Name
Leslie George Hardy
19 Oct 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/10/1915
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
11268
Coldstream Guards
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
QUARRY CEMETERY, VERMELLES
A. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT (buried near this spot)
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring
Pre War
Leslie Geoge Hardy was born in Tamworth on 19 Oct 1893 (baptised 16 Nov 1893) to Samuel Hardy, and Susan Lavinia (nee Gaunt).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Mary (born 1880), Edith (born 1881), Adelaide (born 1884), Beatrice (born 1886), Laura (born 1888) and William (born 1889) were living at 16, Orchard Street, Tamworth.
On the 1901 Census ,George was living with his mother, Adelaide, Beatrice, William and Edith at Brownhills, Burslem, Staffs.
On the 1911 Census Leslie George (electrical engineer for the Siemens Company) was living with his widower father and Laura ( a teacher) 109, Corporation Street. Stafford.
Wartime Service
Leslie George enlisted on 28 Aug 1914 in Stafford as Private 11268 in 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards He went to France on 8 Dec 1914. to join his Battalion which had gone to France in early Aug 1914 as part of 1st Guards brigade 1st Division . On 25 Aug they had became part of 2nd Brigade, Guards Division. This division took part in the Battle of Loos (25 Sep– 15 Oct 1915) .Leslie was killed on 8 Oct 1915 during a German attack between the Double Crassier and the Chalk Pit.
This from the Bucks Herald 30th October 1915: “News has been received of the death of Leslie George Hardy, Coldstream Guards, son of Mr. S. Hardy, secretary of the Tring Co-operative Society. Corporal Hardy, when war broke out, was working as an electrical engineer, but as once enlisted in the Coldstream Guards, and, after about two months’ training, was sent to France, where he has been, except for a short leave a few weeks ago, ever since. He was all through the stiff struggle for the Brick Kiln, and the recent heavy fighting around Loos. He was apparently killed instantaneously by shrapnel in one of the reserve trenches, and buried the same day. His friends all speak of him as a particularly bright and good soldier.”
From the Parish Magazine November 1915: “News has been received of the death of Leslie George Hardy, Coldstream Guards. Corporal Hardy, when ware broke out, was working as an electrical engineer. He at once enlisted in the Coldstream Guards, after about two months training, was sent to France, where he was been except for a short spell of leave a few weeks ago. He took part in the stiff struggle for ‘The Brick Kiln’ in the recent heavy fighting around Loos. He was apparently killed instantaneously by Shrapnel whilst in the reserve trenches and was buried the same day. His friends speak of him as a particularly bright and good soldier. May he rest in peace. Note: Leslie George Hardy was employed by The Rothschild Estate at the [Electricity] generating station at the Silk Mill, Brook Street, Tring.”
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 and arrears of £8 3s 4d was paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
