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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name=Henry Eric Harden
|name=Henry Eric Harden
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|nickname=
|nickname=
|allegiance={{UK}}
|allegiance={{UK}}
|serviceyears=
|serviceyears=1942 - 1945
|rank=Lance-Corporal
|rank=[[Lance Corporal]]
|branch=[[File:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]]
|branch=[[File:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]]
|commands=
|commands=
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**[[Western Allied invasion of Germany]]
**[[Western Allied invasion of Germany]]
***[[Operation Blackcock]] {{KIA}}
***[[Operation Blackcock]] {{KIA}}
|awards= [[File:Victoria Cross (UK) ribbon.png|30px]] [[Victoria Cross]]
|awards= [[File:UK Victoria Cross ribbon bar.svg|30px]] [[Victoria Cross]]
|laterwork=
|laterwork=
}}
}}
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On 23 January 1945 during [[Operation Blackcock]], at Brachterbeek, the [[Netherlands]], three marines of the leading section of the Royal Marine Commando Troop to which Lance-Corporal Harden was attached fell, wounded. The Commando section had come under heavy machine-gun fire in the open field that morning, and the men were seriously wounded. One of the casualties was Lieutenant Corey. Under intense mortar and machine-gun fire Harden was wounded in his side as he carried one man back to the aid post, which had been set up in one of the houses along the Stationsweg in Brachterbeek. Against the orders of another Medical officer he then returned with a stretcher party for the other two wounded. Bringing in the second casualty the rescue party came under enemy fire which killed the wounded Commando. While finally bringing back the third man Lieutenant Corey, who had demanded he be recovered last, Harden was shot through the head and killed instantly. Henry Eric Harden was then 32 years old, married and father of a son and daughter. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his fearless action. On the bridge near the mill there is a plaque to commemorate Lance Corporal Harden.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue= 36972|date=6 March 1945|page=1297|supp=y}}</ref>
On 23 January 1945 during [[Operation Blackcock]], at Brachterbeek, the [[Netherlands]], three marines of the leading section of the Royal Marine Commando Troop to which Lance-Corporal Harden was attached fell, wounded. The Commando section had come under heavy machine-gun fire in the open field that morning, and the men were seriously wounded. One of the casualties was Lieutenant Corey. Under intense mortar and machine-gun fire Harden was wounded in his side as he carried one man back to the aid post, which had been set up in one of the houses along the Stationsweg in Brachterbeek. Against the orders of another Medical officer he then returned with a stretcher party for the other two wounded. Bringing in the second casualty the rescue party came under enemy fire which killed the wounded Commando. While finally bringing back the third man Lieutenant Corey, who had demanded he be recovered last, Harden was shot through the head and killed instantly. Henry Eric Harden was then 32 years old, married and father of a son and daughter. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his fearless action. On the bridge near the mill there is a plaque to commemorate Lance Corporal Harden.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue= 36972|date=6 March 1945|page=1297|supp=y}}</ref>


Lance-Corporal Harden's final resting place is in the [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]] cemetery at [[Nederweert]], Limburg, the Netherlands.<ref>[http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2961544 CWGC entry]</ref>
Lance-Corporal Harden's final resting place is in the [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]] cemetery at [[Nederweert]], Limburg, the Netherlands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2961544/|title=Casualty Details &#124; CWGC|website=cwgc.org}}</ref>

Known locally by his friends & family simply as Eric, his death was recently commemorated in his home town of Northfleet.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Reserved|first=Gravesham Borough Council-All Rights|title=75th anniversary of the death of Victoria Cross hero|url=https://news.gravesham.gov.uk/home/news/service-marks-75th-anniversary-of-the-death-of-gravesham-victoria-cross-hero|access-date=2021-07-09|website=Gravesham Borough Council|language=EN-GB}}</ref>


[[File:plaq harden uk.jpg|thumb|Plaque]]
[[File:plaq harden uk.jpg|thumb|Plaque]]
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==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

