Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part III)

Four: Major R. P. Hardy, Royal Field Artillery, late Durban Garrison Artillery and South African Field Artillery

1914-15 Star (Sjt., Dur. Gar. Arty.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (A/Maj.); Coronation 1953, unnamed, very fine and better (4) £100-140

Reginald Percy Hardy was born on 8 May 1892. He served as a Gunner, later a Sergeant, in the Durban Garrison Artillery, July 1913-August 1915, when the unit was demobilised at the conclusion of the German South West Africa campaign. During the campaign the unit strength was 7 officers and 157 other ranks. Hardy was a founder member of the South African Field Artillery, with the rank of Lieutenant (14 September 1915) when the unit was formed for service in the German East African campaign. Hardy returned to South Africa with his unit in November 1916, prior to service in Palestine. He embarked for Egypt on 8 July 1917 serving as 2ic with “A” Battery. In the action at El Maghar on 13 November 1917 and the capture of Junction Station the following day, the Turkish rearguard counterattack was repulsed by the Somerset L.I. supported by the South African Field Artillery brigades. Hardy’s battery commander’s name was sent forward for the immediate award of the D.S.O., however Hardy received nothing for those hotly contested actions. A British Infantry commander said of them that he did not think the shooting of the S.A.F.A. could be improved upon. With such experience, Hardy was transferred to the British Army as a Captain in the 405th Battery, 37th Brigade, R.F.A. in August 1918 and held the rank of Acting Major while commanding a battery from 28 September 1918. He returned to South Africa in May 1919. Hardy received the 1953 Coronation medal for the position he held with the South African Railways and Harbour Service. Sold with 19 sheets of copied research.