| An interesting collection of five Carte de Visites depicting the growth to manhood of Harry Charles Harvey who served with the 2nd and 3rd battalions of the Royal Irish Rifles, and the Imperial Yeomanry during the Anglo-Boer War. Above: Harvey is pictured as a Cadet at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Harry Charles Harvey was born in St. Petersburg, Russia on 20 July, 1868 the son of Francis Edward Harvey and Maria Cookson. The family was well off and had been involved in the Russia trade for several generations. Harry's father Francis (b. 28 July, 1828) and his grandfather Thomas (b. 4 January, 1794) being born in St. Petersburg, Russia. Harry Charles Harvey attended Cliffton College, Cambridge until 1887 before attending the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Army List -1895 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, the Royal Irish Rifles - 21 September, 1889 Lieutenant - 22 March, 1893 London Gazette Lieutenant, Retired Pay - 10 August, 1898 Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles - 16 August, 1898 Captain - 24 January, 1900 Seconded to the Imperial Yeomanry - 17 April, 1900 Captain on the Establishment - 2 November, 1901 Instructor of Musketry - 3rd Batt., Royal Irish Rifles - 2 May, 1903 Resigns as Instructor of Musketry - 13 February, 1904 Honorary Major - 12 May, 1906 Resigns (4th Batt., Royal Irish Rifles) - 7 June, 1913 Temporary Major - 9 September, 1915 During the Anglo-Boer War Captain Harvey (3rd Batt. Royal Irish Rifles) was seconded to the Imperial Yeomanry as a lieutenant and attached to the 60th Squardon, Imperial Yeomanry which along with the 61st became unofficially known as the Irish Yeomanry. Detailed for service in Rhodesia the 60th and 61st departed from Southampton on board the Galeka stopping only at Tenerife before arriving in Beira, Portuguese, East Africa. The two squadrons spent a week aboard the Galeka before being allowed to disembark whereupon the proceeded to establish their camp at a place known as Twenty-three Mile Creek were they remained until 23 May, 1900 before moving on to Bamboo Creek. This place was less than ideal and in his book Rhodesia - And After, Sharrad H. Gilbert (65th Squadron, Imperial Yeomanry) mentions that "the 60th lost one of their officers, Lieut. Harvey, who was invalided home from the effects of the pestilential climate". Harvey's tour of duty in South Africa lasted only a few months before he was felled by disease though he would recover. On Thursday, 27 July, 1908 Harvey would marry Lilian Woolf, the youngest daughter of Henry Woolf of Holland Park, London. Harvey was re-appointed Temporary Major early in World War One but I have been unable up to now to any additional information reagrding his service during the Great War. Carte de Visite Hills & Saunders - Photographer York Town, England c. 1903 |
| Harry Charles Harvey Approx. 10 years old. Carte de Visite William Clarke - Photographer 27 Park Street, Bristol, Engalnd c. 1879 |
| Identified on verso "Harry Charles Harvey abt. 1870" Carte de Visite H. Steinburg - Photographer Was. Ost. 11 L. 26, St. Petersburg Russia. c. 1873 |
| Identified on verso "H. C. Harvey aged 16" Carte de Visite W. H. Midwinter - Photographer 49 Park Street, Bristol, Engalnd c. 1885 |
| Harry Charles Harvey Approx. 15 years old. Carte de Visite W. D. Downey - Photographer 57 & 61 Ebury Street, London, S.W., England c. 1884 |