Harry John Laurent

Forenames

Harry John AWMM

Surname

Laurent AWMM

Also known as

Henry Laurent AWMM

Service number

WWI 24/213 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Birth

15 Apr 1895 AWMM

Address before enlistment

WW1 Pre May 1915 AWMM Care of J. Campbell, Tokaora, New Zealand AWMM

Next of kin

WW1 J.M. Laurent (father), Lake Road, Hawera, New Zealand AWMM

Relationship status

Pre 09 Oct 1915 AWMM Single AWMM

War

• World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
• World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Campaign

• France AWMM
• 1914-1916 AWMM Egypt AWMM
• 1918 AWMM Le Quesnoy AWMM

Armed force / branch

Army AWMM

Service number

WWI 24/213 AWMM

Medals and Awards

• Victoria Cross (VC) AWMM
  London Gazette 15 November 1918, Supplement 31012, p.13472, Rec No 1604E "For most conspicuous bravery, skill, and enterprise when during an attack he was detailed to exploit an initial success and keep in touch with the enemy. With a party of twelve he located the enemy support line very strongly held, at once charged the position, followed by his men, and completely disorganised the enemy by his sudden onslaught. In the subsequent hand-to-hand fighting which ensued he showed great resourcefulness in controlling and encouraging his men, and thirty of the enemy having been killed the remainder surrendered, a total of one officer and 111 other ranks in all. The success of this daring venture, which caused his party four casualties only, was due to his gallantry and enterprise." AWMM
• Victory Medal AWMM
• British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM

Military training

Officer training in October 1918, commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in February 1919. AWMM

Enlistment

WW1 May 1915 AWMM
Age  20 AWMM
Engineer/Military AWMM

Embarkation details

WW1 09 Oct 1915-22 Nov 1915 AWMM
HMNZT 31 AWMM Vessel was Tahiti AWMM Rifleman AWMM A Company AWMM New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 2nd Battalion AWMM

Medical notes

Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWI AWMM
Slightly wounded in action in France in October 1916. AWMM

Last rank

Post WW2 1949 AWMM Lieutenant Colonel/Military AWMM
New Zealand Military Forces, Home Service Section, Hawera Area Defence Unit AWMM

Death

1987 AWMM
Age  92 AWMM

Date of death

09 Dec 1987

Public - Warrick - Researcher - 29 September 2026 - NZBDM - Death Record # 1987/50664, 09/Dec/1987

Memorial name

Victoria Cross commemorative paving stone, National Memorial Aboretum, Staffordshire, England

Public - Sarndra - Researcher - 29 November 2015 - Personal visit

Memorial name

• Dunedin, Victoria Cross winners' plaque, Queens Gardens, Dunedin, New Zealand AWMM
• Kaikoura Anglican Church, 29 Torquay St, Kaikoura AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Military Personnel File
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R23523708
  Further Reference
• National Army Museum, Waiouru
  http://www.armymuseum.co.nz/
  Further Reference
• National Archives of New Zealand, National Collection of War Art. Portrait.
  http://warart.archives.govt.nz/node/581
  Further Reference
• Ministry for Culture and Heritage, New Zealand History online. Dunedin RSA building, formerly site of the VC winners' plaque.
  https://nzhistory.govt.nz/memorial/dunedin-rsa-war-memorial
  Further Reference
• Birkenhead (Auckland) Returned Services Association website. Victoria Cross.
  http://www.birkenheadrsa.com/victoria-cross.html
  Further Reference
• Wikidata Entity
  http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5670078
  Further Reference
• London Gazette
  https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31012/supplement/13472
  Further Reference

References

• Auckland Weekly News
  Auckland Weekly News, 1918
• Anderson, G. (1999). Decorations for outstanding gallantry. Auckland, N.Z.: Author.
• The Register of the Victoria Cross. (1997). (3rd ed.). Cheltenham, England: This England.
• New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  Vol1: 407
• Harper, G., & Richardson, C. (2006). In the face of the enemy: The complete history of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand. Auckland, N.Z.: HarperCollins NZ.
  Harper, G. & Richardson, C. (2006). p.127
• The Register of the Victoria Cross. (1997). (3rd ed.). Cheltenham, England: This England.
  The Register of the Victoria Cross. (1997). (3rd ed.). p. 187
• Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications
  Vol. 4: Includes portrait
• McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers.
  p. 143
• The Le Quesnoy Campaign research was undertaken by the New Zealand Society of Genealogists as part of the development of New Zealand Liberation Museum - Te Arawhata (Le Quesnoy France). This research project was led by CJ Barbour (NZSG), BI Silvester, HH Farrant (NZMHS) with the support of NZSG volunteers (2022). The individuals included in this research dataset were identified as potentially having served in or around the wider Le Quesnoy campaign. Their presence at Le Quesnoy has not been individually verified in every case.
• Austin, W. (1924). The official history of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (The Earl of Liverpool's Own). Wellington, N.Z.: L T Watkins.
• HMNZT 31 - Tahiti Magazine. [1915]. [Troops on board H.M.N.Z.T. No. 31, Tahiti] [On board ship].