Source: 18th Battalion Nominal Roll, April 1915.
Find-A-Grave
Biography of Soldier
Ernest Ellis HARDY (1880- ) and Mabel Louisa BEWS (1894-1982)
Found Ernest Ellis Hardy in the 1901 UK Census at the Topham Artillery Barracks, Heavitree, Exeter. He is one of many young soldiers listed in the barracks. Ernest Ellis Hardy, age 20, born Driffield, Hull, Yorkshire.
Prior to this he was with his parents Harry Hardy and wife Mary Ann Ellis at Cottingham and Goole, which are both in East Riding Yorkshire, England for the 1881 and 1891 Census.
He came to the US on the ship Cedric in October 1909. He is living with his uncle Robert Hardy and wife Sarah in Chicago, Illinois in the 1910 US Census. They are living at 1158 – 43rd Ave, Chicago. He is listed as a clerk/bookkeeper.
Ernest Ellis Hardy, Regimental Number 53016, born 1880 at Driffield, Yorkshire, England enlisted on November 12, 1914 at London, Ontario with the 18th Battalion.
He married Mabel Louisa Bews (1894-1982) on December 23, 1917 at Kilburn, Middlesex, England (London). She was living at 149 Cambridge
Ernest brought his war bride to Canada on the ship Melita in September 1919 and was headed to his Aunt Mrs. R. Hardy in Chicago, Illinois living on 6343 Blackstone Ave in the US-Canada Border Crossings. They were listed with Robert and Jessie Hardy in the 1920 US Census living at 6341 Blackstone Ave in Chicago. He is a clerk with railroad.
In November 1922, Mabel heads to England on the Montcalm to 149 Cambridge Rd, Kilburn, London. She has a son William Ernest Hardy in 1923, he was registered in the September Quarter 1923 at Marylebone, London.
There is a naturalization index card for Ernest Ellis Hardy of Chicago, Illinois dated February 24, 1927.
Ernest travelled to England from the US on the ship Caronia in September 1927. He left a short time later on October 27, 1927 headed back to the US on the ship Tuscania. He is listed as an Accountant.
In 1930, Ernest is still with his aunt and uncle in Chicago, Illinois on Ellis Ave but he is listed a divorced. (Note: the aunt’s name has changed from Jessie in 1920 to Sara G in 1930 but age is consistent.) He is listed as a book-keeper with an Electric co.
Ernest returned to England on the ship Georgic in June 1938 headed to his parent’s place at 19a Grammar Sc Rd in Brigg, Lincolnshire.
By 1939 Ernest is in Brigg, England at 19a Grammar School Road with his parents Harry and Mary Ann Hardy (nee Ellis) but his information has a red line through it. He is listed as book-keeper (Electrical co) and a RP Voluntary Worker.
Son William Ernest Hardy married Margaret Ethel Dore at Willesden in November 1943.
Ernest is still in Lincolnshire in 1944 according to a newspaper article from the Lincolnshire Echo. He is a time-keeper at Pumphrey’s in Grimsby when the place is broken into and robbed.
In the 1950 Electoral Registers Mabel Hardy is listed at 149 Cambridge, Kilburn, Willesden. (Same address as her marriage and return trip to England).
Source: Annette Fulford, Twitter @avidgenie
SOLDIER’S WELL TREATED
Wolseley Barracks
March 23, 1915
To the Editor of the Advertiser:
Kindly insert in your valuable paper the following for the benefit of those misguided persons who are under the impression that the soldiers in London area are being treated properly by the citizens:
I only wish that Mr. Walter Smith, and others of like caliber, had been at some of the churches on Monday evening, especially St. George’s Anglican (to which certain of the headquarters’ details were assigned), when he would have had his eyes opened (also his mouth). I am certain that I am expressing the sentiments of all the boys who attended St. George’s when I state that none of us ever enjoyed such an evening before, and on behalf of the signal section, I wish, through this medium, to sincerely thank the ladies of said church. All we want now is to get to the front of the firing line to do something to repay them for all the good times they have lavished on us.
The evening was enjoyably passed by old and young (to see them you would think they were all young), in different kinds of games of which there were many. The singing of Miss Elsie Smith was vociferously applauded again and again. She is possibly one of the best soloists in Canada. The comical side of the program was furnished by Corporal Fleming, who is some humorist. Several patriotic speeches were given, and the general sentiment was that nothing was good enough for the soldiers, so if anyone wants to deny that the soldiers are not treated properly let them meet me face to face.
E.E. HARDY
H.Q. Signal Staff.
18th Batt. C.E.F.
War Diary of the 18th Battalion CEF 