Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George Howe Hardy was born 1880 at Sadberge, near Darlington, County Durham. One of 12 children he was the eldest son of 4 and had 8 sisters. His father George Hardy native of Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington married at Darlington in 1875 to Hannah Howe of Denton, County Durham, both were born in 1855. George Snr supported his family all his life employed as an iron worker, later joined by his son William at the age of 16. They had moved by 1891 to 4, Lowson Street, Whitton, near Stockton.
George Howe Hardy is absent from the census of 1901, it may well be that he was serving during the Africa Campaign fought between the British and the Boer states 1899-1902.
In 1904 he was married at Durham to Isabella Foxcroft born 1885 at Willington, County Durham. They settled at 34, Nelson Street, Willington where their son George Jnr was born in 1909. George was employed at the colliery as a coke drawer, to supplement the family income they had taken 2 boarders into their home, Fred Vickers (33) and Robert Stalham (60) also employed at the colliery as general labourers. Isabella gave birth to a further 2 children Margaret in 1912 and Florence Mary in 1915.
On the outbreak of war George Howe Hardy enlisted in 1915, assigned as Private 19783 (Alexandra Princess of Wales’s Own) Yorkshire Regiment and transferred to the 2nd Battalion. Training completed he departed for the Western Front October 2nd 1915 where he joined his Regiment in the field attached to the 21st Brigade 7th Division. By December of 1915 the 21st Brigade transferred to the 30th Division.
During the spring of 1916 preparations were underway for a big push on the Somme. The 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment participated during the opening attack at the Battle of Albert, July 1st.
Having risen through the ranks the now Lance Corporal 17983 George Howe Hardy Yorkshire Regiment was killed in action July 1st 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,397 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating servicemen from Britain and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915-1918 and who have no known grave. He was 36 years old.
His widow Isabella of 13, Edward Street, Spennymoor, County Durham received all monies due to him, his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal and a pension for herself and their children.
Their son George Howe Hardy Jnr died in 1920 aged 11 years, Florence Mary married in 1941 to Stanley F. E. Strange who died in 1950, she remarried in 1958 to Douglas Berrimen. Florence Mary died April 1st 2001 aged 86 years. Details of Margaret Hardy and her mother Isabelle Hardy nee Foxcroft unknown.
The CWGC has in error listed L/Cpl George Howe Hardy as George Hoare Hardy, 32 years old. All official records also confirm he was in fact 36 years of age.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George Howe Hardy is remembered at Stillington on S137.01 and S137.02 and at Spennymoor on S131.02 S131.03 and S131.11
