones Wood July 10 1916 – Never forgotten by Mother and Father"

 Probate for Noel was granted to his father Roland Charles Harvey, a Bank Manager of 4 Victoria Terrace, Waterloo. Effects £39.19s.4d. (Wavertree).

Noel is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 59

Wavertree Congregational War Memorial.

His mother Chistiana of "Berafuay" Yew Tree Rd, Allerton, died aged 67, and was buried at Holy Trinity, Wavertree on 28th September 1933, his father died in 1938.

We currently have no further information on Noel Trewavas Harvey, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.