Harry Laurent

Harry Laurent
Harry Laurent during the First World War
Born	(1895-04-15)15 April 1895 Tarata, New Zealand
Died	9 December 1987(1987-12-09) (aged 92) Hastings, New Zealand
Memorial	Servicemen's Cemetery, Hawera
Allegiance	New Zealand
Service/branch	New Zealand Military Forces
Years of service	1911–1919 1939–1949
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade (1915–18)
Battles/wars	First World War Western Front Battle of Flers–Courcelette Battle of Messines First Battle of Passchendaele Second World War Home Front
Awards	Victoria Cross

Harry John Laurent, VC (15 April 1895 – 9 December 1987) was a New Zealand recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Born in Tarata, Laurent was a grocer's assistant when he volunteered in May 1915 to serve in the First World War with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF). He was posted to the 2nd Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade and from 1916 served on the Western Front. It was on 12 September 1918, during an engagement that followed the Second Battle of Bapaume, that he performed the actions that led to him being honoured with the VC. He ended the war as a second lieutenant. Discharged from the NZEF, he returned to civilian life but was recalled to active duty during the Second World War and was involved in the Home Guard. He was the last surviving New Zealand VC recipient of the First World War at the time of his death in 1987.