Charles Jarvis (VC)

{{Short description|Scottish Victoria Cross recipient (1881–1948)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}

{{Infobox military person

|name=Charles Alfred Jarvis

|honorific_suffix=

|birth_date={{birth date|df=y|1881|3|29}}

|death_date={{death date and age|df=y|1948|11|19|1881|3|29}}

|birth_place= Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire

|death_place= Dundee, Scotland

|placeofburial=Cupar Cemetery, Fife

|image=LANCE-CORPL. CHARLES ALFRED JARVIS (c. 1914).png

|image_size=175

|caption=

|nickname=

|allegiance={{flag|United Kingdom}}

|serviceyears= 1899–1907, 1914–1917

|rank=Corporal

|branch={{army|United Kingdom}}

|commands=

|unit=

{{plainlist|

• Royal Engineers

}}

|battles=World War I

|awards=Victoria Cross

|laterwork=

}}

Charles Alfred Jarvis VC (29 March 1881{{snd}}19 November 1948) was a Scottish 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.

Jarvis was born in the Admiralty Buildings, Saltoun Place, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, on 29 March 1881. His father was a coastguard and also called Charles Alfred Jarvis.{{cite web |url=http://archive.angus.gov.uk/historyaa/features/people/charlesjarvis.htm |title=People of Angus: Charles Alfred Jarvis: Scottish V.C. of World War I |publisher=Angus Council |access-date=1 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101041232/http://archive.angus.gov.uk/historyaa/features/people/charlesjarvis.htm |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=dead }} He lived most of his early life in Carnoustie, Angus, where there is now a memorial to him.{{Cite web|url=https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/smrpub/master/detail.aspx?refno=NO53SE0057|title=Aberdeenshire Council Historic Environment Record - Angus - NO53SE0057 - JARVIS PLACE, CARNOUSTIE|website=online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk|access-date=2019-07-18}} He was also honoured by Fraserburgh in 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fraserburghherald.co.uk/news/war-hero-honoured-in-fraserburgh-1-3519851|title=War hero honoured in Fraserburgh|website=fraserburghherald.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-07-18}} He joined the Royal Engineers in 1899 and travelled with his unit to Singapore. He was transferred to the reserve in 1907. In civilian life, Jarvis was a metalworker and a member of the Walthamstow Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers.Monthly Journal and Report of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, December 1914

File:HOW LANCE-CORPORAL JARVIS WON THE V.C. AT JEMAPPES (E. Prater).jpg)]]

At the outbreak of World War I he was recalled to service. He was 33 years old, and a lance-corporal in the 57th Field Company, Royal Engineers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

Only three weeks into the war on 23 August 1914 at Jemappes, Belgium, Lance-Corporal Jarvis worked for 1½ hours under heavy fire, in full view of the enemy and finally succeeded in firing charges for the demolition of a bridge. He was wounded in the process.{{London Gazette|issue=28976|page=9374|date=13 November 1914}} Private Samuel Heron of the first battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers was also awarded a DCM for his part in this action.http://www.scotlandswar.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/pdf_Charles_Jarvis.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}

In 1915 he returned to Britain and was presented with his medal at Buckingham Palace. He was later promoted to second corporal and corporal before being discharged from the Army in 1917. He went on to work at the Naval Dockyard at Portsmouth. He returned to Dundee in 1941.