William Kyle Hardy

Civil Decoration for Gallantry from The Royal Humane Society:-

Lieutenant William Kyle Hardy R.A., has lately been awarded the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society, for having while in the camp last year, near Nagpore, India, gallantly attempted to rescue from drowning a Mr Egan who bad been upset from his boat while sailing on the Telinkerry Tank, near by.

—Army and Navy Gazette

Source: The Cork Constitution dated 25 April 1890

A further report  - 

Captain Hardy was awarded the Bronze Medal of the Royal Humane Society for his efforts to rescue a police constable from drowning at Nagpore, lndia, on the 10th February, 1889. Captain Hardy was, however, unsuccessful.

Source: Hart's Annual Army List 1902, page 990

1891 Hazara Expedition:

Served in Hazara Expedition, also known as the Black Mountain Expedition of 1891, North West Frontier on the banks of the Indus River: from 1/3/1891 to 29/5/1891. No.1 Mountain Battery Royal Artillery. Soldiers who served in the campaign received The Indian General Service Medal with the clasp "Hazara 1891".

1 January 1894 Promoted Captain, Royal Artillery.

From 3 October 1901 to 11 December 1903: Staff Service: D.A.A.G. (Deputy Assistant Adjutant General) for Royal Artillery, India.

12 December 1903 Major, R.A.

1911 Census Living at Highfield, Wonston, Hants. Occupation Major Royal Garrison Artillery; wife Jessie, daughters Rosalind Jessie and Janet Irene, and son Hubert Kyle. Also a domestic governess and a domestic servant.

He is recorded in the 1911 Enumeration, Return of all Commissioned Officers, Warrant Officers, NCOs , Rank & File. He is a Major, aged 45, married, 71st (Heavy) Battery, R.G.A. Absent in England — see above. On the front page he is named as the Commanding Officer of 71st (Heavy) Battery Royal Garrison Artillery, location Nowgong, Bundelkhand, and he is reporting to Lieut. Colonel Percy de Saumarez Burney. Nowgong served as British HQ of the Bundelkhand Agency.

29 January 1913    Lieutenant Colonel, R.A. From the Monthly Army List dated Oct. 1913 he is recorded "Lt. Col. Heavy Art. Peshawar".

World War 1

Working on the location references etc. in Mesopotamia from the two obituaries on the website:

a) Kut 1914 This probably refers to Battle of Kut al Amara 28.9.1915.

b) Sheil Said Action of Sheikh Sa'ad — 6-8 January 1916. First unsuccessful attempt to relieve Kut.

c) Wadi Action of Wadi River — 13/14 January 1916. Second unsuccessful attempt to relieve Kut.

d) Falayah and Saurayah

I think this refers to attack and capture of Urn-Al-Hannah and Falahiyah, followed by attacks on Sannaiyat, and then fall of Kut - between 11.3.1916 to 29.4.1916. 7th Division is mentioned in report from Lt.Gen. Sir P.H.N. Lake, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., commanding Indian Expedition Force 'D'. (Refer London Gazette dated 12.10.1916 Supplement 29782, page 9851, 3rd phase). 7th Division charged Ottoman lines at Hannah but failed against their positions and were forced to abandon and returned to the base at Ali Gharbi.

17-24 February 1917 Capture of Sannaiyat and then Kut. 11 March 1917 Occupation of Baghdad. Then advance to Samarra via Balad Ruz. Samarra occupied 24 April 1917. Could not find any reference to Shava Khan or Khan Mustedin. There is reference that he commanded No.3 Tigris in May 1917. There was an Anglo-Indian Tigris Corps during the Mesopotamian Campaign. Could find no record when he returned to England.

14.8.1917 London Gazette 3rd Supplement, page 8328. He receives special mention by Lieut.-General Sir Stanley Maude, K.C.B., Commander-in-Chief, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force. His name appears under the heading of Staff and Headquarters.

British Army List 1918 October Part 1, page 276 records: 14.3.1916 to 7.4.1917 Temporary Brigadier General : Colonel R. Art. India 14.3.1916 to 14.1.1917 and Brigadier General R .Art. 15.1.1917 to 7.4.1917.

From National Archives: Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards:-

1914-15 Star

Service Record        Rank: Colonel Corps: Heavy Artillery Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery.

Second Service Record         Rank: Lieut. Colonel Corps: as above

Theatre of War Mesopotamia 25.12.15 EF/9/974 16.1.23 qualifying date EF/6/10003

Residences

1911 to 1927 Residence in England : Highfield, Wonston, Sutton Scotney, Hants. His name appears on Absent Voters List Winchester Division for 1920 Spring & Autumn - Brig.Gen. Sgt. (Col.) R.G.A, . and 1921 Autumn - Brig. Gen. R.A.

1929 Living at 8 Buckingham Road, Newbury, with his wife Jessie, daughter Janet Irene and son Hubert Kyle. On Electoral Register 1929/1930/1931. could not find 1928.

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