LOSS AT YPRES.
Private Thomas Hardy 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. He was the second Shetland connected soldier to be die on the Western Front, dying from wounds on the 2nd of November, 1914.
Thomas’s life at this time was brought to light by his letters to his brother, Master David Hardy, Wadbister, Girlsta
By 13th October soldiers of the French and British Armies arrived in Ypres, passing through the town to the east establishing defensive positions to hold up the advance of the German Army. The town was to become embroiled in war for the next four years.
“I can’t say this is life – it is mere existence. The guns are thundering and shells bursting everywhere. As I am writing the enemy are attacking to our left, about a mile away, as I hear the maxims and terrific rifle fire. We have held this position almost a week under terrible artillery fire.
In the firing lines one knows nothing but what’s happening to one’s immediate front. We may be the only party in the war for all we know. The rifle fire and artillery fire continue all night, and, to make things more miserable, there is a continual drizzle caused by the heavy”.
Thomas was engaged with his Battalion in a desperate defensive action near Gheluvelt during later October.
His Battalion was quickly marched off due south to give support in against a German attack at Zandvoorde on the 30th of October. Heavy shelling, machine gun and rifle fire held back the attack to some degree. Trenches were dug on the morning of the 31st and there were a few casualties. Later that day the Battalion, only 150 strong, launched a counter attack. In all, 40 German prisoners were taken with an estimated 300 killed. It was during this period that Thomas was mortally wounded, passing away on the 2nd of November.
During the fighting in the autumn of 1914 the German Army was unable to capture Ypres. The Ypres Salient was created.
Thomas was awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL
His mother, Jessie (also known as Janet), lost two other sons during the Great War. Charles, aged 25, lost by the sinking of his ship s.s. North Wales of Penzance on October 24th, 1916, and William David, accidently drowned at Calcutta whilst serving on s.s. Bylands.
She was asked to unveil the war memorial in Lerwick on the 6th of January 1924. At least 3,000 people turned up to the service then paraded to the memorial to watch the unveiling. The parade was led by the band, then the ex-servicemen. There was a great feeling of loss throughout the service and a very solemn silence when Mrs Hardy pulled down the flags to reveal the memorial.
Sources:-
2nd Battalion War Diary. TNA WO-95-1656-2
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
