Background
John Harman was the son of millionaire Martin Coles Harman, owner of Lundy Island, and followed his father"s interest in natural history.
John Harman was the son of millionaire Martin Coles Harman, owner of Lundy Island, and followed his father"s interest in natural history.
Clifton College.
On 8/9 April 1944 at the Battle of Kohima, British India, Lance-Corporal Harman was commanding a section of a forward platoon where soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army had established a machine-gun post within 50 yards of his company and were becoming a menace. Since it was not possible to bring fire on to the enemy post the lance-corporal went forward by himself and threw a grenade into the position, destroying lieutenant He returned carrying the enemy machinegun as a trophy.
Early next morning, having ordered covering fire from his Bren gun team, he went out alone, with Lee–Enfield and fixed bayonet and charged a party of Japanese soldiers who were digging in.
He shot four and bayoneted one. A plaque is displayed on the house where he was born in Shrewsbury Road, Beckenham, located in the London Borough of Bromley.
There is also a memorial to him erected by his father in Venture capital Quarry, on the east side of Lundy Island.
Harman was 29 years old, and a lance-corporal in the 4th Battalion, Queen"s Own Royal West Kent Regiment, British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Queen"s Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum in Maidstone, Kent, England.
