Theodore Bailey Hardy
The Reverend, (Chaplain 4th Class) Army Chaplains Department attached 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
- Register No.
- 530 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- The Reverend (register: Chaplain) all Chaplains →
- Unit
- (Chaplain 4th Class) Army Chaplains Department attached 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment (register: Royal Army Chaplains' Department) all Royal Army Chaplains' Department VCs →
- Date of action
- 7 July 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 11th July, 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 20th October, 1863 at Southernhay, Exeter
- Died
- 18th October, 1918 and Rouen, France. (Died on of wounds)
- Memorial / grave
- St Sever Cemetery Extension, France; in Carlisle Cathedral and in Hutton Roof Church, near Kirkby Lonsdale
Digest of citation
On 5th, 25th and 27th April 1918 near Bucquoy, and east of Gommecourt, France, the Reverend Theodore Hardy showed most conspicuous bravery, tending the wounded under very heavy fire, absolutely regardless of his personal safety. Once he helped to bring in a wounded officer from 400 yards beyond the front line. Then, when an enemy shell exploded in one of our posts and several men were buried, he immediately went, under heavy fire, and managed to dig two of them out. On a third occasion he went out with a sergeant and brought in a wounded man who was lying within 10 yards of a German pillbox
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
HARDY, Theodore Bailey. (reg No. 530).
The Reverend (Chaplain 4th Class) Army Chaplains Department attached 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment.
Gazetted on 11th July, 1918.
Born on 20th October, 1863 at Southernhay, Exeter.
Died on 18th October, 1918 and Rouen, France. (Died on of wounds)
Memorial at St Sever Cemetery Extension, France; in Carlisle Cathedral and in Hutton Roof Church, near Kirkby Lonsdale.
Digest of Citation reads:. On 5th, 25th and 27th April 1918 near Bucquoy, and east of Gommecourt, France, the Reverend Theodore Hardy showed most conspicuous bravery, tending the wounded under very heavy fire, absolutely regardless of his personal safety. Once he helped to bring in a wounded officer from 400 yards beyond the front line. Then, when an enemy shell exploded in one of our posts and several men were buried, he immediately went, under heavy fire, and managed to dig two of them out. On a third occasion he went out with a sergeant and brought in a wounded man who was lying within 10 yards of a German pillbox.
Additional information:. He was the son of George and Sarah Richardson Hardy, both of Exeter. His education was at the City of London School and London University. On the 13th September, 1888, in Belfast, he married Florence Elizabeth Hastings, daughter of William Hastings, Civil Engineer, of Belfast. They had one son and one daughter. The son William Hastings Hardy was Born on in 1892. He served in in the Eastern Mediterranean, during World War One, in the Royal Army Medical Corps attaining the rank of major. The daughter Mary Elizabeth Hardy served for two years with the Red Cross at Dunkirk. In 1898 Theodore Hardy was ordained Deacon in the diocese of Southwell, being made Priest the following year. He was a master at Nottingham High School from 1891-1907. Whilst in the Nottingham area he was a curate of Burton Joyce-with-Bulcote (1898-1902), following this for five years with the curacy of St Augustine's, New Basford, Notts. He was headmaster of Bentham Grammar-School until 1913. That year he accepted a 'living' at Hutton Roof, where he is remembered on a memorial. In September 1917 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and in October 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross (MC).
Additional information
He was the son of George and Sarah Richardson Hardy, both of Exeter. His education was at the City of London School and London University. On the 13th September, 1888, in Belfast, he married Florence Elizabeth Hastings, daughter of William Hastings, Civil Engineer, of Belfast. They had one son and one daughter. The son William Hastings Hardy was Born on in 1892. He served in in the Eastern Mediterranean, during World War One, in the Royal Army Medical Corps attaining the rank of major. The daughter Mary Elizabeth Hardy served for two years with the Red Cross at Dunkirk. In 1898 Theodore Hardy was ordained Deacon in the diocese of Southwell, being made Priest the following year. He was a master at Nottingham High School from 1891-1907. Whilst in the Nottingham area he was a curate of Burton Joyce-with-Bulcote (1898-1902), following this for five years with the curacy of St Augustine's, New Basford, Notts. He was headmaster of Bentham Grammar-School until 1913. That year he accepted a 'living' at Hutton Roof, where he is remembered on a memorial. In September 1917 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and in October 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross (MC).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: St Sever Cemetery Extension, France; in Carlisle Cathedral and in Hutton Roof Church, near Kirkby Lonsdale
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