Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Thomas HARVEY and Mary Emelia Ernestina HARVEY nee LANGE, Booborowie, SA

Herman Edward Harvey was born in 1886, in Ninnes, South Australia. The son of Thomas Harvey and Mary Emelia Ernestina Harvey (nee Lange) and grew up at Booborowie. When he enlisted on June 15, 1915, Herman Edward Harvey was only 28 years old. His mother Mary was his nominated next of kin. He embarked overseas to the Middle East from Adelaide on the HMAT Kanowna 24 June 1915.

Herman was taken on strength at Gallipoli 2 October 1915. Within days he was treated on a hospital ship for diarrhoea, after 4 days he returned to duty in Heliopolis. The following month he was hospitalised with piles. Again he returned to duty in Egypt but returned to hospital in December for a short period. He returned to duty, training with his unit. 

In February 1916 he was hospitalised with mumps at No 4 Auxiliary Hospital and was discharged 6 March 1916. Later that month he was punished with 8 days of detention for disobeying an order. He was taken on strength with the 9th Light Horse 2 April 1916 and was mustered as a Driver 8 April. He proceeded to France in June 1916 and was taken on strength with 15 Field Artillery and fought on the Somme.

Once the war was over in November 1918, Herman Edward Harvey returned to a normal life, completed his AIF service in 1919. He found a home in South Australia, and worked as a butcher in Bute and attempted to have his life back on track. He experienced bad mental health all due to the war and was very nervous and claimed that the war had taken a toll on his head.

On 27 June 1924. Herman killed his wife, Selma Doris Harvey and their infant child, who was only six weeks old, in their Bute house. He attempted to kill himself as well after the murders but he did not die. He was arrested and sent to Wallaroo Hospital with injuries. Then followed months when he was on trial in the South Australian courts.

He was convicted of the murders on 27 September 1924 and  sentenced to the death penalty. According to the law, the execution was to occur within 28 days unless reprieve was granted. This particular case involving Harvey was richly covered in the media and petitions were sent. The mercy appeals were founded on his service in the war, on his alleged mental infirmity, and his illness.

At last, on 24 October 1924, the Executive Council commuted his death sentence and sentenced him to life imprisonment with hard labour, therefore, he was not executed. People are not aware of how long he was in prison and how he led his life after the prison.

The post-war life of Herman Edward Harvey was tragic in its end as it revealed how not all veterans could easily adapt to the regular life and how trauma and mental disorders might influence what people will do in the future. There is no evidence to where or how Herman passed, though it is presumed that he passed away whilst serving his respective time in prison.

References

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/H02786?image=1

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/H02786?image=1

https://www.awm.gov.au/unit/U51048

https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/atwar/gallipoli

https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/beersheba

https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/event/villers-bretonneux

https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/event/amiens

https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/sinai

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au

https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/defence-and-war-service-records

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/43245204