Page 63 - Sylvia Malt - Side by Side

Pte. Arthur Charles HARDY, 1st Battalion, Border Regiment
1879 - 21st August 1915

Arthur Hardy was born and grew up in Foots Cray, the second son of Stephen and
Elizabeth. Their home was in Nash’s Cottages and he attended the local school under
popular head teacher, Mr. Winter. Arthur never married and in 1911 in order to find
employment, he moved to Wales and worked underground as a miner. He served for a time
with the South Wales Territorials, but when he made the bold decision to enlist in the
Border Regiment, he was living and working in Bonchurch on the beautiful Isle of Wight.

On Whit Sunday 1915, Arthur’s regiment was posted to the Dardanelles. The Allies landed
on the Peninsula on 25th/26th April 1915 and on the 21st August a final British offensive of
the campaign landed to consolidate Anzac and Suvla Bay. Unfortunately Arthur Hardy was
one of the many casualties. He died on 21st August, just days from the ending of any
further serious action. The peninsula was successfully evacuated between December 1915
and early January 1916.

In Memoriam: Arthur Hardy is remembered in the Helles Memorial, Turkey which serves
the dual function of Commonwealth Battle memorial for the whole Gallipoli campaign.

Private Bertie HESELDEN Royal West Kent Regt, 7th Battalion
1899 - 8th August 1918

Bertie lived with his parents in Church Road, Foots Cray. His father, Albert, who had his
own hairdressing business, also enlisted and served in France. In 1911, Albert’s
apprentice, Reginald Overy, was boarding with the family. Reginald also joined up, but was
unfortunately killed the same day as Edward Collins (9th March 1916).

During August 1918, Bertie Heselden (a former gardener at Foots Cray Place), was first
reported missing, but eventually the family had to accept that he had lost his life on 8th
August. A War gratuity of £9.2s.1d was awarded to his father in 1919.

In Memoriam: Buried in Beacon Cemetery, Somme, France

Pte Sydney John KINGSLAND Australian Imperial Force, 18th Battalion
1894 - 27th August 1915

Sydney Kingsland’s parents; Moses and Mary, lived at Jubilee Road, Foots Cray. When War
was declared, it was almost automatically assumed that the whole of the British Empire
would be involved, and although Sydney Kingsland was then in Australia, working as a
ship's steward, he immediately enlisted, giving his address as Lower Domain, Sydney,
Australia.

The Australian Imperial Force, 18th Battalion was an infantry Battalion, which left Australia
on HMAT Ceramic, Sydney on 25th June 1915, and took part in the Gallipoli Campaign.
The Campaign, which was an idea of Churchill’s that left his reputation in shatters for
many, many years, was not successful and thousands of lives were lost without any gain
whatsoever. Sydney Kingsland was unfortunately killed in battle on 27th August.

In Memoriam: Buried in Hill 60 Cemetery, one of the Anzac and Suvla Bay cemeteries,
together with 75 other casualties.

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