Major Francis John William Harvey
Royal Marines Light Infantry

HMS Lion, Battle of Jutland

On 31st May 1915, at the Battle of Jutland, Major Harvey was in command of Q turret, containing two 13.5 inch guns, on board HMS Lion. Q turret had just fired its 12th round when a 12in shell from the 'Lutzow' penetrated at the junction of the roof plates and detonated in the gunhouse. The explosion killed or wounded the occupants, blew the front plate out, the front roof plate off, and started a fire in the wreckage. Although severely injured, Major Harvey got to the voice pipe and ordered the magazine doors below to be closed and magazine flooded. He then sent a wounded Sergeant to the bridge to inform the Captain that 'Q' turret was out of action and on fire. At the time of the shell hitting the turret, the guns had just been loaded for the next salvo; the detonation had also blown the breech lever of the left gun to the 'open' position. The shell and its cordite charge slid down and fell into the well and ignited in the fire. The resulting flash fire ignited all the cordite charges in the hoists and handling room, down to the magazine doors that fortunately, had been shut.
Only three men survived of the 60 or so serving in this part of the ship; the wounded Sergeant, a sick berth attendant and one of the chamber crew. Major Harvey's body was found badly burnt later that night by Capt F.R.Jones RMLI after the fires had been extinguished and the action broken off. He was buried at sea.
London Gazette _ 15th September 1916
The Victoria Cross was presented to his widow by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 29th November 1916. He also held a 1914-1915 Star and a Victory Medal was issued in his name.