Born in 1893 at Walthamstow, son of Herbert Cosmo (Tailor) and Louisa Hardwick. 1901: With his family at 14 Blackhorse Road, Walthamstow. 1911: A Solicitors Clerk with his family at 49 West End Avenue, Leyton. The family home was later at 695 Lea Bridge Road, Leyton. He joined Queen Victoria’s Rifles in the late autumn of 1914, and served in France from 6th June 1915.
From 9th April 1917 the Battalion was involved in the Battle of Arras, in particular the First Battle of the Scarpe. They were rested on 11th April having taken casualties of 16 Officers and 303 Other Ranks. They returned to the front line on 21st April, to participate in the Second Battle of the Scarpe during 23/29 April 1917. At some stage Donald Hardwick sustained wounds from which he died in 8 Casualty Clearing Station at Duisans.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com