Leonard Austin Harvey (1907 - 1976)

Born 11 Jul 1907 in Stoke Climsland, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Florence (Law) Harvey — married 1928 in Holborn, London, England, United Kingdom

Died 28 Nov 1976 at age 69 in Plymouth, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Biography

Len Harvey was born in Cornwall, England.

Len Harvey is Notable.

sources

Birth

Leonard Austin Harvey was born in Stoke Climsland, Cornwall on 11 July 1907

England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2FJ8-H9K : 1 October 2014), Leonard Austin Harvey, 1907; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Launceston, Cornwall, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.

Mother's Maiden Surname - Penny

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp

Marriage

He married Florence Law March Quarter 1928 at Holborn, London, England England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVZ1-VYNQ : 8 October 2014), Leonard A Harvey and null, 1928; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1928, quarter 1, vol. 1B, p. 677, Holborn, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

Death-Burial

Len died in Plymouth on 28 November 1976 & is buried at Putney Vale Cemetery, Wimbledon, London Borough of Merton, Greater London, Englan Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV2K-PT18 : 13 December 2015), Leonard Austin Harvey, 1976; Burial, Wimbledon, London Borough of Merton, Greater London, England, Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium; citing record ID 77854170, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

Boxing Life

Len Harvey was a Cornish Boxer, A great defensive boxer, he boxed at every weight division available.

He became the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight champion of the British Empire and was recognised as World Light Heavyweight in Britain from 1939 to 1942

He was persuaded to defend his titles against Freddie Mills on 20 June 1942 when he was 35 years old and a veteran of over a hundred bouts. He was knocked out in two rounds. Only the second time he was stopped and the first by a KO. He retired after this bout with an official record of 133 fights (111 wins / 9, draws and 13 defeats.

He claimed to have had 418 bouts, but these probably included booth fights His three fights against Jock McAvoy became legendary winning 2 and losing 1.

Such was his legend that he was inducted in. The Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008

He started boxing when he was 12 and had more than 400 bouts and is regarded as first to wear robe into the ring

He is a forgotten hero who still holds the record for highest number of spectators 90, 000 at the White City.

During World War 2 he joined the RAF, By this time he was a national sporting hero and was given an officer rank

Acting Career

He was an actor, known for Excuse My Glove (1936), The Bermondsey Kid (1933) and A Santa for Christmas (1957).

England and Wales Census, 1911

Lenard Harvey England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7L2-KMW : 18 July 2019), Lenard Harvey in household of Edward Harvey, Stoke Climsland, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

Stoke Climsland, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Edward Harvey Head Male 28 South Hill, Cornwall

Ada Harvey Wife Female 28 Stokeclimsland, Cornwall

Edward Harvey Son Male 8 Stokeclimsland, Cornwall

Wilfred Harvey Son Male 7 Stokeclimsland, Cornwall

Winnie Harvey Daughter Female 5 Stokeclimsland, Cornwall

Lenard Harvey Son Male 3 Stokeclimsland, Cornwall

Vera Harvey Daughter Female 1 Stokeclimsland, Cornwall

• Further reading
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len_Harvey
• https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/champion-islington-boxer-len-harvey-to-be-honoured-with-plaque-1-2094195
• https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0367610/bio
• Cornwall Records
• New York Passenger List - trip to USA 1930 aboard Olympic with spouse Florence