Capt Harry Calvert MC - R.H.A

I'm the club historian of Sefton Rugby club in Liverpool and I've just found this newspaper clip. He is in our playing records in the 1930's. http://home.btconnect.com/seftonrufc/s59.jpg
I can't find much about him apart from the basics b.1910 Liverpool etc but I'd like to write an article about him if possible.
What do we know about him please ?
Many thanks
Dave

NEW BLOWS IN ALLIES’ GREAT AIR OFFENSIVE
LIVERPOOL man’s MC. Captain Harry Calvert (24), R.H.A., of 2, Druids Cross-road, Calderstones, Liverpool, awarded the Military Cross, is an old boy of Merchant Taylors’ School, Crosby, and played rugby football for Waterloo and Sefton. He was a chartered accountant with Paul Dowd and Co., Liverpool. His father (Lieut. D. W. Calvert) is in ...

Published:Wednesday 23 June 1943
Newspaper: Liverpool Evening Express

 

Acting Maj Henry Stanton Calvert commanded 322 Battery of 132 Field Regiment Royal Artillery. His Battery supported 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers who were part of 11 Infantry Brigade. He was awarded his MC on 7 Dec 44 for service in Italy during actions by 11 Infantry Brigade against the Trasimeno Line.

Here is his citation.

Regards

Frank

 

Thanks Frank, my Harry Calvert was a bit earlier according to the newspaper clip dated a year earlier on 23rd June '43.
He may be Henry C. born 1910 in Liverpool.
Thanks
Dave

 

Hello David and welcome

service records are the way to go to give you a time line of his service

Get a copy of military service records

regards
Clive

 

Dave, if the newspaper article in 1943 gives his age as 24 surely he was born c1919 - how did you come by 1910?

 

Harry Secombe served in 132 FR RA.

Steve

 

I got side tracked by a Henry C. Calvert b.1910 Liverpool who must be the chap in our photo playing in 1934/5, the newspaper clip has a photo of him and they very much alike.
Would a 24 year old have the rank of Captain ?

Dave

 

Hi,

Lengthy wars always give an opportunity for rapid promotion...

For instance in 1940 George Jellicoe was commissioned 2nd Lt Coldstream Guards aged 21.....by 1943 - aged 24 - he was Lt Col in Special Boat Service so a 24 year old RA Captain (Battery Commander) was not unusual.

Steve

 

Can I ask why Henry C Calvert must be the chap in the photo which gives his initials as C H, I am not saying he isn't, but interested how you came to that conclusion? Photo of the two articles below for comparison, bear in mind there is less than 8 years between them.

 

I appreciate you are looking for the rugby player but as far as the newspaper article is concerned it may be worth researching 86035 William Henry Calvert.
Recommendation for Award for Calvert, William Henry Rank: Lieutenant Service... | The National Archives
Page 3086 | Issue 36083, 6 July 1943 | London Gazette | The Gazette

The Yorkshire Post, Saturday, March 11, 1939 - William Henry Calvert, late of Merchant Taylors' School.

 

Perhaps previous club historians inadvertently transposed his initials to C.H.Calvert, not too sure, I'll check the papers for team lists again. The newspaper photo makes him look a lot older than 24.
A gazette entry has a Harry Calvert (298725) 25th Nov 1943 York(North Riding) Comm.

Dave

 

There are only three Calverts listed in the National Archives who were awarded the MC. This is the third one



William Henry Calvert's London Gazette announcement was 8 Jul 43 whereas the Liverpool Evening Press article was 23 Jun 43.

Regards

Frank

 

I saw that and wondered if the press had advanced notice? Also I notice that the London Gazette entry for William Henry's MC has his location as 'Liverpool, 18". The newspaper article for Harry Calvert quotes his address as 2 Druids Cross Road, Liverpool (note his father Daniel W Calvert was there in 1939) this has a modern day postcode of L18 3EA. I wonder if postcodes derived from old postal districts?

 

Thanks All, I think William Henry is our man, Liverpool 18 has always been Woolton which includes Druids Cross.
He's obviously taken his middle name and known as Harry.
I've found a Canadian document on FamilySearch for his dad Daniel Wilkinson Calvert age 24, of Liverpool marries Emily Baines in 1914.
Just have to sort out a birth date for W.H now to see if it checks out with my rugby player photo of 1935.
thanks
Dave

 

Name: Daniel Wilkinson Calvert
Birth Date: 1 Nov 1889
Baptism Date: 28 Jan 1890
Baptism Place: Liverpool, St Peter, Lancashire , England
Father: William Cowper Calvert
Mother: Elizabeth Calvert

NAME: Daniel Wilkinson Calvert
SPOUSE: Emily Baines
MARRIAGE: 12 Aug 1914 - Vancouver

NAME: Daniel W Calvert
SPOUSE: Mary Corrin
MARRIAGE: Jan 1920 - Toxteth Park, Lancashire



1939 REGISTER
2 Druids Cross Road, Liverpool C.B., Lancashire
Name - DOB - Occupation - Marital status
Daniel W Calvert - 01 Nov 1888 - Building Contractor (Hw) - Married
Mary Calvert - 26 Dec 1904 - Unpaid Domestic Duties - Married
The record for this person is officially closed.
Eileen Flynn - 12 May 1919 - Paid Domestic Duties - Single

Name: Daniel Wilkinson Calvert
Residence Year: 1939-1940
Street address: 2 Druids Cross Road

Name: Harry Calvert
Residence Year: 1939-1940
Street address: DRUIDS CROSS ROAD

NAME: Daniel W Calvert
SPOUSE: Lilian K Malkin
MARRIAGE: Apr 1955 - Liverpool, Lancashire,

Name: Daniel Wilkinson Calvert
Death Date: 22 Feb 1965
Death Place: Liverpool, England



I strongly suspect that Harry Calvert was born abroad.

 

Well done harkness, there is a bmd record for Ontario in 1910 which enforces my thought he was 34 not the 24 in the newspaper.
That would put him about 25 for the team photo in 1935.

Calvert William Henry 1910 — 1910 Ontario Birth Index 1860-1920 Ontario, Canada

Dave

 

Trouble is, Dave, that pre-dates Daniel's marriage to Emily Baines in 1914. Complicated family!

 

As you say the family are keeping us interested.
There are no deaths on Freedmd for W.H.C with a birthdate 1919,20 to match his age 24
Two for birthdate 1909,10


Deaths Jun 1982
CALVERT WILLIAM HENRY 12FE1909 PRESTON /S R

Deaths Dec 1982
CALVERT WILLIAM HENRY 6AP1910 SURREY N


Dave

 

As with all things genealogical certificates are a must.

 

I've found him as a child on two ships manifests on Ancestry, the first he is with his birth mother Emily Calvert(nee Baines),
the second he is with Elizabeth Baines, but we know he was born 1915, Canada.

Name: William H Calvert
Gender: Male
Race/Nationality: English
Age: 11/12 months
Record Type: Manifests
Birth Date: abt 1915
Birth Country: Canada
Arrival Date: Apr 1916
Port of Arrival: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Name: Wm H Calvert
Arrival Age: 4
Birth Date: abt 1915
Port of Departure: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Arrival Date: 23 Aug 1919
Port of Arrival: Liverpool, England
Ship Name: Scandinavian
Shipping Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Official Number: 109441

Also a late medal in the Gazette

LONDON GAZETTE, 16TH SEPTEMBER 1969
The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to confer the award of the Territorial Efficiency Decoration upon the following officers:
ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY Capt. (Hon. Maj.) W. H. CALVERT, M.C.(86035), retired