TOPIC:

James Hardy

Wounded in Action (Severely) at Amersfoort - 7 August 1900
Wounded in Action (Severely) at Tigers Kloof – 13 April 1902

Private, 1st & 4th Battalions, Kings Royal Rifle Corps

- Queens South Africa Medal (Defence of Ladysmith/Transvaal) to 8134 PTE. J. HARDY. K.R.R.C.

James Hardy was born on 13 September 1868 in Hunslet, part of Leeds industrial “inner city” in Yorkshire, the son of John Hardy, a Carman by occupation, and his wife Catherine – both his parents were born in Ireland.

He made his first appearance in official records in the 1871 England census where his family were living at 4 Ripon Street in Hunslet. The last-born at 2 years of age he had five older siblings in the forms of Thomas (10), Mary (10), Ellen (9), John (7) and Elizabeth (5).

Ten years later, at the time of the 1881 England census, the family had moved to 3 Hepworth Street in Hunslet. Mr Hardy was now a Carter by occupation – of his wife in this census there was no sign. Some of the older children had moved out of the house but others remained. Thomas and John were now both employed and able, no doubt, to ease their father’s financial burden. James was now 13 and still at school as were Elizabeth (15) and William (10).

With the dawn of the 1891 England census a 22 year old James was a Steam Engine Maker and Fitter by trade, an occupation he pursued with his 19 year old brother William. Mrs Hardy had made a return to the family fold, but not for long, she was to pass away in May 1891. The family were living at 22 Leathley Road in Hunslet.

Two years later, on 21 June 1893 Hardy, having decided on a change in direction, enlisted for service with the Kings Royal Rifle Corps at Leeds. Now 22 years and 8 months old, he described himself as a Fitter by trade who had never resided outside of his fathers house.

Physically a diminutive 5 feet 4 ½ inches in height, he weighed a slender 128 lbs and had a fresh complexion, grey eyes, and dark brown hair. A Roman Catholic by way of religious affiliation, he had no distinctive marks about his person. Having been passed as Fit by Dr Rowan for service he was assigned the rank of Private with no. 8134.

Initially attached to the Depot at Winchester, Hardy was posted to the 4th battalion, K.R.R.C. on 20 October 1893. This was followed by a posting to the 2nd battalion on 31 January 1895, the day before his battalion departed for the island of Malta for garrison duties. They were to remain there for 1 year 166 days before being posted to South Africa where they served for 2 years 264 days – from 16 July 1896 until 5 April 1899. It was on this last date that they set sail for India, probably blissfully unaware, as they waved Table Mountain goodbye, that they would be back in South Africa in a matter of months – fulfilling an entirely different and more active role.

South Africa, as the 19th century drew to an inevitable close, was a boiling cauldron with emotions and tempers at fever pitch. The two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal, long at loggerheads with Imperial Britain, had taken the time, expense, and trouble to arm themselves in the wake of the disastrous Jameson Raid of 1896 where, it had been proven beyond doubt that the British authorities did not bode them well.

Matters came to a head on 11 October 1899 when an ultimatum to the British Government went, as expected, unanswered. Within hours war had been declared and Boer Commandos had crossed the common borders with the Transvaal and the O.F.S. into the Cape Colony and Natal. In the build-up to this troops had been readied, both at home and in India and elsewhere, to journey to the scene of the conflict. The Kings Royal Rifles were no exception sailing for the country and continent whose shores they had so recently departed.

The 2nd battalion, having arrived in South Africa on 18 September 1899, moved upcountry and were in Ladysmith when war broke out. Commandos from the two Boer Republics were fast converging on the town, the Headquarters of General Sir George White and, after the Dundee garrison had fallen back on Ladysmith after the battle of Talana near Dundee, the last bastion of any Imperial size in Natal.

Several engagements to prevent the encirclement of Ladysmith were undertaken by White – one of these, designed to draw attention away from Yules straggling hordes trudging in from Dundee, was on 24th October at Rietfontein, outside Ladysmith. The 2nd King's Royal Rifles were at first with the baggage, and afterwards half the battalion was in the reserve line. They had no losses.

At the battle of Ladysmith (also called Nicholson’s Neck) on 30th October the battalion was with Grimwood on the right and was hardly pressed all morning. Their losses were approximately 1 officer wounded, 8 men killed, 29 wounded, and some missing. After an uneasy Christmas laying siege to Ladysmith, the Boer leadership held a “Krygsraad” to discuss tactics and the way forward – if they were to bring the town to its knees an, thereby, enforce a surrender, they would need to go on the offensive, a strategy unpalatable to a number of Boer Commanders who felt that a leisurely blockade would have the desired effect on the beleaguered White and his 12 000 odd garrison which was being virtually starved in to submission.

Eventually the consensus reached was to attack which led to the great offensive of 6th January 1900. Four companies of the 2nd King's Royal Rifles were sent in the early morning as reinforcements to Waggon Hill, where they took part in the furious fighting. One company under Lieutenant Tod attempted to rush the eastern crest, then held by the Boers, but the attempt failed, Lieutenant Tod being killed. The battalion's losses that day were 4 officers and 7 men killed and about 35 wounded.

The Boers were finally repulsed and the drudgery of a stalemate now prevailed. During the siege, which was lifted on 28 February 1900, three officers and 6 non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned in Sir George White's despatch for excellent work. After a much needed few weeks of rest and recuperation (those of the Ladysmith garrison who had not succumbed to the ravages of Enteric Fever were emaciated beyond measure); the 2nd battalion marched north to the Transvaal-Natal border, and in July was ordered to sail for Colombo with prisoners.