*[[British VCs of World War 2]] (John Laffin, 1997)
==Bibliography==
*[[Monuments to Courage]] (David Harvey, 1999)
*{{cite book|last=Ingleton|first=Roy|title=Kent VCs|publisher=[[Pen and Sword Books]]|year=2011|isbn=978-1848844094}}
*[[The Register of the Victoria Cross]] (This England, 1997)
*{{cite book|last=Snelling|first=Stephen|year=2012|title=Commando Medic: Doc Harden VC|publisher=History Press Limited|isbn=978-0752479439}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [https://sites.google.com/site/oorloginlimburg/home-1/liberation/liberationml/harden Henry Eric Harden] - article at "Oorlog in Limburg" with full details and numerous images of Harden and memorials
* [https://sites.google.com/site/oorloginlimburg/home-1/liberation/liberationml/harden Henry Eric Harden] - article at "Oorlog in Limburg" with full details and numerous images of Harden and memorials
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=rXk7AwAAQBAJ "Commando Medic"] - Google eBook by Stephen J Snelling with substantial preview
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=rXk7AwAAQBAJ "Commando Medic"] - Google eBook by Stephen J Snelling with substantial preview
* [https://victoriacrossonline.co.uk/henry-eric-harden-vc/ VC online biography]
<!-- * [http://www.barmy.co.uk/ramc/harden.htm Lance Corporal H.E. Harden]
<!-- * [http://www.barmy.co.uk/ramc/harden.htm Lance Corporal H.E. Harden]
* [http://www.operation-blackcock.com Operation Blackcock] -->
* [http://www.operation-blackcock.com Operation Blackcock] -->

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Harden, Henry Eric}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harden, Henry Eric}}
[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:1945 deaths]]
[[Category:1945 deaths]]
⚫
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:British World War II recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British World War II recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British military personnel killed in World War II]]
[[Category:British Army personnel killed in World War II]]
[[Category:Royal Army Medical Corps soldiers]]
[[Category:Royal Army Medical Corps soldiers]]
[[Category:People from Northfleet]]
[[Category:People from Northfleet]]
[[Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
⚫
[[Category:Military personnel from Kent]]

Latest revision as of 00:52, 16 November 2024

Henry Eric Harden

VC
Born23 February 1912
Northfleet, Kent
Died23 January 1945(1945-01-23) (aged 32)
Brachterbeek, Roer Triangle, Netherlands
Buried
Nederweert War Cemetery, Netherlands
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
Years of service1942 - 1945
RankLance Corporal
UnitRoyal Army Medical Corps
Battles / warsWorld War II
Awards Victoria Cross

Henry Eric Harden VC (23 February 1912 – 23 January 1945) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

[edit]

Harden was a 32-year-old, lance-corporal in the Royal Army Medical Corps attached No. 45 (Royal Marine) Commando during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On 23 January 1945 during Operation Blackcock, at Brachterbeek, the Netherlands, three marines of the leading section of the Royal Marine Commando Troop to which Lance-Corporal Harden was attached fell, wounded. The Commando section had come under heavy machine-gun fire in the open field that morning, and the men were seriously wounded. One of the casualties was Lieutenant Corey. Under intense mortar and machine-gun fire Harden was wounded in his side as he carried one man back to the aid post, which had been set up in one of the houses along the Stationsweg in Brachterbeek. Against the orders of another Medical officer he then returned with a stretcher party for the other two wounded. Bringing in the second casualty the rescue party came under enemy fire which killed the wounded Commando. While finally bringing back the third man Lieutenant Corey, who had demanded he be recovered last, Harden was shot through the head and killed instantly. Henry Eric Harden was then 32 years old, married and father of a son and daughter. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his fearless action. On the bridge near the mill there is a plaque to commemorate Lance Corporal Harden.[1]

Lance-Corporal Harden's final resting place is in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery at Nederweert, Limburg, the Netherlands.[2]

Known locally by his friends & family simply as Eric, his death was recently commemorated in his home town of Northfleet.[3]

Plaque

The medal

[edit]

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Army Medical Services Museum in Mytchett, Surrey.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "No. 36972". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 March 1945. p. 1297.
  2. ^ "Casualty Details | CWGC". cwgc.org.
  3. ^ Reserved, Gravesham Borough Council-All Rights. "75th anniversary of the death of Victoria Cross hero". Gravesham Borough Council. Retrieved 9 July 2021.

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
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