Coventry War Memorial Park Plaque - 3
Gunner Harvey Michael Gillingham Royal Artillery
Harvey Michael Gillingham was born on 9th September 1921 in the Federated Malay States (FMS), son of Harvey Edwin and Dorothy Nellie. He had one sister Gladys P born in in Coventry in 1919.
It appears Harvey senior may have worked in the FMS as on 17th November 1924 Gladys and her two children Harvey and Dorothy junior are shown as sailing aboard the Steamship, City of Baroda, part of the Ellerman and Bucknall line from Southampton bound for Singapore.
The family returned to the United Kingdom as in the1939 census Harvey and Dorothy senior are shown as living at 69 Mary Herbert Street, Coventry, Harvey working as a Chief Inspector at an Aero Engine Components company.
Harvey junior had enlisted into the Royal Artillery as a Gunner with service number 1141289 and appears to have already been mobilised and called up as is name is struck off the census.
Harvey Junior served during World War II and was posted to Burma as part of the 4th Field Regiment RA. He saw action at the Battle of Imphal that took place in the region around the city of Imphal, the capital of the state of Manipur in northeast India from March until July 1944. Japanese armies attempted to destroy the Allied forces at Imphal and invade India but were driven back into Burma with heavy losses.
Harvey was killed in action on 1st June 1944 aged just 22, possibly as part of the 5th Division, which from the end of May, concentrated on driving north from Sengmai up the main road through Kanglatongi,
Harvey is buried in Plot 3.D.2 in Imphal War Cemetery, India. His inscription reads ALL THAT HE HAD, ALL THAT HE HOPED FOR, HE GAVE. He also had a plaque placed at a tree in the Coventry War Memorial Park.
It is likely Harvey would have been awarded the 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 as a minimum.
His parents moved to Exeter, Devon, Dorothy passing away in 1971 aged 74 and Harvey senior nine years later in 1980 aged 89
It appears Harvey senior may have worked in the FMS as on 17th November 1924 Gladys and her two children Harvey and Dorothy junior are shown as sailing aboard the Steamship, City of Baroda, part of the Ellerman and Bucknall line from Southampton bound for Singapore.
The family returned to the United Kingdom as in the1939 census Harvey and Dorothy senior are shown as living at 69 Mary Herbert Street, Coventry, Harvey working as a Chief Inspector at an Aero Engine Components company.
Harvey junior had enlisted into the Royal Artillery as a Gunner with service number 1141289 and appears to have already been mobilised and called up as is name is struck off the census.
Harvey Junior served during World War II and was posted to Burma as part of the 4th Field Regiment RA. He saw action at the Battle of Imphal that took place in the region around the city of Imphal, the capital of the state of Manipur in northeast India from March until July 1944. Japanese armies attempted to destroy the Allied forces at Imphal and invade India but were driven back into Burma with heavy losses.
Harvey was killed in action on 1st June 1944 aged just 22, possibly as part of the 5th Division, which from the end of May, concentrated on driving north from Sengmai up the main road through Kanglatongi,
Harvey is buried in Plot 3.D.2 in Imphal War Cemetery, India. His inscription reads ALL THAT HE HAD, ALL THAT HE HOPED FOR, HE GAVE. He also had a plaque placed at a tree in the Coventry War Memorial Park.
It is likely Harvey would have been awarded the 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 as a minimum.
His parents moved to Exeter, Devon, Dorothy passing away in 1971 aged 74 and Harvey senior nine years later in 1980 aged 89
Harvey Michael Gillingham's old and replacement plaque Coventry War Memorial Park April 2021
Harvey Michael Gillingham's Grave, Imphal Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, India
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This page last updated 17 Jun 21