Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Hardy, a brick maker, born 1845 in Castle Donington, Leicestershire and his wife Emma Hardy, born 1851 in Watford Heath, Hertfordshire. Albert Stenson was born in the 4th quarter of 1886 in Coalville, Leicestershire, his siblings were, George Harry, an apprentice butcher, born 1877, Victoria, a schoolgirl, born 1880, and Eliza Ann, a schoolgirl, born 1884, all his siblings were born in Coalville, in April 1891 the family home was at Strettons Row, Station Street, Whitwick, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Stenson was employed as a coal miner and was residing in the family home at Gibbs, Row, Coalville, together with his father, a bricklayer, his mother and siblings, Rose, born 1892 and James William, born 1893, both siblings were born in Coalville. In the 1st quarter of 1907 in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district, Stenson’s father died aged 62. In April 1911 Stenson was absent from the family home at Fords Row, Hermitage Road, Coalville, residing there was his widowed mother and siblings, James, a mineral water manufacturer’s labourer, also residing in the family home was his married sister, Eliza Buck and her husband, John William Buck, a coal miner, born 1885 in Belton, Leicestershire and their children, Emma Amelia, born 1909 and Rose Mary, born 1911, both children were born in Coalville, Stenson was serving as a Private with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed at Fort Saint George, Madras, India. In the 2nd quarter of 1914, Stenson married Mary Forman, born 1884 in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district, he gave his name as Albert G. Hardy to the Registrar. They had a daughter, Hilda E., born in the 1st quarter of 1915 in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district. Officially recorded at birth as Albert Stinson, he was always known by the Christian name Stenson.
Stenson (Albert) attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 9 years with the Colours and 3 years in the Reserve on the 24th May 1905 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Coalville, Leicestershire, his age as 18 years and 5 months and his trade or calling as miner. He gave his wife Mary Hardy of 3, Tebbett’s Yard, Hotel Street, Coalville, Leicestershire and his mother Emma Hardy, brother James Hardy and sister Rose Hardy of 21, Hermitage Road, Coalville, Leicestershire and his sister Mrs V. Lister as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4¾ inches in height, weighed 134 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34 and 37 inches. His complexion was described as freckled, his hair colour was sandy and he had brown eyes. It was noted that he had a horizontal scar on the back of his head on the right side, he had a small circular scar on the upper part of his abdomen immediately below his ribs about one inch from medium line on his left side. He gave his religion as Wesleyan, he was pronounced fit for the Army on the 24th May 1905 in Leicester. A follow up medical examination after six months service and a gymnastics course recorded his height as 5 foot 4¾ inches, his weight as 140 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 36½ inches. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 7690 on the 26/5/05. Commenced recruit training on the 26/5/05. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment stationed at Colchester on the 22/8/05. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment stationed at Shorncliffe on the 21/9/06. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 5/11/07. Embarked aboard HT Assayan for India on the 6/11/07 – 28/11/07. Posted to Belgaum, India on the 30/11/07. Passed the Mounted Infantry course at Poona, India on the 15/2/09. Passed the Ambulance Class on the 14/6/09. Passed the Nursing Duties Class on the 12/9/09. Posted to Bellaray, India on the 6/3/11. Awarded the 3rd Class Army Certificate of Education on the 8/5/11. Posted to Bareilly, India on the 11/3/13. Posted to Ranikhet, India on the 14/9/13. Posted to Bareilly, India on the 24/10/13. Transferred to the Army Reserve on the 4/4/14. Mobilized on the 5/8/14. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 5/8/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary force in France on the 8/9/14. Landed at St. Nazaire on the 10/9/14. Admitted to 2nd General Hospital suffering wounds on the 23/4/15. Discharged to convalescent camp at Rouen on the 25/4/15. Wounded in action and admitted to No.8 General Hospital on the 29/4/15. Transferred to England on the 30/4/15. Admitted to hospital in Bristol on the 3/5/15 suffering from a facial shrapnel wound (two pieces of shrapnel were remove during an operation). Discharged fit for duty and posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 31/5/15. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and embarked from Southampton to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 19/10/15. Embarked from Marseilles to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on the 10/11/15. Disembarked in Alexandria on the 19/11/15. Embarked from Port Suez on the 23/11/15. Disembarked in Basra on the 8/12/15. Killed in action at Shaikh Saad on the 13/1/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 24/5/05 – 5/11/07, 2 years 166 days. India, 6/11/07 – 5/2/14, 6 years 92 days. Home Service, 6/2/14 – 8/9/14, 215 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 9/9/14 – 30/4/15, 234 days. Home Service, 1/5/15 – 19/10/15, 172 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 20/10/15 – 9/11/15, 121 days. Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 10/11/15 – 13/1/16, 65 days. Total service 10 years 235 days. Stenson was awarded the 1914 Star, British and Victory medals. Stenson’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 13 Jan-16 - Patrols sent out at daybreak who reported small parties of enemy in the direction of the WADI RIVER. It was believed that the enemy were holding an advanced entrenched position with their left on the Fort. Orders were issued for the Battn and the 56th (F.F.) RIFLES to drive back the enemy from the forward position and take up a line 800 yards or so beyond it to enable our artillery to shell the main position on the WADI RIVER. C and D Coy’s were in the firing line, A and B Coy’s in Reserve. The orders were carried out without encountering any opposition and the Battn dug themselves in. At 1.27pm report on enemy’s position was forwarded to Bde. At 2.17pm further report on enemy’s position forwarded. At 3.30pm the Battn with the 56th (F.F.) RIFLES on their right resumed the advance with orders to attack and occupy enemy’s main position along the WADI RIVER, thereby assisting the turning movement being carried out by the rest of the VII Div. Formation of Battn attack. Enemy opened fire at about 1100 yards range. The line continued steadily to advance until they got to within 450 yards of the enemy, by which time the Reserves (A and B Coy’s) had reinforced the firing line. Here a heavy fire was kept up on the enemy’s trenches which could now be seen extending along the whole length of the WADI. Ammunition was brought up and the Battn prepared for the assault. (Time about 4.48pm). At this stage the right flank of the Battn became subjected to enfilade machine gun and rifle fire. The assault was not carried out and the Battn dug themselves in with both flanks thrown back. About this time Major LEWIS was wounded and the Battn had suffered a loss of 3 other officers (Lt A. E. DAKIN, 2nd Lt R. W. G. CARD, 2nd Lt T. C. D. HASSALL all wounded) and 197 other ranks. Capt WEIR now in command. At 5.30pm and 8.00pm messages were sent by orderly to 28th Bde explaining the situation. As darkness set in the enemy’s fire developed into desultory sniping with occasional bursts of fire along different parts of the line. At about 11.00pm verbal orders arrived from Bde for the Battn to withdraw from its present position and take up a line 800 yards or so in rear in conjunction with the other units of the Bde, with a view to our artillery preparation being carried out the next morning. This withdrawal was carried out with no casualties, by 2.30am, and the Battn again dug themselves in.
On Saturday May 8th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “THE WAR.” – Pte. Sten Hardy, of the 1st Leicester’s, who went to France with his battalion on the outbreak of the war, writes to his wife, residing in Hotel Street, Coalville, that he has been wounded. Mrs. Hardy is informed from other sources that her husband was wounded in the face, under one of his eyes, either by shrapnel or by a bomb, and that he arrived in England on Sunday, and is in hospital at Bristol.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday November 13th, 1914

