Air force veteran celebrates 99 years of memories

British World War 2 veteran Frank Hardy has 99 years’ of memories to look back on — but moving to Africa is by far his favourite.

Hardy, who will be inching one year closer to the big 100 on Sunday, is believed to be the oldest surviving Royal Air Force veteran in the Bay.

Speaking from his Park Drive home this week, Hardy said his life had sen its ups and downs.

“I left school at the age of 14 and I did not like that,” he said, his voice trailing off.

“I worked for my father as a fishmonger and it was cold, especially in winter my hands would get icy cold.

“I would cry because I was cold and I would ask myself why my father did not employ somebody else instead of me.

“For a week’s work, I would get two shillings and sixpence (25c), it was terrible.”

He said he therefore found himself somewhat pleased when the war started in 1939.

“I was pleased to a degree, I would turn 18 in 1940 so I knew I could escape those freezing conditions as a fishmonger.”

He joined the Royal Air Force that same year.

Hardy said he was fortunate to have avoided the heavy bombing of London, Manchester and other cities by Germany’s Luftwaffe — a grim period for Britain known as the Blitz.

He was an air force signaller — trained to communicate between the aircraft, its base and units in the area of operation, by means of radio or other communications.

“I was then fortunate to be chosen to go to Rhodesia [Zimbabwe] to train pilots and navigators,” he said.

“It was marvellous there; I learnt to play squash, tennis, baseball and soccer.

“In the middle of winter we could wear shorts and T-shirts.

“I served for five years, then the war ended.

“I remember we arrived in England in February and it was the middle of winter.

“Before I even got off the ship I had already decided that I wanted to go back to Rhodesia.

“I had not seen my family, but I knew I had to go back to Rhodesia, because I had fallen in love with it,” Hardy said.

While in England a year later, he met the love of his life, Winifred.

His eyes still light up when he talks about her.

Recalling the moment they first laid eyes on one another, he said: “There was a hall in Manchester, there was about 3,000 people dancing in there, and for a split second everybody disappeared and I just saw her by the entrance.”

They settled in Port Elizabeth in 1970.

Winifred died in 2015.

He remembers rushing to the hospital during his wife’s final moments.

“I shouted ‘Winnie do not leave me.’ 

“She was a wonderful woman. She loved her children, she had lived for them and me.

Hardy’s daughter, Diana Smith, died of cancer 21 years ago.

“I would take care of Diana at the hospital while her husband was at work,” he said.

Having gone through the joy of finding love, to losing his wife and daughter, he said he was most  proud of his children for what they had achieved.

“My son Graham did so well for himself,” he said of the Sydney businessman.

“He promised to bring his family [to SA] when I turn 100 and I am going to make it to 100,” Hardy said.

His other son, Dave, 62, said it had been a pleasure to take care of his father after his mother’s death.

“My dad has not changed, he still has his sense of humour.

“He is a bit deaf and slower, but we owe everything we are to our parents,” Dave said.

He said his dad’s love of books and reading was the secret to maintaining a good memory.

He had also kept a good diet, and even in the war while his friends drank beer, he would drink milk.

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