35-year-old Private John Harvey from Castle Bromwich died of epilepsy on 6th January 1917 whilst serving with the Reserve Battalion, Coldstream Guards.
John was the fifth child and eldest son of the eight children (three sons, five daughters) of parents Walter (a labourer) and Hannah (née Wilkinson), who had married at St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Aston in 1872. All of the children were born in Castle Bromwich, which was also their mother’s place of birth.
John Harvey was born on 16th February 1881, and baptised at Castle Bromwich on 3rd April 1881. By 1901, aged 20, he had become a carter on a farm. In 1911, still living at the family home in Castle Bromwich, he was working as a railway labourer.
His service record appears not to have survived, so we don’t know when he enlisted. He doesn’t appear to have been entitled to any medals, suggesting that he didn’t serve overseas.
He died in the UK and is buried at Castle Bromwich churchyard.
If you have any further information, please let us know.
Tracey
Heritage & Local Studies Librarian
tel.: 0121 704 6977
email: heritage@solihull.gov.uk
Solihull Life 
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