Berry Brow man Richard Harvey’s tribute to the heroes of ‘The Dukes’

Dec 21 2009 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Berry Brow man’s tribute to the heroes of ‘The Dukes’

Reporter JOANNE DOUGLAS looks at the tribute of three former ‘Dukes’ soldiers to the history of the regiment

A FORMER Army medic has helped to compile a book about the history of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.

Richard Harvey, of Berry Brow, is one of three former ‘Dukes’ to collate the history book of the regiment, formed in 1702.

But sadly, it won’t be on the bookshelves.

Just 2,000 copies are being printed and they will be given to servicemen.

Mr Harvey said he and editors Terry Butterworth and Scott Flaving were proud of the book.

The idea started as a gift to Czechoslovakian Jan Telensky who runs the Holidays 4 Heroes project and works with the Prince’s Trust.

But as the three men researched and compiled the book, it was something they wanted to develop for all servicemen.

Mr Harvey, 56, said: “Eight years ago I started compiling photographs and wanted to put some names to the faces in the pictures.

“I did some voluntary work for the Regiment, digitalising the photographs and then Terry got in touch and we started working on this book.

“He and Scott knew each other from our days in the Regiment and I knew them both too.

“It’s great to see it all together.”

Mr Harvey joined the Royal Army Medic Corps in 1969 and moved to the 3rd Battalion Yorkshire Volunteers as a medic before transferring to the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in 1971.

He served until 1978 and spent time in Germany, Northern Ireland and Cyprus, when the United Nations had troops based there.

But in 1978 he was diagnosed with cancer and was given just 18 months to live. After battling the cancer, he trained as a nurse, working at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, and moved into computing.

Almost four months ago he got involved in compiling photographs for the book, which is something he and authors Terry Butterworth, of Halifax, and Scott Flaving, of York, are rightly proud of.

Editor Terry Butterworth said: “We wanted to give Jan something as a keepsake for all his work with the troops.

“As we got more and more involved we wanted to make it into something which shows the history of the regiment.

“The help of Richard in compiling all the photographs has helped make this book something we are very proud of.”

The book includes the stories of many local servicemen, including Clifford Garlick of Scholes, Eric Mallinson of Honley and Peter Walker of Brighouse.

Richard said: “Peter’s story is an amazing one.

“He was a Prisoner of War and his story really resonates the feelings of being at war and what it was like serving.”