It was at this juncture, on 1 July 1900, that Hardy transferred to the 1st battalion – this meant a continued presence in the fighting on South African soil as part of Sir Redvers Buller's northern movement to expel the Boers from Natal. Here the 1st King's Royal Rifles were in the IVth Division under Lieutenant General Lyttelton, and in the 8th Brigade under Major General Howard, — the other regiments of the brigade being the 1st Liverpool, 1st Leicestershire, and 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Near Amersfoort on 24th and 25th July 1900 there was stiff fighting, in referring to which Lord Roberts says, "On which occasion the 13th and 69th Batteries RFA, the 1st King's Royal Rifles, and the 2nd Gordon Highlanders distinguished themselves, especially the Volunteer company of the latter regiment".


Map detailing the vicinity where Hardy was first WIA

Again at Amersfoort on 7th August, and near Geluk between 21st and 24th August, there was fighting, but the Boers were always driven back till the great position at Bergendal was reached. Having escaped the Siege of Ladysmith without being wounded, Hardys luck ran out – an account in the South Wales Daily News of 10 August 1900, under the heading, “Boers attempt to rush our outposts” read thus: -
“Amersfoort, Wednesday

By a rapid march north from Paardekop, General Buller censured this position last evening after some smart fighting. Our advance was opposed by General Christiaan Botha’s commando of about 2000 burghers and 10 guns. Botha at the outset held a range of hills on each side of the main road, but as it turned out he was unable to induce his men to make a determined stand. He brought his guns into action but these were silenced by our superior artillery fire.

When our infantry pushed forward steadily in the face of the Boer fire, Botha thought it well to take his guns away. We pushed on and got into Amersfoort just before nightfall. This morning during a thick fog the Boers tried to rush our cavalry outposts, but were driven off. The troopers who were watering their horses when attacked narrowly escaped being captured. Our casualties from Paardekop to Amersfoort were only 2 officers and 23 men wounded. The Kings Royal Rifles had most of the casualties.”

According to Hardy’s service file, he was severely Wounded in Action at Amersfoort on 8 August (sic) “In the left arm and side.”

Returning to duty, he recommenced the march up the Transvaal, probably fighting in the Bergendal battle (named Dalmanutha by the Boers) outside Dullstroom (if his wounds had healed in the intervening three weeks – this was regarded as the last pitched battle of the war before the guerrilla phase was embarked on and the 1st K.R.R.C. wasn’t heavily engaged. After Bergendal the IVth Division went with General Buller to Lydenburg, in which neighbourhood other actions were fought.

The force then marched up and down the awful sides of the Mauchberg and other mountains, and afterwards back to the railway. In the operations about Badfontein en route for Lydenburg the Leicesters and 1st King's Royal Rifles were mentioned by Lord Roberts "as dragging the guns of a battery up a steep hill, whence a heavy fire was brought to bear on the Boers". On 9th September the 1st King's Royal Rifles dislodged the enemy from a position on the Mauchberg.

On 13 November 1900, after 1 year and 56 days under the African sun, Hardy was invalided home to England with a transfer to the 3rd battalion on 20 November. He was, however, destined to return to the fight, sailing with the 4th battalion (to which he had been transferred on – on 10 December 1901, after 1 year and 28 days, he took to the field once more. In the interim he had been posted to the 4th battalion with effect from 27 November 1901.

The 4th Battalion sailed from England on 9th December 1901, and after the disaster at Tweefontein, 25th December 1901, the battalion was sent to reinforce Rundle's command in the north-east of the Orange River Colony, being employed chiefly about Harrismith till the close of the war. During the period they were in this district several very fruitful drives were carried through, the excellent way in which the infantry held the blockhouse lines and posts contributing greatly to the successful results obtained.


The vicinity in the O.F.S. where Hardy was severely WIA (accident)

Misfortune struck Hardy again whilst on duty neat Tigers Kloof in the Orange Free State – according to the official casualty returns, he was severely wounded in an accident on 13 April 1902. A list of casualties which appeared in the Yorkshire Post dated 16 April 1902 revealed that 8134 J. Hardy was “accidentally severely wounded in the right thigh.” The circumstances were not divulged leaving the reader wondering whether or not this was self-inflicted or the result of friendly fire.

Hardy soldiered on and was returned to England on 10 August 1902, after an additional service period of 243 days, attached to the Depot. For his efforts he was awarded the Queens Medal with Defence of Ladysmith and Transvaal clasps – the Orange Free State and South Africa 1902 clasps were issued in April 1903 off a supplementary roll.

After a further 2 years and 296 days on the Army Reserve, he completed his 12 years of service and took his discharge, time expired, on 20 June 1905. According to the 1911 England census he had married Elizabeth Walker in 1908 and was resident with her in his widowed mother-in-law’s house, 41 Florist Street, off Bursley Road, Leeds. He was employed at a Forge as a Slater. His 42 year old wife was a Nail Cutter at a Nail Mill.

The 1921 England census advised that he was, at the age of 50, a Bricklayer’s labourer, employed by Marlo Builders in Sheffield. He was still resident at 41 Florist Street with his wife and mother-in-law. There had been no children of the marriage. The 1939 register revealed that he was a retired Bricklayer’s Assistant, living with his wife, Elizabeth, at 29 Broadlea Road, Leeds. He was 70 years of age. Not long after, on 25 November 1939, he passed away at the age of 71 and is buried in Beckett Street cemetery, Leeds.