Sergeant 861

21st Battalion

Brecon, Breconshire Wales

His sister Lily Norman of Brecon Wales. The son of Thomas and Mary Hardwick.

Leongatha, Victoria 7/1/1915

Age 29 years 9 months 5'8",12 stone, blue eyes and light brown hair

Church of England

Carpenter

He was killed in action on 5/10/1918 at Montbrehain east of Peronne

He was buried in Tincourt New British Cemetery France

He lived in Leongatha, Victoria


He migrated to Australia at the age of 20.
7/1/15. He enlisted in Leongatha
He was in the 21st Battalion
He was in the Leongatha Rifle Club and had been in Breconshire Volunteers for 2 years
10/5/15 He embarked Melbourne on the HMAT Ulysses
He went to Egypt
He served at Gallipoli where he was injured
11/7/16 He went to Marseilles
15/7/16 He went to school for instruction
11/10/16 He went to officer training in Gailes Ayrshire and became a 2nd Lieutenant
15/12/16 He proceeded oversea
He joined the 21st Battalion
3/5/17 He was at Bullecourt and received a severe gun shoot wound to the right elbow and spent time in hospital
7/5/17 He went to England
10/9/17 He attended a course at Tidworth on the Lewis Gun 18/9/17
5/10/18 He was killed in action
In his will he left his estate to his sisters Lily Norman of Brecon, Elsie Hill and brother Thomas Hardwick in equal shares
The executor of his will was Frederick William Morris builder of Leongatha
James Sutherland of Leongatha solicitor had the will. He applied for probate for the will
Mary Walters 2 The Avenue Windsor sought information about William as he was her first cousin.
He won a Military Cross
Military Cross �For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When his platoon was held up by fire from a mine crater he rushed forward with three men killing two of the enemy and dispersing the remainder. He set a fine example of courage and initiative.�
Source: �Commonwealth Gazette� No. 133
Date: 21 August 1917

Bar to Military Cross� For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the flank of an advance was seriously hampered by machine gun fire, he led forward a party, drove the enemy from their position, captured a machine gun and six prisoners, and established a post on the captured ground under heavy fire. He showed great courage and skill.�
Source: �Commonwealth Gazette� No. 61
Date: 23 May 1919

Recommendations (Medals and Awards) Mention in Despatches
Awarded, and promulgated, �London Gazette�, fourth Supplement, No. 29664 (11 July 1919); �Commonwealth Gazette� No. 176 (30 November 1916)
Other details from Roll of Honour Circular �Mentioned in Despatches 10th April, 1916 for distinguished and gallant services rnedered during the period of General Sir Charles Munro�s Command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. No. 861 Sergeant William Emlyn Hardwick�. Details from Sister