Three months after being demobilised, Harry Ernest Hardfast, formerly Pte S/3114, Rifle Brigade, died on June 4th, 1919, in the Northumberland War Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, from poisoning resulting from a shrapnel wound in the chest received in action at Achiet-le-Grand, France, on August 23rd, 1918.

Born in Luton in 1891, Harry was one of 11 children born to William and Annie Hardstaff, of 12 Crawley Green Road.

Harry had been working as an engineer for the Wallsend Slipway Co in Northumberland when he enlisted in September 1914 and went to France the following June. He was treated for his battlefield wounds at the No 2 General Hospital in France and the Southwark Military Hospital, before being admitted to the Northumberland War Hospital in January 1919. He had been living at Heaton, Newcastle, following demobilisation in March 1919.

Prior to moving to the North-East, Harry, a single man, had been a pattern maker at the Balmforth foundry in Luton. He was working there at the time of the 1911 Census.

The 27-year-old was buried at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Byker and Heaton) Cemetery. He is commemorated on the Luton Roll of Honour and in the Book of Life compiled at Luton Parish Church.