Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frank as he was known was the eldest son of Catherine Clare and William James Hardwicke, younger brother to Catherine Constance (Connie) and older brother to Bernard John (Bernie).

Frank enlisted in June 1942 not longer after his brother in- law Arthur Ronald (Ron) Sendy who enlisted in May the same year. His younger brother Bernie had enlisted in 1940.

Tragically, Frank was killed in action on January 1943 -just seven months after enlisting.

For the Hardwicke and Sendy families who were living together in Port Pirie, Frank’s death was devastating. Catherine Clare has passed away less than a year leaving William James a widower. Now he had lost his oldest son. And his youngest was still serving, no doubt heightening his understandable concern for his son’s safe return.

For Connie too, Frank’s death was a hard hitting blow -particularly after so recently losing her mother. His death no doubt reinforced her fears and hopes for the men she loved as her husband Ron and younger brother Bernie were both serving.

While her husband was away Connie had her young daughter Maureen to raise, and her elderly father William to care for, while keeping her fears and anxieties in check, while waiting for the men she loved to return. (Both Ron, and Bernie returned, in 1945. As with so many of course, they suffered great personal cost, while serving their country, felt by the family in the years that followed.)