Four: Regimental Sergeant Major J. P. Hardingham, Middlesex Regiment, late East Surrey Regiment

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (3056 Serjt: J. P. Hardingham. E. Surrey Regt.); British War Medal 1914-20 (G-97411 W.O. Cl.1. J. P. Hardingham. Midd’x R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (G-97411 R.S. Mjr. J. P. Hardingham. 52/Midd’x R.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3056 C. Sjt: J. P. Hardingham. E. Surrey Regt.); together with an Army Temperance Association Award of Merit Medal, silver, the reverse officially impressed ‘Cr-Sergt. J. Hardingham 4th. Bn E. Surrey Regt 1904’, light contact marks, generally very fine and better (5) £300-£400

M.S.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

John Percy Hardingham was born in 1872 and attested for the East Surrey Regiment on 17 July 1890. Promoted Corporal on 28 June 1892 and Sergeant on 18 November 1904, he served with the 4th Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War from 19 March to 6 September 1902, and was promoted Colour Sergeant on 24 August 1903. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 20 November 1909, and was discharged on 16 July 1911, after 21 years’ service.

Following the outbreak of the Great War Hardingham re-enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment, was advanced Warrant Officer Class I, and was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major on 30 July 1915. He served throughout the period of hostilities at home with various Training Reserve Battalions, only proceeding to France in April 1919 (and as such only qualified for the British War Medal). For his services during the Great War his service papers record that he was ‘Mentioned in Gazette Supplement of 24.2.17 for valuable services rendered’, and he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal whilst serving with the 52nd Battalion. He was discharged on 18 April 1920, after a further 5 years and 77 days’ service.

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