The father of Laurence Hardy, born in 1900, was the only child of Guy Charles and Eva Kathleen Hardy. Although christened Herbert Ronald Hardy, he was known as Ronald for most of his life.
He started his adventurous life at the age of ONE on a round the world trip with his parents!
Ronald served in the Royal Navy at the end of World War One on M.L.8 in the Rhine Flotilla.
As an adventurer, he took part in several expeditions abroad.
including an expedition to the Ivory Coast with the Natural History Museum in 1922 and later in 1932 to Nepal to go Tiger Hunting (not favoured nowadays!!)
Then in 1939 he travelled to Newfoundland with the Public Schools Exploration Society ((P.S.E.S.) as second leader under Commander Murray Levick.
Soon after the outbreak of World War 2 Ronald was called up and after some months at H.M.S. King Alfred in Hove was appointed Flag Lieutenant to the Board of the Admiralty, a fascinating job which included meeting the King George V1 and Winston Churchill.
Altogether he lived a very full and interesting life.
We hope you enjoy reading his story by following the links below.
Chapter 1 – Danehill 1900 [read more here]
Chapter 2 – World voyage with parents 1900-1901 [read more here]
Chapter 3 – Education [read more here]
Chapter 4 – Naval Career
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- Rhine Flotilla [read more here]
- M.L.8 – Diary of voyage to Cologne [read more here]
Chapter 5 – Expedition to Ivory Coast [read more here]
Chapter 6 – Freshfield Lane Brickworks [read more here]
Chapter 7 – Marriage, Home & Family Life [read more here]
Chapter 8 – Scouts 1924 – 1943 [read more here]
Chapter 9 – Royal British Legion [read more here]
Chapter 10 – Expedition to India 1932 [read more here]
Chapter 11 – Member of Sussex Club 1939 [read more here]
Chapter 12 – Newfoundland Expedition 1939 – ‘The long march’ [read more here]
Chapter 13 – Naval Career WW11
- Admiralty Service [read more here]
Chapter 14 – Character analysis 1948 [read more here]
Chapter 15 – High Sheriff of Sussex 1951 [read more here]
Chapter 16 – Franklands Village Housing Association
- The Story of Franklands Village [read more here]
- Illustrated Story of Franklands Village [read more here]
- Stock Certificate [read more here]
Chapter 17 – Death in 1954 & Memorials [read more here]
