Albert Edwin Hardiman

Story:
Albert Edwin Hardiman was born on 6th September 1897 in Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset and was baptised at Cann Methodist Chapel on 17th October 1897. He was the son of John Hardiman, a coal merchant, and Kezia Hardiman (née Sharp). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a Scholar and living at Lower Blandford Road, Melbury Abbas, Dorset. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private and joined the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 18964). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 6th April 1917 and was buried in the Chapelle War Cemetery in the village of Holnon, just west of St. Quentin in France. Sadly his grave was destroyed in a later action and he is now commemorated separately in the cemetery, with three others whose original graves were also destroyed. His memorial stone reads:
18961 Private Albert Edwin Hardiman. Dorsetshire Regiment. 6th April 1917 A.D.

Albert is also remembered on the Melbury Abbas War Memorial.

Source: Photographs of the Chapelle War Cemetery by Dave Hardiman.