Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of George and Mary HARDY

Husband of Alice HARDY

He was 26 and the son of George and Mary Ann Hardy; husband of Alice M. Hardy of 2 Ladysmith Maisonettes, Robinson Rd., Tooting, London. He was born in 1891 at Swanscombe, near Datrford Kent, and died at Southmead, near Bristol.

Births Jun 1891   Hardy Edward William Dartford 2a 520

Deaths Jun 1917 Hardy Edward W 26 Bristol 6a 262 
 

 Last known Address: 2 Aerial Villas, Milton Road, Swanscombe, Kent. (AIF Service documents) 

Brother of George S, Arthur H, Edith M and Bernard W Hardy.

Edward Hardy joined the 11th Bn, Australian Infantry at Blackboy Hill, Western Australia on the 16th August 1914, 12 days after Britain declared war. He gives his occupation as being a miner. 

The 11th Bn was the first raised in Western Australia and on reaching its authorised strength of 1,023 officer & men, 27% of the Bn were British born men who were at the time working as either labourers, agricultural workers or miners. After basic training in Australia, the Bn joined the 1st Divn AIF and at the end of October 1914, sailed for Egypt in the SS Ascanius & SS Medic. March 1915 saw the Bn, after further training, leave Egypt bound for the Dardanelles. On April 25th 1915  two companies of the 11th landed at Anzac Cove. The Bn stayed there for the next seven months, withdrawing on the 17th November having lost 353 men killed.

The 5th April 1916 saw the Bn arrive in Marseille after a period guarding the Suez Canal. Now back to strength and armed with Lewis guns, the Bn undertook training before engaging with the enemy on the 30th May.

The Bn were involved in numerous notable actions and as the Germans retreated to the Hindenburg Line in the spring of 1917, assisted in the pursuit. On the 15th April 1917 the Germans launched a massive counter attack at the Australian line in the Battle of Lagnicourt. 15 men of the 11th Bn were killed in action including Lt Charles Pope who led a bayonet charge against the Germans after A Coy ran out of ammunition. Lt Popes body was later found with those of his men surrounded by the bodies of 80 dead Germans and he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for his actions. Edward Hardy was wounded during this engagement and received gunshot wounds to his right leg, both hands & head. 

Edward was evacuated back to the UK and on the 2nd May 1917 had the 1st finger of his right hand and 3rd & 4th fingers of his left hand amputated. He was treated at the 2nd Southern General Hospital, Southmead, Bristol but lost his fight at 10:50pm on the 5th June 1917. His cause of death is given as GSW (gun shot wound) head & Meningitis Septis.

Edward Hardy was given a full military funeral at Swanscombe cemetery on the 12th June 1917. His coffin arrived on a gun carriage drapped with a union flag and accompanied by 42 men of the the band of the Suffolk Regt (who were based in Gravesend at the time) and a firing party and 2 NCO's & 12 men from the 11th Bn AIF, 6 of whom acted as bearers. On completion of the funeral, three rifle volleys were fired followed by the last post. The funeral report shows that numerous mourners attended including his widow, Alice Hardy and members of his family.  

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Died on this date – 5th June…… Edward William Hardy was born at Swanscombe, Dartford, Kent, England in 1891.

According to information provided by his wife for the Roll of Honour – Edward Hardy came to Australia when he was 21 years old.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 5th September, 1914 as a 23 year old, single, Miner from 1854 Boundary Street, South Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

On 29th October, 1914 Private Hardy was reported to be Absent without leave. He forfeited 1 days’ pay & was awarded 3 days Confined to Camp.

Private Edward Hardy, Service number 794, embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia on HMAT Ascanius (A11) on 31st October, 1914 with the 11th Infantry Battalion “G” Company.

He embarked from Alexandria on 2nd March, 1915 on HMT Suffolk to join M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) at Gallipoli Peninsula.

On 10th March, 1915 Private Hardy was awarded 14 days Detention.

A Field General Court Martial was held on 12th March, 1915 at Mudros. The alleged Offender was No. 794 Private Edward William Hardy who was charged with “When on Active Service, disobeying in such manner as to show a wilful defiance of authority a lawful command given by his superior officer in the execution of his office.” A plea of Not Guilty was given.  He was found guilty by The Court on 15th March, 1915 & three months Field Punishment No. 1 was awarded. Colonel E. G. Sinclair MacLagan remitted one month’s Field Punishment. This was reduced to five weeks Field Punishment of same grade by order of G.O.C. in Chief on 20th April, 1915.

Private Hardy was admitted to 1st Australian Field Ambulance at Dardanelles on 24th August, 1915 with diarrhoea. He was discharged & rejoined his Unit at Dardanelles on 27th August, 1915.

He reported sick on 25th September, 1915 at Gallipoli Peninsula & was admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance with Influenza. Private Hardy was transferred & admitted to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 26th September, 1915 then transferred to Hospital Ship the same day. Private Hardy was admitted to Hospital Ship Gascon on 26th September, 1915 with Influenza. He was admitted to Hospital at Gibraltar on 8th October, 1915 then invalided to England on 14th October, 1915 on Hospital Ship Italia.

On 18th October, 1915 Private Hardy was admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital at Birmingham, England – Dudley St Section. He reported at Inter Base at Abbey Wood, England on 15th November, 1915.

Private Edward William Hardy married Alice Margaret Dance on 13th February, 1916 in Christ Church, Mitcham, Surrey, England. Private Hardy was listed as a 24 year old Soldier in the Australian Imperial Force from 6 Cambridge Terrace, Devonshire Road. Alice Dance was listed as a 23 year old from the same address.

He proceeded with 27th Draft from Weymouth on 25th March, 1916 to rejoin M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force). He was marched in to 3rd Training Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir on 16th April, 1916 from Overseas Base.

Private Hardy embarked from Alexandria (no date) on H.T. Caledonia to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force). He joined 1st A.I.B.D. (Australian Infantry Base Depot) at Etaples on 20th May, 1916. He was struck off strength of 1st A.I.B.D. on 22nd June, 1916 & rejoined his Battalion in France on 23rd June, 1916.

From 25th October, 1916 Private Edward Hardy was appointed Lance Corporal.

He was promoted to Temporary Corporal on 5th December, 1916 & was confirmed Corporal on 12th December, 1916.

Corporal Edward Hardy was wounded in action on 11th April, 1917. He was admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance on 12th April, 1917 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to leg & head. Corporal Hardy was transferred & admitted to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station on 12th April, 1917. He was transferred & admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen, France on 13th April, 1917. Corporal Hardy was transferred to England on 1st May, 1917 on Hospital Ship West Australia.

On 2nd May, 1917 he was admitted to 2nd Southern General Hospital, Bristol, England with Shrapnel wounds to leg, hands & skull (fracture) (as per Hospital Admissions form. The Casualty Form – Active Service recorded his wounds as “GSW Head & R. Leg, 1st Finger amputated R. Hand. 3rd & 4th L. Hand.”)

Corporal Edward William Hardy died at 10.50 pm on 5th June, 1917 at 2nd Southern General Hospital, Southmead, Bristol, England from wounds received in action in France – G.S.W. to head & Meningitis Septic.

He was buried in Swanscombe Cemetery, Swanscombe, Kent, England – Plot number 1423 and has a Private Headstone.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/swanscombe---kent.html