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Harold Marcus Ervine-Andrews

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Harold Marcus Ervine-Andrews Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
County Cavan, Ireland
Death
20 Mar 1995 (aged 83)
St Goran, Cornwall Unitary Authority, Cornwall, England
Burial
Bodmin, Cornwall Unitary Authority, Cornwall, England Add to Map
Memorial ID
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World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Keadue, County Cavan, Ireland he received his education by the Jesuits at Stonyhurst College near the village of Hurst Green in Lancashire, England. He joined the British Army and was a captain with the East Lancashire Regiment and saw action during the British evacuation at Dunkirk, France in May/June 1940, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. After World War II he settled in Cornwall, England and died there at the age of 83. He was the last survivnig Irish Victoria Cross recipient. His citation reads: "For most conspicuous gallantry on active service on the night of the 31st May/1st June, 1940. Captain Ervine-Andrews took over about a thousand yards of the defences in front of Dunkirk, his line extending along the Canal de Bergues, and the enemy attacked at dawn. For over ten hours, notwithstanding intense artillery, mortar, and machine-gun fire, and in the face of vastly superior enemy forces, Captain Ervine-Andrews and his company held their position. The enemy, however, succeeded in crossing the canal on both flanks; and, owing .to superior enemy forces, a company of Captain Ervine-Andrews' own battalion, which was dispatched to protect his flanks, was unable to gain contact with him. There being danger of one of his platoons being driven in, he called for volunteers to fill the gap, and then, going forward, climbed on to the top of a straw-roofed barn, from which he engaged the enemy with rifle and light automatic fire, though, at the time, the enemy were sending mortar-bombs and armour-piercing bullets through the roof. Captain Ervine-Andrews personally accounted for seventeen of the enemy with his rifle, and for many more with a Bren gun. Later, when the house which he held had been shattered by enemy fire and set alight, and all his ammunition had been expended, he sent back his wounded in the remaining carrier. Captain Ervine-Andrews then collected the remaining eight men of his company from this forward position, and, when almost completely surrounded, led them back to the cover afforded by the company in the rear, swimming or wading up to the chin in water for over a mile; having brought all that remained of 'his company safely back, he once again took up position. Throughout this action, Captain Ervine-Andrews displayed courage, tenacity, and devotion to duty, worthy of the highest traditions of the British Army, and his magnificent example imbued his own troops with the dauntless fighting spirit which he himself displayed."
World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Keadue, County Cavan, Ireland he received his education by the Jesuits at Stonyhurst College near the village of Hurst Green in Lancashire, England. He joined the British Army and was a captain with the East Lancashire Regiment and saw action during the British evacuation at Dunkirk, France in May/June 1940, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. After World War II he settled in Cornwall, England and died there at the age of 83. He was the last survivnig Irish Victoria Cross recipient. His citation reads: "For most conspicuous gallantry on active service on the night of the 31st May/1st June, 1940. Captain Ervine-Andrews took over about a thousand yards of the defences in front of Dunkirk, his line extending along the Canal de Bergues, and the enemy attacked at dawn. For over ten hours, notwithstanding intense artillery, mortar, and machine-gun fire, and in the face of vastly superior enemy forces, Captain Ervine-Andrews and his company held their position. The enemy, however, succeeded in crossing the canal on both flanks; and, owing .to superior enemy forces, a company of Captain Ervine-Andrews' own battalion, which was dispatched to protect his flanks, was unable to gain contact with him. There being danger of one of his platoons being driven in, he called for volunteers to fill the gap, and then, going forward, climbed on to the top of a straw-roofed barn, from which he engaged the enemy with rifle and light automatic fire, though, at the time, the enemy were sending mortar-bombs and armour-piercing bullets through the roof. Captain Ervine-Andrews personally accounted for seventeen of the enemy with his rifle, and for many more with a Bren gun. Later, when the house which he held had been shattered by enemy fire and set alight, and all his ammunition had been expended, he sent back his wounded in the remaining carrier. Captain Ervine-Andrews then collected the remaining eight men of his company from this forward position, and, when almost completely surrounded, led them back to the cover afforded by the company in the rear, swimming or wading up to the chin in water for over a mile; having brought all that remained of 'his company safely back, he once again took up position. Throughout this action, Captain Ervine-Andrews displayed courage, tenacity, and devotion to duty, worthy of the highest traditions of the British Army, and his magnificent example imbued his own troops with the dauntless fighting spirit which he himself displayed."

Bio by: William Bjornstad


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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: Mar 23, 2006
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13710187/harold_marcus-ervine-andrews: accessed ), memorial page for Harold Marcus Ervine-Andrews (29 Jul 1911–20 Mar 1995), Find a Grave Memorial ID 13710187, citing Glynn Valley Crematorium, Bodmin, Cornwall Unitary Authority, Cornwall, England; Maintained by Find a Grave.