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Auction: 25002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 114

Three: Private G. Hardman, 1st Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, who was killed during an Air Raid on Manchester on 23 December 1940

1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, in their waxed envelopes of issue, addressed to 'Mrs A. Collins, 372 Collyhurst Rd, Manchester 9.' and Army Council condolence slip in his name and confirming '3' awards, nearly extremely fine (3)

Provenance:
Purchased August 2000.

George Hardman was born in 1906 and first joined the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in December 1925. Exploring Trafford's Heritage gives more detail:

'While the Manchester-area endured a number of bombing raids throughout the autumn of 1940, the most devastating attack took place in the days immediately preceding Christmas.

From 22-24 December, the Luftwaffe executed an aerial assault over the course of two, consecutive evenings, in an effort to maximize both the damage and disruption to their targets. With nearly 450 bombers dropping 467 tons of explosives and 1925 incendiary bombs, this event would become known as the ‘Manchester Blitz’ or ‘Christmas Blitz’. Along with destroying countless buildings and blocking major access points to the city, the attack took an estimated 684 lives and left more than 2,000 injured.'

Hardman is buried in the Manchester Cemetery.

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Estimate
£80 to £120

Starting price
£60