Frank Charles Harvey was a west countryman who served in the army for six years prior to the war before starting work at a Chelmsford rope manufacturers. As a reservist he was recalled to the army af the outbreak of the war. He served in France in the early part of the war and escaped from France to return to England. He was sent overseas in November 1941. He was killed in action in Libya the following May. His wife lived in Browning's Avenue, Chelmsford.

Frank was born in 1914 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, the son of William George Harvey.

Prior to the Second World War he served for six years with the 10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own). After leaving the army he worked for the Chelmsford rope and tent manufacturers Messrs H. & T.C. Godfrey.As a reservist Frank was recalled to the army at the outvreak of the war, serving as Serjeant 6009583 in the 10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own), Royal Armoured Corps, and was sent to France. He was in the thick of fighting there and was menitioned for his courage and devotion to duty. Reported missing from his unit for five days, he and others managed to fight their was to Brest, where they were evacuated.

On 23rd March 1940 Frank, then 26 years-old, married 18 year-old Florence May Gillett at St. Peter's Church in Chelmsford. At the time he was a soldier living at Bold Haven, Church Road, West Moors, Dorset. His bride lived at 58 Brownings Avenue in Chelmsford. A Chelmsford newspaper reported:

"At St. Peter's on Saturday, Miss Florence May Gillett, eldest daughter of the late Mr. William and Mrs. Gillett, of Brownings Avenue, was married to Mr. Frank Charles Harvey, third son Mrs. M. Harvey, of 11 New Street. The Rev. D. Ford officiated. Given away by her eldest brother, Mr. Wm. Gillett, the bride was in white satin, with orange blossom and veil, lent by her sister-in-law, and carried red carnations. Her ornament consisted of gold cross and chain. She was attended by the Misses Evelyn D. Gillett (her sister) and Cicely Bugbee (friend), dressed in white taffeta, with cerise sashes and buttons, silver Juliet caps, and silver shoes, and carrying posies of anemones. Their gold chains and crosses were gifts of the bridegroom Mr. F. Harvey was best man to his brother. The bride was presented with silver horseshoes by Ann Platz, her brother Ronald, and her sister-in-law, Mrs. G. Gillett. The bride's bouquet was afterwards placed on her father's grave. "

Frank Charles HARVEY, Serjeant, 10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own),

Royal Armoured Corps. Killed in Libya. Aged 28

Frank was killed in action on 29th May 1942 in Libya.

At the time his wife was living with her parents at 58 Browning's Avenue, Chelmsford while his widowed mother was at 11 New Street, Chelmsford.

Today he lies in Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma in Libya (grave 11. H. 1). The cemetery contains the graves of many servicemen who lost their lives in fierce fighting that started in May 1942 around the key position of Knightsbridge, a junction of tracks about 20 kilometres west of Tobruk

and 16 kilometres south of Acroma, commanding all the tracks by which supplies came up to the front.

Two of Frank's brothers, George and Fred served with the National Fire Service during the war.

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In November 1941 Frank's regiment went to the Middle East. His norther Arthur also served in the 10th Royal Hussars. In May 1942 Arthur sent an airgraph home and mentioned that Frank had been granted seven days' leave and that they had bathed together in the Mediterranean together,