COALVILLE LADS AT THE FRONT

Private Stan Hardy, of the 1st Leicesters, writing to his wife at Coalville, under date, 30th October, says Sunday, 25th October was a hard day, he thanked God he got through all right. The action started at 4.30 pm, on Sunday, and was “on” until 2 am Monday, and then, he says, “We came out for a rest, but it was not for long, as we were shelled out again, and had to move, as it was too hot for us to stay.”

“I am pleased to tell you” he adds, “that all the Coalville lads are all right, and when we come out of the line, we always have a look round for the others.” Hardy asks his wife to send him a woollen cap and mentions that he was with Tom Granger, a policeman, of Coalville, who was called up as a Reservist at the time he (Hardy) was.

Coalville Times article Friday November 20th 1914

RAIN IN THE TRENCHES

Private Sten Hardy, of the 1st Leicesters, writing to his wife at Coalville, says the nights are very cold in France and misty, but we must not grumble at the weather we are having so long as it doesn’t rain. We have had rain, and it don’t go down very nicely, because we cannot get dry again for a day or two.

Coalville Times article, Friday December 4th, 1914

COALVILLE SOLDIER “GOING STRONG”

AMONG THE SHELLS

Private Sten Hardy, of the 1st Leicesters writing to his wife at Coalville, says (on the 15th November) that he was still in the land of the living, and that Clem and Joe Peck and Jack Martin had come up to the battalion. “Clem told me that he heard I was killed, and that they had sent it (the news) on to you, but I am not. I am still going strong for 28 which I am in two days’ time.” He extends thanks for the woollen helmet, which he found very warm at nights to sleep in. He mentions not having met Bill Stretton and asked his wife to send him a bit of cake now and again, but she must make it herself. In another postcard Hardy says it is a pitiful sight to see folks moving their belongings and leaving homes all day long. He was sitting in a house similar to the one at home. Shells kept going over, and at night it was worse. The battalion was having a day or two’s rest, “and then we are at them again.” He asked his wife to send a newspaper, with the regiment’s list (of casualties) in it, expecting that she had seen it by the time he had written (13th) inst., She need not upset herself, as he was all right.

Coalville Times article, Friday December 18th, 1914.

CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES

COALVILLE LADS SAFE

Pte. S. Hardy of the 1st Leicesters writing to his wife in Hotel Street, Coalville, in a letter dated the 6th inst., says he is afraid he cannot get home for Christmas, but he hoped to do so by Easter or just after. At the time of writing, the regiment was out of the trenches for a week’s rest, but were to go in again on the 15th, and would be in for Christmas. He adds that while the lads were at Church parade in a field (on the 6th inst.) a big gun was firing away at the enemy, who were about six miles away. The lady at the adjourning farm was getting dinner ready for about eight. They were on roast leg of mutton, haricot beans and potatoes. Hardy sent his wife the “Leicester Post” Christmas card, mentioning the presents he received with it and asked her to communicate with the office, and thank them on behalf of his comrades and himself for the splendid gift. Writing to his wife on the 1st inst., Hardy said they had just come out of the trenches for a rest, and he was sure they could do with it after the fortnight they had had with snow, frost and rain. They looked like a lot of “mudlarks.” He was pleased to say that all the Coalville lads were safe. He relates that he was going with message, and had to enter a village. The only living thing he saw was a big pig. The village was blown to bits – even the church, nothing standing only the walls.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 26th, 1915

Another batch of letters and postcards have been received by Capt. Stevenson at the Coalville Recruiting Office from men at the front, expressing thanks for gifts which were provided from funds raised at two concerts at the Olympia in December. Appended are extracts from a few of them.

Allow me to thank the people of Coalville and district for the parcel of woollen goods. The comfort obtained from these while in the trenches is very great, as the weather is terribly cold out here. Again expressing my warmest thanks for the gift.

Pte. S. Hardy

Coalville Times article, Friday May 7th, 1915:

Coalville Soldier Wounded by Explosives dropped from an Aeroplane.

Pte. A. Edwards, writing from the front to his sister, Mrs G. Ward, of Oxford Street, Coalville, states that Sten Hardy, another Coalville soldier, has sent word to him that he is now in hospital, having been wounded by a shell dropped from an aeroplane and was expecting soon to go to England. “I got to know this on the telephone this morning, so thought I would let you know, but no doubt you will have heard by now. I haven’t seen any more of the Coalville fellows since, but think they are all keeping well. I got the “Coalville Times” and saw the letter therein. Remember me to Harry Morris when you see him. I am out of the trenches now but go in again on ______. I think it only for a week this time and that we shall soon be getting a move on. I don’t care how soon it is either. I hope both Frank and Alvin will get back safely. Remember me to Mrs Bott and tell her I keep smiling and am in good health. I hope that both her nephews and her brother will get through safely but a lot have got to go under yet and it can’t be helped. We can’t expect to win without some sacrifice. There are so many men on both sides that both are bound to lose a lot, but I bet the Germans have the heaviest casualties. They keep losing big numbers every day, and, of course, we expect to lose some as well. We are still having good weather here and hope you are having the same.

The reference above to Sten Hardy has been confirmed by news since received in Coalville. Hardy is stated to have landed in England on Saturday night and is now in hospital at Bristol."

Coalville Times article - Friday February 11th, 1916

TWO COALVILLE SOLDIERS KILLED

News was officially received on Wednesday that two Coalville soldiers had been killed in action at the Persian Gulf on January 13th. They were Privates Stenson Hardy and Geo. Wilkinson, both of the 2nd Leicesters. Hardy was married and leaves a wife and child residing in Hotel Street, and Wilkinson was single, and before the war worked on the South Leicestershire Colliery bank. He lived with his father, Mr Jos. Wilkinson, an Urban Council roadman, of Margaret Street. Further details of these casualties and photos will appear in our next issue.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 18th, 1916

FOUR COALVILLE SOLDIERS KILLED

2ND LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENTS LOSSES AT THE PERSIAN GULF

We regret to learn that the 2nd Leicestershire Regiment, which was so prominent, and suffered heavily in the battle of Neuve Chapelle, and at Loos, has sustained further heavy casualties in the fighting at the Persian Gulf, and among the number officially reported killed, so far as we have been able to ascertain upto the present, are four Coalville soldiers. They are Privates S. Hardy, Hotel Street, E. H. Hunt, Victoria Road, and G. Wilkinson and J. Copley, both of Margaret Street. All belonged to the 2nd Leicesters, and are reported to have been killed at the Persian Gulf during January.

Private Stenson Hardy leaves a widow and one child who reside in Tebbett’s Yard, Hotel Street. The deceased soldier had returned from India (where he served several years with the 2nd Battalion of the Leicesters) only six months when war was declared, and he immediately re-joined as an army reservist. He was wounded when fighting in France, being shot through the jaw. After being granted an extended leave, he was ordered to Hull, where he was marker for some time at the rifle butts, and then was sent out with a draft to his battalion. He was about 28 years of age, and his youngest brother, James, is serving with the 2nd/5th Leicesters, whilst George Harry, his eldest brother, a former well-known racing cyclist, went to Australia, eight years ago. Private Hardy had only been married for nine weeks when he re-joined the army on the outbreak of the war, and much sympathy is felt for his young widow and child.

Coalville Times article - Friday January 12th, 1917

IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE

Of my dear husband, Private Stenson Hardy, who was killed in action at the Persian Gulf, January 13th, 1916.
“A devoted husband, a faithful friend,
One of the best that God could lend;
He bravely answered duty’s call,
His life he gave for one and all.
But the unknown grave is the bitterest blow,
None but an aching heart can know.
But as long as life and memory last,
We will remember thee.”

Research undertaken and kindly submitted by Andy Murby 30/08/2015.