Harry Clarence Hardy
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Henry Clarence Hardy was born in 1896 at Sneinton and was the son of John William Hardy and Alice Hardy née Hinton. His father John William was born in 1871 in Nottingham and his mother Alice Hinton was born in 1872 at Sneinton. In the 1901 census Henry is living with his mother at his widowed grandmother's home at 3 Sandringham Terrace, Turner Street, St Ann’s. They are shown as Jane Hinton 62 yrs a widow who is living with her married daughter Alice Hardy 29 yrs a lace finisher and her daughter's two children, Florence Ellen 6 yrs and Henry Clarence 5 yrs. (His father John William is not at this address and he has not yet been traced on the 1901 census.) His father John William died in Nottingham in 1909; he was 38 yrs of age. His mother soon remarried - 1910 at Nottingham to William Dudson, a lace maker, born at Nottingham in 1862. In the 1911 census Henry is living with his new family at 505 Mansfield Road, Sherwood. They are shown as William Dudson 49 yrs a lace maker, head of the family, who is living with his wife Alice Dudson 39 yrs a shop assistant, his own children Elizabeth Dudson 19 yrs a lace mender, William Dudson 15 yrs a shop assistant, Flora Dudson 14 yrs an errand girl, Nellie Dudson 11 yrs a scholar and Alice's son, Harry Hardy 15 yrs a clerk. William Dudson states on the census that he has been married for less than 1 year and has had 9 children, 2 of whom have died.
Henry Hardy, enlisted on 27th October 1914 at Nottingham. He gave his age as 19 yrs and 2 months, his address as 505 Mansfield Road, Sherwood, and his occupation was that of a clerk. His next of kin was his mother Alice of the same address. He served with the 1/7th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (Robin Hood Rifles). He embarked at Southampton on 28th June 1915, landing in Rouen, France, the following day. He was killed in action on 1st October 1915 and is buried in Hedge Row Cemetery (Sp. Mem. C.3).
Personal inscription on CWGC headstone: 'Their glory shall not be blotted out' In memoriam published 1st October 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “HARDY. – In loving memory of my dear son, Pte. Henry Hardy, Robin Hoods, killed October 1st, 1915. He sleeps beside his comrades, in a distant grave unknown, but his name is written in words of love in the hearts he left at home. – Sorrowing mam and dad. “HARDY. – In loving memory of my dear brother Henry killed October 1st, 1915. In God's own keeping. – Loving sister Flora, grandma. “HARDY. – In loving memory of my dear brother Henry, killed October 1st, 1915. A noble life laid down. – Will, Flora, and Nell. “HARDY. – Pte. H. Hardy, killed in action October 1st, 1915. Fondly remembered. – Mrs. Hose and family.” Above in memoriam are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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