Farnworth Weekly Journal 24 September 1915

LITTLE LEVER SOLDIER MISSING

Mrs. Hardman of 108, Church-st, Little Lever, has received official intimation that her husband, Pte. A. Ellis Hardman (9519) 9th Lancashire Fusiliers, has been missing since August 21st. he was fighting at the Dardanelles. Although residing at Little Lever, Private Hardman was, in civil life, engaged at the Clifton Hall Colliery of Messrs. Knowles on the boundary of Swinton. He enlisted in November. His wife and four children are anxiously awaiting further news. In his last letter to his wife he states: "I am all right up to now, but we have had a hard time of it. We have just come out of the trenches for a rest. We were the first to land on this island, and the Turks have kept up a more or less continuous fire since. We we landed at first we made them run, and were at it for about four days. We shall get right with them some day. I shall never forget the night we landed. It was awful." Almost the last request Private Hardman made his wife was for a copy of the "Journal."

Arthur was the son of Ellis Hardman b.1842, a stonemason turned beerseller, and Martha Hardman née Lonsdale b.1839.

Arthur first appeared on the 1881 Census living at 96 Church Street, Little Lever with his parents and siblings Betsy b.1863, Esther Ann b.1865, Joseph b.1868, Lily b.18701, Sarah b.1873 and John b.1876.

In 1891 he was living at 56 Church Street (what is now the New Inn), Little Lever with his parents and siblings Esther Ann, Joseph, Lily, Sarah, John and Wilfred b.1882.

Arthur's father, Ellis, died in 1892.

By 1901 Arthur (listed as Ellis) was living with his mother and brother Wilfred at 8 Dearden Street, Little Lever. At this point Arthur was working as a coal miner / wagoner.

Arthur married Isabella Morley b.1882 on 11 June 1902 at St Matthew's Church, Little Lever.

Wilfred died in July 1902.

In 1911 the couple were living at 130 Church Street, Little Lever with their daughters Martha b.1904, Elizabeth b.1908 and Mary b.1909.

Arthur was working as a carter in 1911.

Two other children were recorded as having died by 1911, one being Ellis Hardman b.1906 who died aged 4 months.

The couple had two other children - Betsy b.1911 (who lived for just 28 days) and Alice b.1913.

Arthur's mother, Martha, died in December 1911.

His name is on Little Lever War Memorial.