In August 2013 the Government launched a nationwide campaign to honour those who received the Victoria Cross during the First World War with commemorative paving stones near their places of birth. The stones were to be laid on the 100th anniversary of the act of valour which led to the award. The last of the five stones located in Southwark was unveiled on Monday 3 September 2018 and honoured Jack Harvey. Although Jack was born in Peckham, Southwark Council had to ‘cross the border’ to Camberwell to find a suitable location at the eastern entrance to Burgess Park on the Old Kent Road.
The Service of Commemoration was led by Father David Vyvyan from St Phillip’s, Camberwell, and The Mayor of Southwark, Cllr Catherine Rose. Members of Jack’s family were present including his grandson, Nick Harvey, who read the citation, his granddaughters, Jacky and Rae, and his great granddaughter, Lily Stephens, who read the poem ‘For the Fallen’ by Laurence Binyon. A lone bugler played the Past Post before the two minutes silence, and the wreath laying followed the Reveille.
