LAVENTIE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.63244, Longitude: 2.77021
Image above © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Laventie is a village and commune in the Department of the Pas De Calais.
Historical Information
The Communal Cemetery was used for nine United Kingdom burials in 1914-16; and in April, 1918, the Germans buried in it five men of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division.
However, only one British grave now remains. Eight burials were transferred to Longuenese (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery and five are commemorated by Special Memorials in nearby Laventie Military Cemetery, La Gorgue.
Images in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
Major
George Malcolm Nixon Harman D. S. O.
2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade
28th November 1914, aged 42.
Son of Lt. Gen. Sir George B. Harman, K.C.B.; husband of May Harman.
His headstone bears the inscription "Killed At Laventie. In Loving Memory"
Major George Malcolm Nixon Harman, DSO, 2nd Battalion the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consorts Own). He was the son of Lieutenant General Sir George Byng Harman, KCB, and Helen Margaret Harman (daughter of John Tonge of Starborough Castle and Edenbridge, Kent) of 64 Courtfield Gardens, London. He married Mary Jones (eldest daughter of Sir E D Jones, of Addison Road, London, and Pentower, Fishguard) on 21 Oct 1913, at St Mary Abbot's Church, Kensington, London.
Educated at Marlborough College, Marlborough, Wiltshire (1886-90). Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Commissioned into the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consorts Own) as a 2nd Lieutenant on 7 Nov 1891. Promoted to Lieutenant on 11 Oct 1893, to Captain on 1 Jan 1898 and to Major on 26 Jun 1907. He joined the 4th Battalion on commissioning in Devonport, serving with the Battalion in Aldershot (1895-96) and Dublin (1897-1900). He was seconded to the King's African Rifles for service in Uganda Jan 1900-Nov 1904.
Captain Harman was mentioned in despatches and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette 12 September 1902) 'for services during the operations in the Lango District of Uganda.' This was the only award given for these operations and the clasp for Lango 1901 is one of the rarest in this African series, being awarded to just eight European recipients.
Harman was subsequently engaged on the Anglo-German Boundary Commission, west of Victoria Nyanza, from July 1902 to November 1904. Whilst so engaged he was presented 'without ceremony' with the Insignia, Warrant and Statutes of the D.S.O. which had been sent out by the Foreign Office. After East Africa he served in Malta and Alexandria with the 4th Battalion, and, having obtained his Majority in June 1907, he joined the 2nd Battalion in Calcutta.
When war was declared in August 1914 the battalion he was in Rawalpindi, and he was then ordered to France. Major Harman arrived in France on 6 November 1914, and was killed in action by a shell at Laventie on 27 November 1914.
George Malcolm Nixon Harman D. S. O.
2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade
28th November 1914, aged 42.
Son of Lt. Gen. Sir George B. Harman, K.C.B.; husband of May Harman.
His headstone bears the inscription "Killed At Laventie. In Loving Memory"
Major George Malcolm Nixon Harman, DSO, 2nd Battalion the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consorts Own). He was the son of Lieutenant General Sir George Byng Harman, KCB, and Helen Margaret Harman (daughter of John Tonge of Starborough Castle and Edenbridge, Kent) of 64 Courtfield Gardens, London. He married Mary Jones (eldest daughter of Sir E D Jones, of Addison Road, London, and Pentower, Fishguard) on 21 Oct 1913, at St Mary Abbot's Church, Kensington, London.
Educated at Marlborough College, Marlborough, Wiltshire (1886-90). Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Commissioned into the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consorts Own) as a 2nd Lieutenant on 7 Nov 1891. Promoted to Lieutenant on 11 Oct 1893, to Captain on 1 Jan 1898 and to Major on 26 Jun 1907. He joined the 4th Battalion on commissioning in Devonport, serving with the Battalion in Aldershot (1895-96) and Dublin (1897-1900). He was seconded to the King's African Rifles for service in Uganda Jan 1900-Nov 1904.
Captain Harman was mentioned in despatches and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette 12 September 1902) 'for services during the operations in the Lango District of Uganda.' This was the only award given for these operations and the clasp for Lango 1901 is one of the rarest in this African series, being awarded to just eight European recipients.
Harman was subsequently engaged on the Anglo-German Boundary Commission, west of Victoria Nyanza, from July 1902 to November 1904. Whilst so engaged he was presented 'without ceremony' with the Insignia, Warrant and Statutes of the D.S.O. which had been sent out by the Foreign Office. After East Africa he served in Malta and Alexandria with the 4th Battalion, and, having obtained his Majority in June 1907, he joined the 2nd Battalion in Calcutta.
When war was declared in August 1914 the battalion he was in Rawalpindi, and he was then ordered to France. Major Harman arrived in France on 6 November 1914, and was killed in action by a shell at Laventie on 27 November 1914.
