Born in Southernhay on October 20th 1863 Hardy was educated at the City of London School and did a BA at London University and at the age of twenty-six was ordained deacon in Southwell diocese. After various posts we find Hardy ministering in Cumbria (Hutton Roof) as the war began but because of his age found his appeals to be used in military chaplaincy turned down. He persisted and eventually those in command allowed him to join and so, at the age of fifty-three found himself as chaplain at Etaples, a large training camp with a military hospital attached.
Age and health had conspired to prevent him joining but once the opposition was overcome and in post at Etaples he started pushing for a post at the front and so, in December 1916, he found himself as chaplain to the 8th Battalion, the Lincolnshire Regiment in the Vieille Chapelle district. Hardy proved to be popular because he had fought to be with the men on the front and would often be found moving among the men bringing support, advice and prayers (he also, like chaplains today brought a supply of cigarettes, sweets and other good stuff!) through the long nights and in the quieter times between combat. 1917 saw Hardy engaged in the Summer campaign which was has at its pinnacle one of the bywords of the First World War, Passchendaele. It was during this that Hardy was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his actions in the field, the citation reads thus:,
"For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. He went out into the open to help bring in wounded. On discovering a man buried in mud whom it was impossible to extricate he remained under fire ministering to his spiritual and bodily comforts until the man died".
A few weeks later (October) Hardy was decorated again, this time with the Military Cross, for:
"Repeatedly going out under heavy fire to help the stretcher bearers during an attack."
Spring 1918 saw Hardy on the old Somme battlefield. In April 1918, on three separate occasions (5th, 25th and 27th), Hardy carried out acts of selfless courage for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On the 5th occasion he followed a patrol who had gone to attack an enemy post in a ruined village. Coming across an badly wounded officer from the patrol Hardy stayed with him, even though they were under fire, until he could get help to bring him back to a place of safety.
On the 25th, having been shelled, Hardy went out and dug two wounded men out of the rubble, whilst under direct fire, saving one and sadly losing the other.
The 27th saw the final acts of courage for which Hardy received his VC when having been pushed back, Hardy was the last man out of a wood in which that had been and as they moved up the line, he persuaded a sergeant to return and bring out a wounded man - which they did, even though they were, once again, under direct fire.
When told he had been put forward for a VC, Hardy's response was one of protest but this was to no avail and on the 18th July 1918 he was gazetted and awarded on the 9th August. The King was so impressed Hardy that he appointed him his chaplain but Hardy refused and stayed with 'his boys' - which is where he was when killed, at the age of fifty-five, by machine gun fire on the 10th October - just a few weeks short of the Armistice!
Hardy was buried at St Sever cemetery in Rouen - in a letter to Hardy's family, Colonel Hitch (8th Lincolns) wrote:
"What his loss meant to us is more than I can express, but his name will always be recalled with reverence and to those of us who knew him intimately. A great blank has appeared in our daily lives, though thank God we shall meet him again under happier surroundings".
The King wrote to Hardy's daughter, Mary:
"The King is deeply grieved to hear of the death from wounds of your dear father whose bravery and self sacrifice had won for him the love and respect of all who served with him. His Majesty heartily sympathises with you and yours in your sorrow."
Hardy's VC is on display at the Royal Army Chaplains Department museum, Aport House, Surrey.
I take great encouragement and pride in this man and his deeds - a model for those who follow in his footsteps.
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