Theodore Bayley Hardy
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Rev. Theodore Bayley Hardy, VC, DSO, MC (October 20, 1863 in Southernhay, Exeter - October 18, 1918) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. In addition to the VC, Hardy had been awarded the Military Cross and the Distinguished Service Order, making him one of the most decorated non-combatants of the First World War.
He was 54 years old, and a Padre in the Army Chaplains' Department, British Army, T/Chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class attached to 8th Battalion, The Lincolnshire Regiment during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 5, 25, and 27 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. King George V personally pinned the VC to Hardy's chest.
Despite pleas from his superiors both in the military and in religious life, and indeed an offer of a post in England from the King himself, Hardy would not leave the front.
He was wounded in action and died a week later in Rouen, France, on 18 October 1918.
He was buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France, in block S, plot V, row J, grave 1. There are memorials to Hardy at Carlisle Cathedral and in his old church at Hutton Roof in Cumbria.
His medals are displayed at The Museum of Army Chaplaincy (Amport, Hampshire, England).
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - Spring Offensive 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 1997)
