Robert William Hardy
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Robert William was the son of Samuel and Anne Hardy (née Derrick). His father Samuel was born in Nottingham in 1871, the son of Robert and Ellen Hardy. The family lived in Nottingham and in 1891 Samuel, an apprentice stone mason, was living with his widowed mother and his siblings. His mother Anne was also born in Nottingham about 1871, the daughter of Edward and Emma Derrick. The family came from Nottingham where in 1891 Anne, a lace finisher, was living with her parents and sibhlings. Samuel and Anne were married at Sneinton St Albans on 21 July 1894 and had seven children who were all born in Nottingham: Mary Gladys b. December 1894 bap. Nottingham St Ann 11 April 1897; Robert b. 21 September 1896 bap. 11 April 1897 Edward b. 5 September 1898; Elsie Doris b. 1899; Samuel b. 10 December 1902 (registered 1903 J/F/M); George b. 29 January 1905 and Clarice Anne b. 2 August 1908. In 1901 Samuel (30) a stone mason and Anne (29) were living at 8 Peas Hill Road, St Ann's, with their four children May (6), Robert (4), Edward (2) and Elsie (under one year). They had three more children, the youngest of whom, Clarice, was born in 1908. Samuel died in 1910 (A/M/J) and in 1911 Census his widow was living at 8A (sic) Peas Hill Road and working from home as a lace drawer. Her seven children were still living at home; May a frilling machinist, Robert a printer's errand boy, Edward, Elsie, Samuel (8), George (5) and Clarice (2). Robert's mother was still living at 8 Peas Hill Road when Robert was killed in 1915. She completed a form for the army in 1919 listing her son's surviving blood relatives who were herself and Robert's six siblings. With the exception of Edward, who was serving with the RAF in France, they were all still living with their mother at 8 Peas Hill Road. Anne died in 1932; she was then living at 21 Peas Hill Road. May Gladys was living with her brother George at 21 Peas Hill Road in 1939 with the England & Wales Register was compiled. May was a neckwear boxer and George a paper stores labourer. May probably died in 1960. Edward served in the RAF (252347) from 12 March 1918 and was in France before his discharge, probably in 1919. He married Florence Mundell in 1928 and in 1939 they were living on Pym Street, Nottingham; the records of three other members of the household remain closed. Edward died in 1970. Elsie Doris probably married Leonard Jackson in 1934 and they were living on Northville Terrace, Nottingham. in 1939. She died in 1954. Samuel was living with his wife Ellen EA on Bells Lane in 1939; the record of one member of the household remains closed. He died in 1970. George was living with his sister May on Peas Hill Road in 1939. Clarice Anne married Wiliam Cottam in 1936 and in 1939 she was living on Castleton Street, Meadows. Clarice died on 10 June 1888.
At the age of 19 years 2 months, Hardy attested on 2 November 1914 in Nottingham on a Territorial Force engagement (4 years service) but transferred to embodied service the same day and posted to the 7th Bn Sherwood Foresters He was posted to 1/7th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters on 20 February 1915 and served at home until 24 June and then France from 25 June 1915. Three months later a heavy barrage of shells fell near the battalion headquarters and several men were killed including Hardy. He was buried at Bedford House Cemetery, Belgium (Enclosure No.3 A. 14). There are 5,210 burials in the cemetery. Robert had served for 310 days, 75 in France. He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - Bedford House Cemetery (extract): 'Zillebeke village and most of the commune were in the hands of Commonwealth forces for the greater part of the First World War, but the number of cemeteries in the neighbourhood bears witness to the fierce fighting in the vicinity from 1914 to 1918. Bedford House, sometimes known as Woodcote House, were the names given by the Army to the Chateau Rosendal, a country house in a small wooded park with moats. Although it never fell into German hands, the house and the trees were gradually destroyed by shell fire. It was used by field ambulances and as the headquarters of brigades and other fighting units, and charcoal pits were dug there from October 1917. In time, the property became largely covered by small cemeteries; five enclosures existed at the date of the Armistice, but the graves from No.1 were then removed to White House Cemetery, St. Jean, and those from No.5 to Aeroplane Cemetery, Ypres. ENCLOSURE No.3, the smallest, was used from February 1915 to December 1916; the burials made in August-October 1915 were largely carried out by the 17th Division. Commonwealth casualties buried in the following smaller cemeteries were either concentrated into Bedford House Cemetery after the war or if lost, are now commemorated in Bedford House Cemetery [cemeteries listed].
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 28 September 1915: 'Hardy. Killed in action September 7th, Private Robert Hardy, 1/7th Sherwood Foresters, 8 Peas Hill Road, son of Anne and the late Samuel Hardy.' 'In memoriam' notices, Nottingham Evening Post, 7 September 1916: “HARDY. – In memory of my dear son, Private Robert Hardy, killed in action September 7th, 1915. Fondly remembered. – Mother, sisters and brothers. “HARDY. – In loving memory of Private Robert Hardy, Sherwood Foresters, 8, Peas Hill-road, killed in action September 7th, 1915. Sadly missed. – Aunt Hannah, uncles Charlie and Jack.” Above notices courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Registers of Soldiers' Effects and WW1 Pension Ledgers: his mother Anne was his legatee Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 17 August 1932: ‘Hardy. On August 16th, Anne, of 21 Peas Hill-road, beloved wife of the late Samuel, much suffering patiently borne. Interment General Cemtery, Saturday, 2 pm.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
