Story:
Henry Walter Hardy was born in 1888 in Shaftesbury and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 2nd September, 1888. He was the son of Walter Hardy, a plasterer, and Elizabeth Hardy (née Strange). At the time of the 1911 Census, he was working as an iron molder and living at 28 Bell Street, Shaftesbury. He married Annie Alma Mary Wright at St. James' Church, Shaftesbury, on 8th April, 1912. He moved to Bolton and his daughter, Alma, was born there in 1912.

Henry enlisted with the 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire & Lancashire Regiment (Service No. 8867) later transferring to the North Staffordshire Regiment (Service No. 23444). He survived the war but was discharged on 11th August, 1919 as unfit for further military duty. At the time of his discharge he held the rank of Sergeant. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 15 Star medals. His son, Walter, was born in 1921.

Henry died at 290 Chorley Old Road, Bolton, Lancashire, on 31st March, 1922, of 'Acute Bright's Disease, Heart Disease and Bronchitis'. A family member recorded that he was gassed in the war and that this had a serious effect on his health. He was buried at St. Peter's Church, Churchgate, Halliwell, Bolton, Lancashire, on 4th April, 1922. He is remembered on the Holy Trinity War Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. Ultimately his wife moved back to Shaftesbury and by the 1939 Register was living at 14 St. James, Shaftesbury.

Henry's brother Arthur Thomas (b.1898) also served in the war, with the North Lancashire Regiment and the Northumberland Fusiliers.