Private Allen Davenport Harvey was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, on 12 July 1894, son of Henry and Kate Harvey. His father was a bank manager. When Allen was a child, his family moved from the Maritimes to central Canada, first to Ottawa, Ontario, and later to Montréal, Quebec.

An architectural draftsman, Harvey enlisted in the 38th Battalion in Montréal on 12 April 1915. He had some military experience, having served in the Canadian Officer Training Corps while a student at McGill University and in the Toronto-based 2nd Regiment Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada.

After initial training in Canada, Harvey was shipped to England on SS Northland on 29 May 1915 with the 38th Battalion’s 1st Reinforcement Draft. Upon arrival in England, he was briefly attached to the 11th Battalion before being transferred to the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) in mid July 1915. Harvey joined the PPCLI in France the same month. In December 1915, he was transferred to the 3rd Battalion. He joined the battalion in the field in early January 1916.

Harvey was killed in action on 13 June 1916 when his battalion successfully attacked German positions during the Battle of Mount Sorrel. His body was not recovered.

Allen Davenport Harvey is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Belgium.

Source: The Canadian War Museum website: Tilston Medal Collection Recipient. Accessed 07 Apr 2021