Harvey, David
Private
No. 241092, 1st/5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, the Duke of Albany’s)
Killed in action on Saturday 22 September 1917 (aged 25)
Buried:
Cement House Cemetery, Belgium (Grave XI. D. 22)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Newtownards and District War Memorial
Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919 for
Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards
Brother of Ex-Rifleman John Harvey (No. 17790)
BIOGRAPHY
David Harvey was born on 1 July 1892 in Upper Movilla Street, Newtownards and he was a son of William and Mary Harvey (nee Service, sometimes Servace) who were married on 8 May 1866 in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark’s).
The Harvey family lived at 9 Upper Movilla Street, Newtownards.
William Harvey worked as a pedlar and then as a wool weaver and he and Mary had thirteen children:
Margaret Ann (born 5 March 1867 in Russell Place, Newtownards; died 14 July 1889 aged 22)
Robert (born 5 April 1869 in Zion Place, Newtownards)
Eliza (born 3 September 1871 in Russell Place, Newtownards)
James (born 21 February 1874 in East Street, Newtownards)
William (born 2 June 1876)
John (born 25 October 1878 in Little Francis Street, Newtownards)
Edward (born 17 May 1881 in Little Francis Street, Newtownards)
Susanna (born 30 September 1883 in Movilla Street, Newtownards)
George (born 15 September 1885 in Movilla Street, Newtownards)
Hugh (born 18 July 1887 in Movilla Street, Newtownards)
Margaret Ann (born 7 August 1889 in Movilla Street, Newtownards)
David (born 1 July 1892 in Upper Movilla Street, Newtownards)
Mary (born 16 March 1894 in Upper Movilla Street, Newtownards)
Like his brother Jock, David Harvey worked as a house painter and decorator before the outbreak of the Great War and he and Maria McMorran were married on 6 February 1913.
David and Maria Harvey (nee McMorran) had two children:
David (born 15 August 1913 in Brownlow Street, Comber)
William (born 23 April 1915 in Brownlow Street, Comber)
Their mother, Maria, contracted tuberculosis and after William was born their aunt Mary (their father David’s sister) took the two boys to live with her in Newtownards. Their mother, Maria, died of tuberculosis on 17 September 1915 (aged 22).
Mary Harvey and Andrew McKnight were married on 30 September 1920 in Ballygrainey Presbyterian Church and they reared their nephews, David and William Harvey, along with their own children, John and Elizabeth (Beth).
After Maria died, David made a new will on 31 October 1915 in which he left all of his property and effects to his two sons, David and William. David had one daughter and died in 1989. William had four daughters and died in 2005.
David Harvey enlisted in Belfast and he served with the Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, the Duke of Albany’s).
Private David Harvey was 25 when he was killed on 22 September 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres. A shell burst near his trench and a fragment struck him on the head while he was asleep. Death was instantaneous.
Private David Harvey was buried in Cement House Cemetery, Belgium and he is commemorated on Newtownards and District War Memorial and in the PCI Roll of Honour for Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards.