Blaydon Courier 17/04/1920
Allendale Cottages Reading Rooms RoH
William Hardy
Mary Emily Williams Hardy
CWGC Headstone
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Arthur Rubert Hardy, (Rubert is a variant of the name Robert), one of 6 children of whom only 5 survived, was of his surviving siblings the eldest of 4 sons and had an elder sister. His father William Hardy, born at Consett, County Durham, January 18th 1869 married in 1891 in the district of Lanchester to Mary Emily Williams, born January 2nd 1870, Caernarfon, Caernarfonshire, Wales. They settled in the village of Bradley, birthplace of their only daughter Mary Isabella, December 3rd/5th 1891, Arthur Rubert, November 17th 1894, George, June 19th 1897, then moved to Allendale Cottages, Parish of Medomsley, County Durham, where John William was born July 31st 1899 and Norman, June 24th 1903. All their children were baptised as Methodist in the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Shotley Bridge, County Durham. In 1901 they occupied no.27, William supported his family employed as a coal hewer, by 1911 they had moved into 4 rooms at 8, Beverly Terrace, Catchgate, he had been joined by Arthur (19) working below ground as a driver, whose younger siblings were scholars. Mary Isabella was absent from the family home on the evening of Sunday, April 2nd 1911 and is listed in the census as a visitor in the home of coal miner deputy, Edward Dickinson, wife Eleanor and 5 children at 126, Allendale Cottages, Medomsley.
One of the first to enlist in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, after the declaration of war, he was assigned as Private 1120 to the newly formed 16th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. Raised in Newcastle during September 1914 by the Newcastle and Gateshead Chamber of Commerce as part of the New Armies, it was a Pals Battalion. Initial training took place close to home but having been taken over by the War Office in April 1915 they moved to Catterick joining the 96th Brigade, 32nd Division, then left for Prees Heath, Shropshire in May. The wet conditions at the camp made training difficult, they were transferred to Wensley and Richmond in Yorkshire, using the firing range at Strenshall, then moved to Codford Camp, Salisbury Plain in August for final training.
Private Hardy departed with the British Expeditionary Force to France, November 22nd 1915, landing the same day at Boulogne, for service on the Western Front. During the Battles of the Somme they saw action at the opening Battle of Albert, July 1st-13th, Battle of Bazentin Ridge, July 14th-17th but did not participate in any other major battles until the closing phases at Ancre Heights, October 1st-18th 1916. In 1917 they participated in the Arras sector during the offensive, April 9th-May 16th and the pursuit of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. When the Germans attacked once again on the Somme, March 21st 1918, they were rushed into battle. Although known as, “the Somme,” the area involved the Cambrai and Santerre plateau. The area between St. Quentin/Cambrai and the Bapaume/Albert front line had been laid waste by the Germans when they withdrew from the sector in 1917. The 32nd Division took part in the First Battle of the Somme, March 21st-April 5th 1918 as part of the Third Army.
Wounded in the line of duty Private Hardy was evacuated back through the lines until being admitted to the 12th General Hospital at Rouen, whose running had passed to the US Army in June 1917, it was also a base depot and HQ of the 3rd Echelon.
Private 1120 Arthur Rubert Hardy Northumberland Fusiliers succumbed to wounds sustained, April 22nd 1918 and was interred within St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Seine-Maritime, France, grave P. VII. A. 5A. He was 23 years of age and single.
His father William of 12, Oak Street, Allendale Cottages, Hamsterley Colliery County Durham, received all monies due to his son, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, he also commissioned at a cost of 13 shillings 1 pence an additional inscription to be added to his son’s military headstone, it reads, “In Life Eager In Service Faithful In Death Triumphant.” His mother was awarded a pension of 9 shillings a week, October 12th 1918 to be received as of October 29th.
Although George and John William Hardy would also have been eligible to serve no records have been found.
In 1939 William, a retired coal hewer and Mary Emily were still living at 12, Oak Street. William Hardy, aged 78-years died during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1947, his wife Mary Emily Hardy nee Williams, during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1947, aged 77-years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
The Blaydon Courier 17/04/1920 carries the following:
In Loving memory of Arthur Rubert Hardy, of Allendale Cottages, the dearly beloved son of William and Mary Emily Hardy, who died in France on April 22nd, 1918. In a far distant land though his body rests, Far away from the ones he loved best; Still deep in our hearts his memory we'll keep. Until in heaven again we shall meet. Ever remembered by his father and mother, brothers and sister, and brother-in-law.
Arthur Rubert Hardy is remembered at Medomsley M36.01 and at Allendale Cottages on M36.04, M36.05 and M36.06
