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. See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

Details

He was a 32 year old, Lance-Corporal in the Royal Army Medical Corps attached 45 Royal Marine Commando during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. The Royal Army Medical Corps ( RAMC) is a specialist Corps in the British Army which provides Medical services to all British Army The Royal Marines ( RM) are the marine corps and amphibious Infantry of the United Kingdom and along with the Royal Navy World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

On 23 January 1945 during Operation Blackcock, at Brachterbeek, Holland, three marines of the leading section of the Royal Marine Commando Troop to which Lance-Corporal Harden was attached fell, wounded. Operation Blackcock was the code name for the clearing of the Roer Triangle formed by the towns of Roermond, Sittard and Heinsberg Holland is a region in the western part of the Netherlands. A maritime and economic power in the 17th century Holland today consists of the Dutch provinces of 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 he 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.

Lance-Corporal Harden's final resting place is in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery at Nederweert, Limburg, Holland. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission ( CWGC) is a joint governmental organisation responsible for marking and maintaining the graves of members of the Commonwealth Nederweert ( is a Municipality and a Town in southeastern Netherlands with 16

"Plaque to commemmorate the heroic action of Harden during Operation Blackcock"

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Army Medical Services Museum (Aldershot, England). The Army Medical Services Museum is located in the Defence Medical Services Training Centre Keogh Barracks on Mytchett Place Road Mytchett, Surrey, England

References

• British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

External links

• Lance Corporal H.E. Harden
• Operation Blackcock
• CWGC entry

This biographical article related to the British Army is a stub. 182 Victoria Crosses were awarded to 181 service personnel for gallant acts carried out during the Second World War. Monuments to Courage Victoria Cross Monuments and Headstones is a two-volume book by David Harvey, published in 1999 on the last resting places of 1322 of the 1350 The Register of the Victoria Cross is a Reference work that provides brief information on every VC ever awarded it provides a summary of the deed along A biography (from the Greek words bíos (βίος meaning "life" and gráphein (γράφειν meaning "to write" is an account The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.