Featured Article Summary #205

William James Hardham was a New Zealand soldier born in Wellington who received the Victoria Cross for bravery against the enemy. He first volunteered for the Second Boer War while working as a blacksmith and serving part-time in the militia, and in 1900 he earned the VC after riding to rescue a wounded man during an ambush under heavy fire. After further service, he returned to civilian life, where he became involved in rugby administration and continued militia work. When World War I began, he volunteered again, served as a captain with the Wellington Mounted Rifles, and was wounded at Gallipoli before returning to New Zealand to recover. He later returned to service overseas in Palestine, but his health limited him for the rest of the war. After leaving the army, he worked in journalism and the Public Works Department, helped veterans, and died in 1928 at age 51. William James Hardham was born in Wellington on 31 July 1876 to George Hardham, a labourer, and Ann Hardham Gregory. He studied at Mount Cook School, then worked as a blacksmith, while also becoming an accomplished rugby player for the Petone Rugby Club and Wellington, eventually playing 53 games for Wellington. He began his military career in 1895 by joining the Wellington Naval Artillery, serving with the Petone Company as part-time militia. The Second Boer War began due to tensions between the Boer state and the British over control of the Transvaal, and New Zealand supplied volunteers, including William Hardham, who joined the 4th New Zealand Contingent. In 1901, during patrols near Naauwpoort, he rescued a wounded soldier under heavy fire and was awarded the Victoria Cross, the first given to a New Zealander serving overseas. He later served again with the 9th Contingent, including duties related to King Edward VII’s coronation in 1902 before returning to New Zealand. After returning from London, Hardham resumed civilian life while continuing to serve with the Naval Artillery. In 1910 he was promoted to sergeant and, after 16 years in the militia, received the Long and Efficient Service Medal. Alongside his blacksmith work, he became more involved in rugby administration, joining the Wellington Rugby Football Union committee in 1908 for six years. When the First World War began in 1914, William Hardham volunteered for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and became a captain in the Wellington Mounted Rifles, serving as second in command of its 2nd Squadron. He sailed on the troopship Arawa with the main NZEF to the Middle East in October 1914, where the unit prepared for the Gallipoli campaign. After arriving in Egypt, the WMR trained for several months, and Hardham also helped arrange sports events to keep the men busy.