Peter Stewart

Planet Reigate is the indoor pool at Donnings and the water sports lake at Mercer's. And this is the Planet Reigate podcast.

Planet Reigate is the indoor pool at Donnings and the water sports lake at Mercer's. And this is the Planet Reigate podcast.

So the next story comes courtesy of Graham on social media, and I spotted this post a couple of weeks ago, and I was waiting for just the right time to bring it to you. Graham Norris wrote, Well, that's already piqued my interest. First of all, do you know where Redstone Cemetery is? Well, it's just off... It's just up there off Philanthropic Road, isn't it?

So the next story comes courtesy of Graham on social media, and I spotted this post a couple of weeks ago, and I was waiting for just the right time to bring it to you. Graham Norris wrote, Well, that's already piqued my interest. First of all, do you know where Redstone Cemetery is? Well, it's just off... It's just up there off Philanthropic Road, isn't it?

And I didn't realise that DOV volunteers did that kind of work. But anyway, he goes on. There was a grave there that didn't show up on our paperwork. This does happen sometimes and they're often Ministry of Defence graves and don't come under our care. This should hopefully be changing soon. So he said, I contacted our area coordinator to find out if she knew.

And I didn't realise that DOV volunteers did that kind of work. But anyway, he goes on. There was a grave there that didn't show up on our paperwork. This does happen sometimes and they're often Ministry of Defence graves and don't come under our care. This should hopefully be changing soon. So he said, I contacted our area coordinator to find out if she knew.

And she told me it wasn't an MOD grave either and that it's probably a private grave. So we're in the process now of trying to get it brought under our care, which is a really good thing to do, isn't it? He was quite a man, as brave as they come. Four years on the frontline trenches involved in every major battle. He says, read his story.

And she told me it wasn't an MOD grave either and that it's probably a private grave. So we're in the process now of trying to get it brought under our care, which is a really good thing to do, isn't it? He was quite a man, as brave as they come. Four years on the frontline trenches involved in every major battle. He says, read his story.

He's a proper hero, and he's been laid to rest in the very heart of Red Hill. So, you know what? I clicked through to the link, and I read a little bit more, and I thought, as it's the anniversary of both his birth and his death, you would like to know a little bit more about Jack Harvey.

He's a proper hero, and he's been laid to rest in the very heart of Red Hill. So, you know what? I clicked through to the link, and I read a little bit more, and I thought, as it's the anniversary of both his birth and his death, you would like to know a little bit more about Jack Harvey.

Jack Harvey was born on the 24th of August 1891 in Peckham in London and he died on the 15th of August 1940 right here in Red Hill. In November 1914, he enlisted as a private in the London Regiment in Camberwell. He served on the Western Front and saw action at most of the major battles at Ypres, Vasson and Passchendaele.

Jack Harvey was born on the 24th of August 1891 in Peckham in London and he died on the 15th of August 1940 right here in Red Hill. In November 1914, he enlisted as a private in the London Regiment in Camberwell. He served on the Western Front and saw action at most of the major battles at Ypres, Vasson and Passchendaele.

It was in the latter stages of the war that Jack would perform the action which would lead to the award of the Victoria Cross. On 2nd September 1918, north of Perron in France, when the advance of his company was held up by machine gun fire, Private Harvey dashed forward a distance of 50 yards alone through the English barrage and in the face of heavy enemy fire.

It was in the latter stages of the war that Jack would perform the action which would lead to the award of the Victoria Cross. On 2nd September 1918, north of Perron in France, when the advance of his company was held up by machine gun fire, Private Harvey dashed forward a distance of 50 yards alone through the English barrage and in the face of heavy enemy fire.

He rushed a machine gun post, shooting two of the team and bayoneting another. He then destroyed the gun and continued his way along the enemy trench. He single-handedly rushed an enemy dugout which contained 37 Germans and compelled them to surrender. These acts of gallantry saved the company heavy casualties and materially assisted in the success of the operation.

He rushed a machine gun post, shooting two of the team and bayoneting another. He then destroyed the gun and continued his way along the enemy trench. He single-handedly rushed an enemy dugout which contained 37 Germans and compelled them to surrender. These acts of gallantry saved the company heavy casualties and materially assisted in the success of the operation.

He was gazetted for the VC, the Victoria Cross, on 12 November 1918, and attended his investiture at Buckingham Palace on 8 March 1919, where he was presented with his VC by King George V. Also at his investiture was another Camberwell native, George Cartwright VC. Jack was promoted to corporal following his VC action and was demobbed in 1919.

He was gazetted for the VC, the Victoria Cross, on 12 November 1918, and attended his investiture at Buckingham Palace on 8 March 1919, where he was presented with his VC by King George V. Also at his investiture was another Camberwell native, George Cartwright VC. Jack was promoted to corporal following his VC action and was demobbed in 1919.

He returned to civilian life and died at the tragically young age of just 48 on 15 August 1940 in Redhill. He was buried in Red Hill Cemetery with full military honours. His medals, including VC, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal 1914-1919, were bought privately in 2001 by Michael Ashcroft and are displayed in the Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum in London.

He returned to civilian life and died at the tragically young age of just 48 on 15 August 1940 in Redhill. He was buried in Red Hill Cemetery with full military honours. His medals, including VC, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal 1914-1919, were bought privately in 2001 by Michael Ashcroft and are displayed in the Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum in London.