Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Captain J. R. Harvey, Royal Navy, Navigating Officer of H.M.S. Kent at the battle of the Falkland Islands in 1914

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Midsn., R.N. H.M.S. Gibraltar); 1914-15 Star (Lt. Commr., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Commr., R.N.); Defence and War Medals, good very fine (7) £500-600

O.B.E. London Gazette 24 March 1919. Recommended by Vice-Admiral, Dover Patrol: ‘Lieutenant-Commander James R. Harvey, H.M.S. Daisy. Has rendered invaluable service in connection with the Folkestone-Grisnez Minefield. Since the 15th March 1819, about 5000 mines have been laid in 57 operations. Sounding have been taken and laying marks fixed for each of these operations by Lieut.-Cdr. Harvey, and the mines were finally laid under his direction. This work has been of an arduous nature and has been carried out in all weathers.’

James Robertson Harvey was born around 1886, and entered the Royal Navy in 1900. He served as Midshipman in H.M.S. Gibraltar, flag ship, Cape of Good Hope, in operations off the coast of South Africa in 1901-02 (Medal). He was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in April 1904, to Lieutenant in July 1906, and to Lieutenant-Commander in July 1914. He served during the Great War as navigating officer in the cruiser Kent from September 1914 until January 1917, taking part in the battle of the Falkland Islands on 8 December 1914, when Kent sank the German cruiser Nurnberg, and in the search for, and destruction of, the German cruiser Dresden at Mas a Fuera in March 1915.

Harvey subsequently served in the Hydrographic Department of the Admiralty, as Naval Assistant, and was later in command of H.M.S. Daisy, surveying vessel, equipped with minesweeping apparatus, March to November 1918. He was promoted to Commander in June 1920, and to Captain retired in December 1932, employed throughout this period in the Hydrographic Department, including command of the Lellet, Herald and Fitzroy surveying vessels. During the Second World War he was employed as Naval Assistant in the Hydrographic Department at the Admiralty until April 1944.