Suez Maru Families and Research Association
Robert Hardy
3 September 1920 - 29 November 1943
Robert Hardy
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Volunteer Reserve
Rank: Leading Aircraftsman
Service No: 930495
Home Town: London
Nationality: English
Family:
Father: Robert Hardy
Mother: Sarah Anne Hardy
ROBERT HARDY – by Lisa Kennedy
Robert was my mothers cousin, and the son of Sarah Ann Hardy and her husband Robert, born 3 September 1920 in London.
Their only surviving child, he was a Chartered Accountant Clerk before joining the Airforce as a Leading aircraftman in the Royal Air Force Volunteer reserve, service number 930495.
He was posted to Singapore and captured by the Japanese on 20 March 1942. As a POW he was held in various camps before being transported on the Suez Maru.
He was 23 years old when he was killed.
His parents never believed that he had been killed and spent hours scanning pictures of returning soldiers in the hope that he had survived.
His name is on the Kranji memorial in Singapore.
Far East PoW Japanese Index Card
The front of the card (except English sections)
Camp – the three vertical lined characters – JAVA (1942 (17th year of the the emperors reign) August 15th)
Nationality given as British/English
Place of capture – JAVA, and another character,
PoW number: The box marked No. is the PoW number a man had. I think the crossing out denotes when the PoW was transferred (for the SM men) to the Moluccas.
So I think originally at Java Base, then [moved to] Java Camp III (3). Camp (3) beling Ambon.
The two red vertical stamps on either side of the main box have been translated as ‘Supplement’ and ‘Telegraphed’ – relates to the ‘processing’ of the deaths, sending (via telegram)
The red diagonal line across the whole front of the page is a rather callous way to indicate the person was deceased.
Image (c) TNA WO345
Reverse of the index card
Top line: Other Informations noted that a stamp was made for the first section of red text, and a smaller (4-character) stamp for the end of the same line; the Japanese text translated-
2nd line: The ship was on its way to deliver the prisoners when it was hit by a thunderstorm. [4 characters after small gap] Suez Maru
3rd line: When the attack happened. [date – 18th year of emperor’s reign, 11th month, 29th of the month: 1943, November 29th] 18.11.29 [time of sinking] 09:20 [KA text here – unclear what this refers to]
4th line: [first text, then coordinates] Where the attack happened S 6 20′ E 116 30’ [description of location of sinking] North of Bali Island near Kangayan [Kangean] Island.
Some reverses have additional information, but for the vast majority (of Suez Maru men), their card reverses are identical
Image (c) TNA WO345
Are You Related to Robert Hardy?
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This archive continues to grow through the generosity of families who wish to preserve the memory of those lost.