Name
Ralph Spleen Hardwick
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/04/1918
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
401221
Essex Regiment
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 51 and 52.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Christ Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Post Office Memorial (*1), Not on the Watford Fields memorial (*1)
Pre War
Son of Elizabeth (nee SPLEEN) HARDWICKE of Watford, and the late William HARDWICKE; husband of Maude Frances (nee BECK) HARDWICKE of Watford.
His parents married 8 May 1879 at All Saints, Wing, Bucks. William died 1898 in Watford aged 40, and was buried 27 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Elizabeth died 23 February 1929 in Watford aged 69, and was buried 27 February, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Ralph was born 15 February 1881 in Linslade, Bucks, and baptised 7 August 1881 at All Saints, Wing. He attended St Andrew’s Boys’ School, Watford, from 11 to 18 January 1892; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 19 January to 9 February 1892; then Callowland Board School, Watford, from 2 May 1892 to 9 August 1893. He married 3 August 1908 at St Andrew’s, Watford; they had two children. He resided in Watford. Maude never remarried, she died 11 October 1957 in Watford aged 76, and was buried 18 October in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
On the 1881 Census, aged 6 months he lived in Linslade, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1891 Census, a scholar aged 10, he still lived in Linslade, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1901 Census, a plasterer aged 20, he lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and three siblings. On the 1911 Census, a plasterer aged 30, he still lived in Watford, with his wife and one child.
Recorded as born in Linslade, Bucks (now Beds) and living in Watford when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was presumed killed in action.
Additional Information
*1 His name appears under the Watford Fields section of the Watford Post Office Memorial, but not on the Watford Fields memorial. Unfortunately, Ralph’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
