Died
3rd May 1917
Born
1875
Sources
North Western Daily Mail
Collins Online Dictionary
Place
Walks
Barrow 2 point 22
Themes
Private David Harry Hardern
31 January 2013
IN .... LOVING MEMORY OF
SAMUEL HARDERN
WHO DIED JANUARY 24TH 1901 AGED 53 YEARS
AND OF HIS BELOVED WIFE MARY A. HARDERN
WHO DIED APRIL 21ST 1901 AGED 54 YEARS
AND OF THEIR BELOVED SON PTE. DAVID HARRY HARDERN, KING’S OWN R. L. REGT, KILLED IN ACTION 3RD MAY 1917, AGED 41 YEARS.
ALSO JOHN WILLIAM,
SON OF THE ABOVE AND BELOVED HUSBAND OF
EMMA HARDERN,
WHO DIED DECEMBER 18TH 1934, AGED 67 YEARS.
Where is the grave?
Walk past the crematorium towards the Catholic Chapel of Rest. The Hardern grave is a little more than half-way along this section, on the left, two or three rows back.
The Military Service Act 1916 introduced conscription on March 2nd, 1916, at a time when the number of volunteers was much diminished – the ‘it will be over by Christmas’ of autumn 1914 had been proved wrong, and the losses at the battles of Ypres, Neuve Chapelle, Gallipoli and elsewhere dented the patriotic fervour of the early months of the war.
The North Western Daily Mail Friday June 1st 1917 reported:
North Western Daily Mail, Friday June 1st 1917BARROW ATHLETE KILLED IN ACTION
ONLY NINE WEEKS IN FRANCE
After a few weeks of mystery and uncertainty, official news has this week been received of the death of Private David Harry Hardern, of the 1st King’s Own, who fell in action on May 3rd, somewhere in France. Needless to say, profound regret has been created by the sad intelligence. Pte. Hardern was 41 years of age, and resided with his wife and family at 5, Carlton-avenue. He joined up last November, and had been in France only about nine weeks. He was a member of a well-known Barrow family. On finishing his education at the Secondary School, he entered his father’s business as a house furnisher, and subsequently, on the death of his father, became a partner in the business with his brothers. Pte. Hardern was a fine type of fellow, who indulged in healthy and manly recreations, his favourite pastimes being gymnastics and swimming, in both of which he was an adept. He used to play also for the Tradesmen’s Cricket Club. He was captain of the well-known St. Mark’s gymnastics team for several years, and was one of the competitors for the national trophy. He was a strong swimmer, and on more than one occasion was able to turn his knowledge of the natatorial art into advantage by life-saving. Two years ago he rescued his own son and another boy who were in imminent danger of drowning at Greenodd, and he accomplished a similar feat in Walney Channel a few years ago. Pte. Hardern made a host of friends in his business career, and also socially, and his gentlemanly characteristics were admired by all who knew him. Much sympathy goes out to his relatives, and particularly his widow and family of three children, in the sad blow that has bereft them of an exemplary husband and affectionate father.
By 1917 older men such as Private Hardern were being conscripted.
Private Hardern is buried at Brown’s Copse Cemetery, Roeux. (II A 43) near Arras, Pas de Calais.
The Hardern’s had a house furnishing shop on Dalkeith Street.
Keith Johnson adds: David had joined his father’s furniture supply business, and on his father’s death, became a partner in the business along with his brothers. David was said to have made a host of friends in his business career; his gentlemanly characteristics were admired by everyone who knew him.
In April 2020 I was contacted by David Hardern’s grand-daughter, Ros Clark, from Harlow, who had found him on the website. She kindly sent 2 photographs:
The picture on the right is labelled St Mark’s International Gymnastics Team 1909-10. David Hardern has a cross on his chest, second from the left, middle row.
I had also been bought a subscription to Ancestry, so could find that David Harry Hardern (34), House Furnisher, born in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, was living at 40 Stafford Street, Barrow at the time of the 1911 Census. With him were wife Violet Harden (33), and children Constance May Hardern (12), scholar; Leslie Harry Hardern (7), scholar; and Moira Hardern (7 months) – my correspondent’s mother. Wife and children were all born in Barrow.
In the 1901 Census the family were at 3 Brighton Street, Barrow. David is a House Furnisher’s Clerk, and he and Violet have one daughter, Constance May Hardern (3), and a boarder, William Beresford (29), gun draughtsman, born Manchester, and a domestic servant, Sarah Jane Rix (16), born Manchester.
In the 1891 Census he (aged 15) was with parents Samuel and Mary A Hardern, both born Macclesfield, Cheshire, and siblings John W. Hardern (23); Samuel F. Hardern (21); Caroline A. R. Hardern (17) and Arthur E. Hardern (13) at 12, Hartington Street, Barrow.
In the 1881 Census, David (aged 6), Samuel & family were living at 3 Lancaster Street, Barrow. At this time, father Samuel was a labourer in the shipyard.
By the time of his death, David Harry Hardern was a successful businessman. The National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1918, has HARDERN David Harry of 5 Carlton-avenue Barrow-in-Furness Lancashire private Royal Lancaster regiment died 3 May 1917 in France Probate Lancaster 29 November to Violet Hardern widow.
Effects £1716 13s 8d.
