Hardingham MC , Robert Cecil (R C)

Died of wounds, at Battle of Narunyu. The 1st/2nd KAR ammunition stocks were very low, "C" Company being down to 5 rounds per man. A convoy from 3rd/2nd KAR under Major R. C. Hardingham, MC and Bar, (Middlesex Regiment), with two other officers, attempted to get through with ammunition and supplies. The machine gun and company porters of 3rd/2nd KAR were used to carry the loads with two platoons of No 2 Company provided for escort. The convoy was badly ambushed near the perimeter after German Askari had misled it by calling out that they were KAR. Robert Cecil Hardingham was mortally wounded, Lieutenant Charles Henry Bernard Going (2nd Rhodesia Regiment) was killed and Lieutenant C. E. Lane (King's African Rifles) was wounded. The escort NCOs rallied their men and fought back but most of the porters had by then returned to the 3rd/2nd KAR camp with their loads; 13 loads that had been discarded were found in the bush during the following day