251223 Gnr. Ernest Hardman British Army 211th Brigade, A Battery Royal Field Artillery from:Bolton (d.28th Sept 1917) Ernest Hardman joined up on 24th of Aug 1914 and died age 26 on the 28th Sept 1917 at the Third Battle of Ypres. His brother, Harry a Scots Guard, regular with the 1st Battalion, died 2 weeks later in the same battle on the 10th Oct 1917.
Their mother had been ill with pneumonia and the post man did not want to give her the telegram which told of Ernest's death for fear it could make her worse, he held on to it for couple of weeks in the hope she would recover - unforntately on the 10th of Oct 1917 he received another telegram and had to give them both to their mother, she found out that 2 of her sons had died. They were survived by their brother Walter who fought the entire war again in the Royal Field Artillery.
Our family has always through the generations remembered their sacrifice and bravery and celebrated their lives. They gave their today for our tomorrow.
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