3-052-500 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Lieutenant E. Hardy, R.H.A., killed in action, Dec. 11 1879, (1880). 'Many heroic deeds have been recorded of our brave soldiers in the late engagements in Afghanistan. But no mention has been made in any of the public journals of the noble self-sacrifice of a young officer of the Royal Horse Artillery, Lieutenant Edward Hardy, whose battery formed part of Brigadier-General Massy's force in the engagement with the enemy in the Chardeh Valley in the action of Dec. 11...owing to the extremely difficult nature of the ground and the overwhelming force of Afghans, the guns, happily recovered a few hours later, had to be abandoned. It was when they were being spiked and unlimbered, and when those splendid but ineffectual charges were again and again made by the 9th Lancers and the 14th Bengal Lancers, that Lieutenant Hardy, seeing a young wounded cavalry officer tied to one of the guns helpless and about to be left to his fate, without a thought for his own safety, remained behind in the all but hopeless attempt to save his stricken comrade, over whom, when last seen, he was standing surrounded by the enemy. We learn that Lieutenant Hardy's body was found some days later...He was the youngest son of the Rev. Charles Hardy, Vicar of Hayling, Hants'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.