1917 was a grim year for our soldiers in France. In that year Temora and district suffered its largest number of casualties of any year of WWI. The Harvey family of Combaning was one of the families to lose three sons.
The following is a letter from Cpl Bertie Cecil Harvey to his family in Combaning printed in the Temora Independent on 4th July, 1917. The letter is undated.
Bertie writes:
It is just 13 months since I came to France, and have been very lucky in not being either sick or wounded in that time. We have had a pretty hard time lately and have some heavy fighting these last few weeks, but I managed to come through all right.
There are only two or three of us in our company who came over from Egypt that have not been away sick or wounded. We have also had a terribly severe winter, but thank God that is pretty well over. Each part of winter was nothing but rain and mud and about Christmas time it started to snow. This was not bad until it began to thaw when it was almost unendurable. The winter then finished up with more wet weather. It is now fairly decent but left a lot of sickness and sore feet behind it I suppose you have had word that Ray (brother) is in England with a bad foot. The last letter I had from him said that he was doing well. I have not been able to get a trip to England yet as there is very little leave granted from the battalions but I think I stand a chance of going shortly.
There are numerous representatives from about Temora and surrounding districts who came here lately amoung them being the two young O’Donnells who joined our company. The youngest one has been suffering from trench feet. Also a chap named Pleasants came to our lot, but he is also away. A nephew of S Ridley of Wyalong, who was in our company was killed last Easter Monday. He was a very nice chap and I had been mates with him for some time….
In the Temora Independent dated 25.07.1917, the notice of Bertie’s death appears, headed.
Our roll of honour
Death of PTC BC Harvey
It will be remembered that a few weeks ago Pte B.C Harvey of Combaning Siding, was reported to have been wounded in France on May 24.
On Saturday last, the parents received the sad news from the military authorities that their son, previously reported wounded, had died from wounds on May 7. Noted, some mistake in dates supplied by the authorities). The message also conveys to the parents and relatives the deep regret and sympathy of their majesties the King & Queen and of the Commonwealth Government in the loss that the army had sustained by the death of such a brave soldier.
The deceased, who was 26 years of age, was born in the district and enlisted on 3rd August, 1915. He had been in France since March 14th, 1916 where his two soldier brothers have also been reported wounded. The deceased was a fine type of Australia’s manhood of whom so many have made the supreme sacrifice in defending the cherished liberties which we enjoy. He was very popular with all who knew him. We join with the many in offering our deepest sympathy to the parents and relatives and trust that their other two sons will be spared to return to them.
Bertie Cecil Harvey died of wounds during the 2nd Battle of Bullecourt in May, 1917. One witness stated:
“I carried him to the dressing station at Brigade H.Q to the right of Bullecourt in May, 1917. He had been badly hit in the stomach by a bomb. He died there and was buried close by!!
Bertie Cecil Harveys body was never recovered and he is memorialised on the wall of the Australian Memorial at Villers-Bretenneux.
His two brothers were also killed in France:
William Raymond Harvey
Killed in Action 4.7.1918
Buried Fracvillers Communal Cemetery, FR.
Reuben Edward Harvey
Killed in Action in France 1.9.1918
Buried in Herbecourt Communal Cemetery, FR.
Another brother; Robert George Harvey was badly wounded and returned home
Researched by Wilma McCubbin.
