 |
SKELTON - IN - CLEVELAND
IN HISTORY
|
 |
"WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"
3099 Private JOHN WILLIAM HARDWICK
4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment.
Died of wounds, aged 33, on the 27th of September 1916.
Enlisted at Skelton in Cleveland.
Son of Jane and the late George Hardwick, of 4 Thomas St, Skelton-in-Cleveland, N Yorks.
|
|
Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension.
[Shown by kind permission of ww1cemeteries.com].
|
FAMILY:-
1901. John, aged 18, is living at 4 Thomas St, New Skelton and working as a Painter's apprentice. Born Rosedale.
His father, George, age 57, is and Ironstone miner below ground and was born in Scarborough N Yorks.
His mother, Jane, age 49, had been born in Moorsholm N Yorks. She had had 8 children and 7 were still living in 1911.
John had three brothers - Jacob 24, a miner, George 23, a Truck Examiner on the railway and a younger brother age 15,
who was a Pupil teacher.
1911. The family are still at 4 Thomas Street. John, now 28, was listed as a House Painter and Decorator. His mother Jane is now a Widow.
His brother George and sister Evy Blanche, age 25, a School Teacher also still live at home.
|
WAR SITUATION:-
The 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment were part of the 150th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division.
John's Medal Card shows that he was an early Volunteer for service in the War and joined the 4th Yorks on the 9th October 1915.
He presumably fought with them in their trials at Ypres in the Winter and then defending the trenches at Kemmel earlier in 1916.
At the time of John's death the Battalion had just taken part in the Battle of Flers Courcelettes to the NE of Martinpuich and were defending the trenches gained.
This was a further stage in the British offensive on the Somme which had started on the 1st July.
Full details of the events can be read starting here.
MEMORIAL
John died of wounds and must have been taken back to a Casualty Station near Dernancourt, close to Albert, where he is buried.
Dernancourt Cemetery is about 3 kilometres South of Albert and contains 2,162 Commonwealth burials and Commemorations from the First War.
|
|