Capt Harry Calvert MC - R.H.A

I think we are just about there now:-

The passenger record puts him dob 1915, probably April/May so that makes him about age 20 on the 1935 photo, fits.
I've found a death record in Scotland with spouse

NAME: William Henry Calvert
BIRTH DATE: 30/04/1915
DEATH DATE: 31/03/1993
CEMETERY: Christ Church Kincardine O'Neil Cemetery
BURIAL OR CREMATION PLACE: Kincardine O'Neil Aberdeenshire Scotland
HAS BIO?: N
SPOUSE: Margaret Yvonne Calvert

and marriage record on Freebmd
Marriages Dec 1946
Brown Margaret Y Calvert Conway

The newspaper age of 24 is probably a misprint of 29.

Thanks for all your help chaps
Dave

 

Newspapers confirm it.


CALVERT Major Harry Calvert MC. FCA. of Dess, passed away peacefully, at home, on March 31, 1993, beloved husband of Peggy and dear - Friday 02 April 1993 - Aberdeen Press and Journal" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(14, 122, 132);">CALVERT


... CALVERT Major Harry Calvert MC. FCA. of Dess, passed away peacefully, at home, on March 31, 1993, beloved husband of Peggy and dear father of Michael. Funeral private at his own request. At Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Thursday, April 1, 1993. Nan, aged ...

Published: Friday 02 April 1993
Newspaper: Aberdeen Press and Journal
County: Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Type: Article | Words: 216 | Page: 18 | Tags: none

Calvert won the Military Cross for his - Saturday 03 April 1993 - Aberdeen Press and Journal" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(14, 122, 132);">War hero who won Military Cross dies A WORLD War II hero has d-ied on his Deeside estate at the
... won Military Cross dies A WORLD War II hero has d-ied on his Deeside estate at the age of 77. Former Desert Rat Major Harry Calvert won the Military Cross for his bravery under fire in the Western Desert. The Liverpool-born accountant joined up as an officer ...

Published: Saturday 03 April 1993
Newspaper: Aberdeen Press and Journal
County: Aberdeenshire, Scotland

 

The only RA officer with the surname "Calvert" who received the MC in WWII was T/Maj Henry Stanton Calvert (P124314). It was for Italy (London Gazette 7 Dec 44) (the same man as in Minden1759's post.

 

London Gazette 8th July 1943
The Military Cross.
Captain (temporary Major) Leonard George Lewzey (72383), Royal Regiment of Artillery (London, W.5).
Lieutenant (temporary Captain) William Henry Calvert (86035), Royal Regiment of Artillery (Liverpool, 18).
Lieutenant (temporary Captain) David Bruce Collenette (124922), Royal Regiment of Artillery (Broadway, Worcs.).

 

Major Harry Calvert MC TD

I have recently donated his medals and papers to the Artillery Museum in Larkhill, and prepared a short resume for them which I will include here for completeness.

My father was indeed born in Vancouver in 1915. My grandfather Daniel had shipped out to Canada from Liverpool in 1911 to find adventure, found a wife, then found himself at Vimy Ridge [2nd CMR] having joined up with the Canadians. Harry returned [aged 4] to Liverpool in 1919, Daniel was discharged and the family re-united .

He played rugby - scrum half - and joined the TA in Shaw St, Liverpool.

He was commissioned into the 106th Lancs Yeomanry in 1939. They trained in Derbyshire then send out to Palestine , part of 2nd Cav.

The 106th mechanised with Western Desert Force in 1940, Bofors A/T. [I think they were at Beda Fromm but havent found the Diaries yet]

He was then attached to 6th Division as I.O. and fought in the Syrian campaign against Free French. Then 6th Div became 70th Div and they were sent into Tobruk to relieve Australians in October 1941. Capt Calvert was I.O. to HQRA Tobruk, mostly on counter-battery, until the Nov 1941 'breakout' when he was injured.

Dec 1941 He was posted to 31st Field RA as 'reinforcement' {31st had just been over-run] part of 4th Indian Div. [25-pdrs]

1942 seems 31st were sent to Cyprus which must have been pleasant.

1943 returns to the Tunisian Campaign, Mareth, Gabes, [M.C. for F.O.O under fire.] Enfidaville. He was F.O.O on a Bren Carrier with 2nd Sussex when Von Arnims' H.Q. surrendered to them.

1944 Italian campaign, Monte Cassino 2nd and 3rd battles. Promoted to Major. Then the battles north to the Sangro river.

late 44, sent to Thessalonika to deal with Greek Communists. Seizing printing presses and the like - must have been a change of pace.

After the war he had a very busy time with a business then from 1970, fished for salmon.

 

Typo - Syrian campaign was against Vichy French, not Free French...

 

There were three RA Officers with the surname Calvert were awarded the MC.


CALVERT, Lt (T/Captain). William Henry 86035 RA
(L.G. 08.07.1943)
116 Field Battery, 31 Field Regiment RA
Middle East
“Captain Calvert was in charge of a FOO party in support of 7 Infantry Brigade during the night attack on 5/6 April 1943. He advanced with the party on foot with the leading company of the Battalion he was supporting over very difficult and mountainous country. During the advance the company was subjected to heavy shell, mortar and machine gun fire. The Company Commander was killed and the company became disorganised and lost direction. Captain Calvert assisted to reorganise the company under fire and personally restored it to its correct line of advance and directed it to its objective. From this point Captain Calvert advanced and established one OP, from which he had an excellent view of the rear of the enemy’s position. On arrival he found that his W/T set had been damaged and that he could not make touch with his guns. He therefore took a telephone line to an OP in the rear, which was in touch with his regiment. By this time the ridge on which the OP was located had been evacuated by our infantry, whose leading troops were now about 800 yards in rear. Captain Calvert never the less remained in his exposed position and observed the fire of his regiment throughout the morning until the ridge was reoccupied by our troops. Throughout the operation Captain Calvert showed great courage and initiative.”

4th Indian Division Orbat https://www.britishmilitaryhistory....9/4-Indian-Infantry-Division-1943-Tunisia.pdf

Map

 

My father-in-law was in Tobruk at the CBO at that time. Do you have any War Diaries for the months of October November or December?

 

Very interesting career. Was there much material relating to the siege of Tobruk?

31 Field has a rather nice history, which I presume you are aware of?

They were roughly handled by Axis forces on 13 Dec 41.

First Taste of Gazala – 10-13 Dec 41

All the best

Andreas

 

Seems War diaries from Tobruk are hard to find. The enclosed may help. {These WD are in Kew]

 

I've been working my way through WD's over the past few years. Specifc interest here is to find any mentions of the location of HQ RA in Tobruk during the siege in 1941 and the 'Pink House'.

 

If you come across anything please let me know. The file for HQRA 70th Div is at Kew but WDs are missing. Enclosed a list of all the Tobruk positions for Oct 41. [There is also a full list of all enemy positions!] So if you have a map, or know of one for download, again Im most interested. There will almost certainly be a map in Kew. NB the Polish artillery prominent.

 

Tobruk WD. There is probably a Tobruk thread on here somewhere. meanwhile:

 

HQRA tobruk. Red star being position?

Tobruch / reproduced by 512 (A, Fd. Svy) Coy. R. E. (from an Italian map dated 1936)

Creator

Great Britain. Army. Royal Engineers. Field Survey Company, 512th

Call Number

MAP G8261.S7 1941

Created/Published

London : War Office, 1941

Extent

1 map ; 73 x 75 cm, on sheet 93 x 88 cm





Tobruch

 

Nice find. Didn't know they had the maps on Trove.

All the best

Andreas

 

Curse of the double post.