Main CPGW Record
Surname: HARDAKER
Forename(s): Smith
Place of Birth: Haworth, Yorkshire
Service No: 15241
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 'D' Coy 10th (Service) Battalion
Division: 23rd Division
Age: 30
Date of Death: 1916-06-13
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: I. D. 4.
CWGC Cemetery: BOIS-DE-NOULETTE BRITISH CEMETERY, AIX-NOULETTE
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: CROSSHILLS, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: KILDWICK, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Smith Hardaker was the son of James and Sarah Hannah Hardaker, née Rushworth. James was born at Bingley and Sarah at Haworth, Yorkshire.
1891 Haworth, Yorkshire Census: 2, Bunkers - Smith Hardaker, aged 5 years, born Haworth, son of James and Sarah H. Hardaker.
1901 Sutton-in-Craven, Yorkshire Census: 13, Elm Road - Smith Hardaker, aged 15 years, born Haworth, Yorkshire, son of James and Sarah H. Hardaker.
Smith was married to Ethel Cowling in 1909. Ethel married John William Windle in 1921.
1911 Crosshills, Yorkshire Census: 1, North Street - Smith Hardaker, aged 25 years, born Haworth, Yorkshire, husband of Ethel Hardaker.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Smith Hardaker, 15241, W. Rid. R. Theatre of War first served in: (1) France. Date of entry therein: 26 August 1915. K. in A. 13.6.16.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Smith Hardaker, 15241, 10th W. Rid. R. K. in A. 13.6.18 [sic].
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Smith Hardaker, 15241, 10th Bn W. Riding. Date and Place of Death: 13.6.16. In action. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow and Sole Legatee - Ethel. £7 18s. 0d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for Smith. Name(s) on card(s): Widow: Ethel, born 3.2.91. Address: 1, North Street, Crosshills, Yorkshire. Children: Sarah Elizabeth, born 4.9.09. Harry, born 18.4.14.
The 1921 Census shows that Ethel and her children were living at 1, North Street, Crosshills. The 1939 Register shows that Ethel (born Crosshills) and her husband John were living at 5, Bucklar Hill, Farnhill, near Kildwick, Yorkshire.
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
HARDACRE, Smith, aged 30, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, Milligan Fields, [Crosshills], killed in the trenches in France June 13, 1916.
---
Click the thumbnail below to view a larger image.
Private Smith HARDAKER
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 23rd Division
---
---
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
23 June 1916
HARDACRE – June 13th, killed in action in France, Pte. Smith Hardacre, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, of Milligan Fields, Crosshills, aged 30 years.
23 June 1916
CROSSH1LLS MAN KILLED AT THE FRONT
On Sunday morning last Mrs. Smith Hardacre, of Milligan Fields, Crosshills, received news that her husband had been killed in the trenches in France. She has not received an official notification, but as the letter was written for one of his friends (Pte. Tom Ellison, of Sutton) who was with him at the time he met his death, there can be no doubt that the sad news is true. The letter is as follows:– “Dear Mrs. Hardacre, – I am very sorry to have to inform you that your husband, Pte. Smith Hardacre, has been killed in action whilst in the trenches, about dinnertime on the 13th instant. I cannot give any details of his death except that he died instantaneously and suffered no pain. You must excuse my writing, but I thought it would be best to inform you as early as possible. Private Tom Lister Ellison brought the news to me and asked me to write to you. In all probability you will get more news from an officer of his company, but in the event of your not doing so I will make enquiries, and if you will just drop a line to me I will try to answer all you want to know. Wishing you all sympathy in your sad and sudden bereavement.
“Yours truly, Company Sergeant F. Stephenson, 10th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, France.”
Private Hardacre enlisted in the Duke of Wellington’s in January last year, and was for some time stationed at Folkestone, and afterwards at Bramshot Camp, from where they were drafted to France in July last year. He had seen considerable fighting, and was a bomber in the trenches, having been trained at a bombing school in France. At the battle of Loos he went into the German trenches with bombs, and for his work in this engagement he won a medal and bar. He was home on leave about two months ago, but was recalled by a telegram before his time of leave had expired, and was expecting to receive another leave before very long to make up for this.
Private Hardacre was thirty years of age, and leaves a widow and two children.
07 July 1916
CROSSHILLS – PRAISE FOR A FALLEN HERO
Mrs. Smith Hardacre of Milligan Fields, Crosshills, has received an official communication from the military authorities, confirming the news she had already received that her husband (Private Smith Hardacre of the 10th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment) had been killed in Northern France. Pte. Hardacre’s bombing officer, Lieutenant Keith Laverock, has written to Mrs. Hardacre and speaks very highly of his work in the Bombing Battalion, and expresses his sympathy with her in her bereavement. Company Quarter-Master Sergeant Frank Stephenson, a resident of Cowling, has written to Mrs. Hardacre telling how her husband met his death.
He says:– “He was one of the battalion bombers, and along with another bomber he was on guard over a stock of bombs in a dugout. The Germans sent a shell over, what is commonly called by the men as a Rum jar, that is a very big shell, and it went into the dugout, bursting the bombs and blowing up the dugout. A party of men at once cleared away the debris, and when he was wrapped in a blanket he was along with the other men taken and given a decent burial.”
The Army Chaplain, Wilfred L. Henderson, in expressing his sorrow for the loss of a brave soldier, says:– “We all sympathise with you. He was killed by a German shell, and we buried him on the same night in a little cemetery behind the lines. A cross and number will be put over his grave, and the grave and cross reverently cared for. Your feelings must also be mingled with pride. I think I am permitted to tell you that your husband’s grave lies near the village of Noulette in Northern France.”
In addition, Mrs. Hardacre has received a letter from her husband’s Captain as follows:– “Dear Mrs. Hardacre, I have been meaning to write to you for several days to tell you how very much we all miss your husband, and how very sorry for you we are. Your husband was, of course, attached to the battalion bombers. He was one of the most popular men in my company and I have never known a more willing and cheerful worker. A man like your husband does his bit and a good bit over, and I am sure that all who knew him will agree with me in this. I hope it will be some consolation to you to know that he could not have suffered any pain, as death must have been instantaneous.
“Captain J. H. Bull, Commanding D Company, 10th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment”
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
23 June 1916
A CROSSHILLS SOLDIER’S DEATH
On Sunday morning news of the death of another local soldier was made known in the district. Mrs. Smith Hardacre was informed by letter from Quarter-master Frank Stephenson, of Sutton Mill, that her husband had been killed on Whit Tuesday whilst leaving the trenches. Pte. Smith Hardacre, of the 10th Duke of Wellington’s, went to France last August, and had his first leave the week before Easter. His father, Mr. James Hardacre, of King Edward Street, Sutton Mill, has received a letter since his return, wherein he refers to his visit home, and how everybody was kind to him. Before leaving home to return to the front, Pte. Hardacre remarked that he had no fears for himself, but he showed some anxiety about his two children, a little boy of two years and a girl of six.
Pte. Tom Lister Ellison (transport driver), Sutton, has recently been home on furlough, and on his return had charge of parcels for the deceased. In his letter to his wife this week he remarks: “I went to visit Smith with parcels, but the officer told me my pal was killed whilst leaving the trenches. Death was caused by a bursting shell, and was instantaneous.” His brother, John Hardacre, is also with the forces at present on training in England. Pte John Hardacre was captain of the Glusburn Institute cricket team for two seasons.
Comment on this Soldier Record
You can leave comments on this soldier record. Please note all comments will be manually approved before they appear on the website.
Thank you ❤