Lieutenant Colonel Robert John Harvey Royal Signals
Robert John Harvey
The Man Robert John Harvey was born on Saturday 16th June 1917, in Bamborough, Doncaster, son of Robert and Hilda nee Duckworth.
Nothing is known about Robert’s early life, but in 1939 he enlisted into the Territorial Army and was called up at the start of World War II. He later attended either the 151st or 152nd Officer Conversion Training Unit and on 29th March 1941 was granted an Emergency Commission in the Royal Signals as 2nd Lieutenant with service number 180010, although his Commissioning Scroll was dated 29th May.
He was promoted to Acting Captain followed by a War Substantive appointment in the same rank, then Acting and Temporary Major. During the War he saw service following D-Day in North-West Europe and after the conflict awarded his 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Robert was awarded the Chevalier of the Order of Leopold II with Palm and Croix De Guerre 1940 with Palm by the Crown Prince of Belgium, this appearing in the London Gazette of 25th September 1947 and unrestricted permission to wear given. His citation read:
“Capt.R.J.Harvey was 2IC 2 Squadron, 8 Corps Signals during the operations which led to the liberation of BELGIUM. In this capacity he was responsible for the administration of all R.Signals personnel at Main HQ 8 corps and for the scattered detachments of the unit in forward areas.
His work, complex and tedious in nature took him many times within sight of the enemy positions and much of his duty was performed under intensive fire.
Throughout the operation his officer’s strong personality and fine leadership did much to maintain a superb standard of morale amongst his troops. Whilst there was work to be done or men to be encouraged he never once relaxed his efforts”
Robert was transferred to the unemployed list and on 7th February 1949 transferred from the Territorial Army into the Regular Army as a Captain with seniority backdated to 1st July 1946. In the London Gazette of 13th October 1950, he was awarded his Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ named as a Lieutenant and promoted to Major on 15th June 1953, seeing service in the Malayan Emergency and awarded his General Service Medal with ‘Malaya’ clasp.
Robert was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 6th February 1964 and on 17th June 1967 aged 50, retired from the Army having been placed onto the special list in February.
Nothing is known about Robert’s early life, but in 1939 he enlisted into the Territorial Army and was called up at the start of World War II. He later attended either the 151st or 152nd Officer Conversion Training Unit and on 29th March 1941 was granted an Emergency Commission in the Royal Signals as 2nd Lieutenant with service number 180010, although his Commissioning Scroll was dated 29th May.
He was promoted to Acting Captain followed by a War Substantive appointment in the same rank, then Acting and Temporary Major. During the War he saw service following D-Day in North-West Europe and after the conflict awarded his 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Robert was awarded the Chevalier of the Order of Leopold II with Palm and Croix De Guerre 1940 with Palm by the Crown Prince of Belgium, this appearing in the London Gazette of 25th September 1947 and unrestricted permission to wear given. His citation read:
“Capt.R.J.Harvey was 2IC 2 Squadron, 8 Corps Signals during the operations which led to the liberation of BELGIUM. In this capacity he was responsible for the administration of all R.Signals personnel at Main HQ 8 corps and for the scattered detachments of the unit in forward areas.
His work, complex and tedious in nature took him many times within sight of the enemy positions and much of his duty was performed under intensive fire.
Throughout the operation his officer’s strong personality and fine leadership did much to maintain a superb standard of morale amongst his troops. Whilst there was work to be done or men to be encouraged he never once relaxed his efforts”
Robert was transferred to the unemployed list and on 7th February 1949 transferred from the Territorial Army into the Regular Army as a Captain with seniority backdated to 1st July 1946. In the London Gazette of 13th October 1950, he was awarded his Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ named as a Lieutenant and promoted to Major on 15th June 1953, seeing service in the Malayan Emergency and awarded his General Service Medal with ‘Malaya’ clasp.
Robert was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 6th February 1964 and on 17th June 1967 aged 50, retired from the Army having been placed onto the special list in February.
1939-45 Star. France and Germany Star. Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. General Service Medal 'Malaya' Efficiency Medal 'Territorial' Order of Leopold II with Palm. Croix De Guerre 1940 with Palm.
The Story The unusual medal group awarded to Robert John Harvey was acquired from Lockdale’s Auctioneers on 16th September 2025 and of interest because of the unusual combination of an Efficiency Decoration, named General Service Medal and two confirmed Belgian awards.
With the lot came some paperwork, including his Commissioning Scroll, copy birth certificate, a photograph of him in uniform wearing the medal ribbons and the citation for the Belgian awards.
Despite information being available from the documents, it was not possible to reveal very much further from Ancestry, as the name Robert John Harvey is not uncommon. This is despite his date of birth being available and his mother’s surname being the more unusual Duckworth.
It is a pity that for such an unusual group to a career officer, his biography remains hidden – for now!
With the lot came some paperwork, including his Commissioning Scroll, copy birth certificate, a photograph of him in uniform wearing the medal ribbons and the citation for the Belgian awards.
Despite information being available from the documents, it was not possible to reveal very much further from Ancestry, as the name Robert John Harvey is not uncommon. This is despite his date of birth being available and his mother’s surname being the more unusual Duckworth.
It is a pity that for such an unusual group to a career officer, his biography remains hidden – for now!
Robert John Harvey's Commissioning Scroll
Belgian Citation for the Award of the Order of Leopold and Croix De Guerre.
British Citation for the Award of the Order of Leopold and Croix De Guerre.
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- France and Germany Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- General Service Medal: MAJOR. R.J.HARVEY. R.SIGS.
- Efficiency Medal: LT. R.J.HARVEY. R.SIGS.
- Chevalier of the Order of Leopold: UnNamed as awarded.
- Croix De Guerre: Unnamed as awarded.
This page last updated 13 Nov 25
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