1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 58698 John Hardwick
- Age: 25
- From: Walsall, Staffs
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
- K.I.A Tuesday 6th March 1917
- Commemorated at: Agny New Military Cem
Panel Ref: F.9
The 1901 Census shows the family living at 32 Penkridge Street, Walsall. His parents are both aged 37, his father is a self-employed grocer/shopkeeper born in Walsall, his mother, Alice, was born in Birmingham, Ada is aged 12, John is aged 9, and Doris is aged 10 months old. Another daughter, Lily, was born later in 1901, but died at the age of 2.
His father was fined for a traffic offence. Which was reported in the Walsall Advertiser on Saturday 19th April 1902;
Police-constable Horton told the Magistrates that he found John Henry Hardwick, of 52, Penkridge Street, driving in Marsh Street, on April 11th, without a light attached to the vehicle. Hardwick was ordered to pay a fine of 5s and costs.
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.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.
John earned his two medals.
His father received John’s Army effects, Army Pay of £4 2s 3d and a War Gratuity of £9-10s. The pension card has no award, address 12 Francis Street.
Walsall Observer - Saturday 12 August 1922
BOOED BY NEIGHBOURS.
Sequel to Girl's Removal to the Union Infirmary.
Because John Hy. Hardwick, of 12, Francis Street, had his daughter removed to the union infirmary on July 29, some of the neighbours apparently made a demonstration against him, as the result of which, Emma Ingley, 16, Francis Street, was summoned at the Walsall Police Court on Wednesday, for threatening Hardwick. Complainant said a crowd of people gathered round his door and booed him and called him "various wicked names." When he returned from the infirmary he saw the defendant and asked her what she wanted to boo him for, and she then made use of a “quantity of bad words" and threatened to knock his eye out.
Mr. S. E. Loxton (Justices' Clerk): What made her threaten you? - Complainant: Because she said I was doing wrong in having my daughter go into the infirmary.
Defendant: Was I the only one who shouted. in the street? - Complainant: No.
Emily Townley corroborated the complainant's story, and defendant was bound over to keep the peace for six months and ordered to pay the costs (5s.).
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.
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