Campbell Hardy (general)

Educated at Felsted School,{{Cite web |url=http://www.felsted.org/ofmilitary |title=Old Felstedians: Military |access-date=11 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825075751/http://www.felsted.org/ofmilitary |archive-date=25 August 2013 |url-status=dead }} Hardy was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1924 and qualified as Physical Training Officer.[http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/HARDY.shtml Sir Campbell Richard Hardy] Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives He served in the Second World War, being appointed as the first Commanding Officer of 46 Commando from 1943 and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his "gallant and distinguished services while operating with the Army in Normandy"{{London Gazette |issue=36697 |date=8 September 1944 |page=4218 |supp=1}} This was followed by the award of a Bar to his DSO for "Courage, example and enthusiasm during commando operations in Northern Europe",{{London Gazette |issue=37013 |date=30 March 1945 |page=1790 |supp=1}} before he transferred to the Pacific theatre in 1944 and was appointed to command 3 Commando Brigade in Burma and Hong Kong. On 29 December 1944, 3 Commando Brigade, under Hardy's command, carried out an unopposed landing on the island of Akyab in Burma.Saunders 1959, p. 310. Between 22 and 23 January 1945 he led a successful defence against Japanese forces at the Battle of Hill 170. After the battle, the commander of the XV Indian Corps—Lieutenant-General Philip Christison—stated in a special order of the day to 3 Commando Brigade, "The Battle of Kangaw had been the decisive battle of the whole Arakan campaign and that it was won was very largely due to your magnificent defence of Hill 170."Moreman, p. 82.

After the war Hardy became Chief Instructor at the School of Combined Operations at Fremington, was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1948,{{London Gazette |issue=38311 |date=4 June 1948 |page=3370}} and then served as commander of 3 Commando Brigade again in Malta, Hong Kong and Malaya. He went on to be commander of the Royal Marine Depot, Deal in 1951, was advanced to Commander of the Order of the British Empire in October of that year,{{London Gazette |issue=39361 |date=19 October 1951 |page=5431 |supp=1}} made chief of staff of the Royal Marines in 1952 and appointed Commandant General Royal Marines in 1955. He made an unofficial visit to the 45 Commando landing zone at Suez in 1956,[https://books.google.com/books?id=4f-EIF3d6xgC&dq=%22Sir+Campbell+Hardy%22&pg=PA18 Fowler, p. 18.] was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1957,{{London Gazette |issue=40960 |date=28 December 1956 |page=2 |supp=1}} and retired in 1959.

In retirement Hardy became Director of the Coal Utilisation Council. He lived at Bunch Lane House at Bunch Lane in Haslemere.[http://www.royalmarinesassociation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/RMA-Newsletter-Nov-2010-LRes.pdf Marines 'ancient and modern' take part in dedication of standard] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426044233/http://www.royalmarinesassociation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/RMA-Newsletter-Nov-2010-LRes.pdf# |date=26 April 2012 }} Royal Marines Association Newsletter, November 2010, p. 10.

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Fowler|first=Will|title=Royal Marine Commando 1950–82: From Korea to the Falklands|year=2009|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1-84603-372-8}}
• {{cite book|last=Moreman|first=Tim|title=British Commandos 1940–46|year=2006|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn= 978-1-84176-986-8}}
• {{cite book|last=Saunders|first=Hilary St. George|title=The Green Beret: The Commandos at War|orig-year=1949|year=1959|publisher=Four Square Books|location=London|oclc=1260659}}

• [https://generals.dk/general/Hardy/Campbell_Richard/Great_Britain.html Generals of World War II]
• [https://www.unithistories.com/officers/RM_officersH.html#Hardy_CR Royal Marine Officers 1939–1945]

{{s-start}}

{{s-mil}}

{{s-bef|before=Sir John Westall}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commandant General Royal Marines|years=1955–1959}}

{{s-aft|after=Sir Ian Riches}}

{{s-end}}

{{RM Commandant General}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hardy, Campbell}}

Category:1906 births

Category:1984 deaths

Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order

Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath

Category:Royal Marines generals

Category:Royal Marines personnel of World War II

Category:People educated at Felsted School