Name
Archibald Charles Hardwick
1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/01/1919
38
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
260564
Middlesex Hussars
1st/1st
"B" Squadron
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DAMASCUS COMMONWEALTH WAR CEMETERY
E. 2.
Syria
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
Archibald was the son of William J. and Amelia Hardwick (later of Hitchin) and was born in Hornsey, Middx. In 1880 and had a brother called Frank. More than this, for his family history, is difficult to establish. This is because Archibald was found was found in 1891 living in an institution for fatherless children and so his father died before then - possibly the William James Hardwick who died on 11 December 1884.
The most likely candidates found for his parents are the William James Hardwick and Amelia (née Shelton) who married in Christchurch, St Mary-le-Bone, Middlesex on 15 February 1875. As a result because of William’s of his death the only census that the family is likely to be found is for 1881 and to date they have not been found.
The following is believed to be correct:
The were living in Hornsey, London when Archibald was born. William died sometime between 1880 and 1891 living Amelia a widow with at least two children, Archibald and Frank.
In 1891 Archibald (10) was found living in the Reedham Asylum in Croydon, Surrey - an institution for fatherless children founded by Rev Andrew Reed taking children of both sexes and giving them food, shelter and education until the age of 13 and 14. So he may have been there for 2 or 3 years.
In 1901 he is believed to be the Archibald Hardwick (21), single and working as a draper’s assistant and boarding at 2 to 6 Market Street, Nottingham. This was a house, or more likely shop or workshop, an Harold E Spalding (29) was listed as head, but he was also listed as a draper’s assistant along with 17 others, 6 apprentices, 4 dressmakers and various others.
He is possibly the Archibald Hardwick at 38 Buckingham Road, Hackney in the 1909 electoral register, but this is less certain.
In 1911 he is likely to be the Archibald Charles Hardwick 30, single and a draper’s assistant, probably to William Henry Gimblett, in whose house he was boarding.
Wartime Service
He was Private 3949 in the 1st County of London Yeomanry and then 260564 in ‘B’ Squadron of the 1st/1st Middlesex Hussars.
He embarked for Egypt on 15 November 1915 and died at the war hospital in Damascus of typhus.
This unit is almost certainly the 1st County of London Yeomanry known as the Middlesex Duke of Cambridge's Hussars and serving in Palestine in 1917-18.
He was buried in Row E, Grave 2 in the Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery in Syria.
Additional Information
After his death £26 14s 6d was authorised to go to his brother Frank, which included a war gratuity of £22 10s on 11 June 1919. Probably the F S Hardwick 90 Seymour Road, Harringay N. 8. Recorded against his burial record in the CWGC database.
His link to Hitchin may be very weak, which explains why he is not on the local memorials. His mother was recorded living in Hitchin after his death and a death notice was placed in the Hertfordshire Express on 1 February 1919 by some who referenced that he was the nephew on ‘the Late Miss Shelton – possibly Miss Georgina Shelton of 8 Churchyard, Hitchin (1911) where she milliner and fancy shop keeper. Georgina Shelton was born in Hitchin around 1838 and had a sister Amelia, also born there, so it seems likely that Archibald’s mother was Georgina’s sister.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
