BORN HULL 1890. SON OF CHARLES GARDHAM (1838-1896) ANNIE HARLAND, OF 16, BEECH GROVE, PRINCES ROAD AND 97, BELVOIR STREET, HULL AND 52, PERTH STREET HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS). HE WAS SINGLE AND LIVED WITH HIS MOTHER AND SISTER GERTRUDE. PRIOR TO THE WAR HE WAS A CLERK AT OWEN SOLICITORS, PARLIAMENT STREET, HULL. A TIME EXPIRED TERRITORIAL WITH THE 4TH EYR, HE WAS CALLED UP WHEN WAR BEGAN AND JOINED COLONEL SHAW’S ‘FIGHTING FOURTHS’ IN FRANCE. HE SERVED AS PRIVATE, 2105 1/4TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT WAS QUICKLY PROMOTED FROM PRIVATE TO SERGEANT WHILE ON ACTIVE SERVICE AND TRANSFERRED TO THE 150TH MACHINE GUN CORPS, IN SEPTEMBER 1916. HE WAS BADLY WOUNDED ON THE 15TH SEPTEMBER 1916 AND DIED OF WOUNDS AT THE 36TH CLEARING STATION ON THE 4TH OCTOBER 1916. HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISH CONDUCT MEDAL AFTER HIS DEATH, ON 25TH NOVEMBER 1916 FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY IN ACTION. HIS CITATION READS: “ALTHOUGH SEVERELY WOUNDED, HE RE-ORGANISED HIS TEAMS AND FINALLY ESTABLISHED BOTH HIS MACHINE GUNS AT THEIR FINAL OBJECTIVE, DISPLAYING GREAT COURAGE AND INITIATIVE.”
HE IS BURIED ON THE SOMME. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS MOTHER, ANN. SHE RECEIVED A WEEKLY WAR PENSION OF 14 SHILLINGS, ON 12/05/1917.
HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON THE 30TH NOVEMBER 1916, WITH HIS PHOTOGRAPH. *
