Pte 58698 John Hardwick

John Hardwick was born in Walsall in 1891, the only son of John Henry Hardwick and his wife Alice Martha (nee Evans) of 12 Francis Street, Walsall. His parents married in 1888 and had four children. John had an older sister Ada, born in 1889, who became blind at the age of six weeks, and a younger sister Doris, born in 1900 and Lily.

 

John was baptised in St. Peter’s Church, Walsall, on 18th June 1891.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 32 Penkridge Street, Walsall. His parents are both 37, his father is a self-employed grocer/shopkeeper, Ada is 12, John is 9, and Doris is 10 months old. Another daughter, Lily, was born later in 1901, but died at the age of 2. 

His mother died in 1908, aged 44.

The 1911 Census finds the family sharing a house, living in three rooms at 28 Penkridge Street. His father 47, is a night watchman, John is 19, a whip maker, Ada is 22, no occupation, and Doris is 10.

John enlisted in Birmingham joining the Lancashire Fusiliers as Private 15676. Whilst serving with the Lancashire Fusiliers he was subject to a Court appearance as detailed in the Walsall Observer of 01st January 1916:

Attempted Separation Allowance Fraud

At the Guildhall yesterday, Georgina Sandbrook, married woman, of 134 Blue Lane, and John Hardwick of the Lancashire Fusiliers were summoned for making a false declaration with a view to obtaining a soldier's dependants allowance. It was also represented that Hardwick, who had been lodging with the other defendant, allowed Mrs Sandbrook 12s to 16s per week, but on being questioned by the witness, she admitted that since Hardwick had left the employ of Mr Lindop in November 1914, he had not paid more than 7 shillings a week for his lodgings on the average. She also said that Hardwick had told her that as she had to keep him when he was out of work, the allowance would be some recompense for her. Witness ascertained that Hardwick had a father and sister living in Penkridge Street, and that owing to his late hours he was locked out two years ago, and from then until he enlisted he had been lodging with Mrs Sandbrook.

Defendants where each find £5, with the alternative of 28 days imprisonment, magistrate observing that it was a mean and contemptible trick to try to get money out of the Government at the time like the present.

He subsequently transferred to the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 58698.

 

John was killed in action on 06th March 1917.

He now rests at Agny New Military Cemetery in France.

Agny New Military Cemetery was begun by French troops, and used by Commonwealth units and field ambulances from March 1916 to June 1917. Two further burials were made in April 1918, and in 1923-24, 137 graves were brought in from the battlefields east of Arras. The 40 French graves have been removed. Agny Military Cemetery contains 408 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 118 of them unidentified, and five German graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. 

The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he served for 21 months, enlisting in about June 1915.

His father received John’s Army effects and a War Gratuity of £9-10s.

His father died in 1927, aged 64.  In 1939 his sister Ada, “incapacitated”, is living in a public assistance institution. She died in 1942, aged 53.

Sadly, John has not been found on any memorials.

We currently have no further information on John Hardwick. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.