STANLEY WILLIAM HARDWICK
Stanley is not remembered on the war memorial at Christchurch Park.
Born: 7th December 1905, St. John’s, Ipswich.
Died: 12th September 1944; age 39; Died as a POW on board the HELL SHIP ‘Kachidoki Maru’ when the Japanese ship (used for carrying prisoners and troops to Japan) was torpedoed and sunk by the U.S.S. ‘Pampanito.’
Residence: 19, St. Olaves Road, Norwich, Norfolk.
Rank: Warrant Officer Class II (Company Sergeant Major); Service Number: 1669037.
Regiment: Royal Norfolk Regiment, 6th Battalion.
Final resting place unknown.
Memorial Reference:
Column 47.
Kranji,
Singapore.
Relatives Notified & Address: Husband of A.C. Hardwick, of Norwich, Norfolk.
CENSUS
1911 7, Alverstone Road, Manor Park, Essex.
Stanley was 5 years old and living with his parents, siblings and stepbrother.
William Hardwick, 33, a Bricklayer’s Labourer, born Ipswich.
Bessie Frances Hardwick, 34, (nee Pearson)), born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.
Arthur James Hardwick, 14, born Ipswich.
Bessie Florence Hardwick, 8, born St. John’s, Ipswich.
Ethel Maud Hardwick, 6, born Ipswich.
William Edward Hardwick, 3, born St. John’s, Ipswich.
Dorothy May Hardwick, 2, born St. Matthew’s, Ipswich.
1921 28, Regent Street, Ipswich.
Stanley was employed as a Driller for Ransomes, Sims, and Jefferies – Agricultural Engineers, of Orwell Works, Ipswich. He lived with his mother, stepfather and siblings.
Albert Richard Matt, 52 years & 6 months old, a Moulder for Ransomes, Sims, and Jefferies – Agricultural Engineers, of Orwell Works, Ipswich, born Hull, Yorkshire.
Bessie Matt, 44 years & 6 months old, Home Duties.
Bessie Hardwick, 18 years old, a Tailoress for Bales and Pearson, of Falcon Street, Ipswich.
William Hardwick, 14 years old, at School.
Dorothy Hardwick, 12 years old, at School.
Daisy Violet Hardwick, 10 years & 11 months old, at School, born St. Margaret’s, Ipswich.
Frederick Ernest A. Hardwick, 8 years & 6 months old, at School, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.
Agnes Violet G. Hardwick, 5 years & 4 months old, at School, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.
Stanley’s mother, Bessie Frances Matt died in 1921, Ipswich.
In 1934, in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, Stanley married Alice Clara Whaling, born April 1905, Great Yarmouth – daughter of Alfred Whaling, a dock labourer, and Alice Mary Whaling (nee Chettleburgh), of 39, Admiralty Road, Great Yarmouth.
Probate to Alice Clara Hardwick – widow.
William lost his father and stepbrother during the First World War.
William Hardwick died of wounds on the 3rd October 1918, aged 40. He had served 2 years in France. He was ranked a Private, service number 607500, for the 714th Coy, of the Labour Corps. William was laid to rest at Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Harve, France.
Arthur James Hardwick was KiA, on the 5th September 1918, age 29. He was ranked a Lance Corporal, service number 200838, for the 1st Battalion, of the Cambridgeshire Regiment. Arthur was laid to rest at Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
The Battalion was attached to the 18th East Anglian Division (including 4/5th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment).
15th February 1942: After the fall of Singapore, approximately 620 of the Battalions were taken POW and later mostly died on the Burma-Thailand Railway.
He was likely being transported to Japan to be used as slave labour when he died, the ship could have sunk either in a storm or many cases by the British or US forces, as the ship would have been a cargo ship. Many men died on such ships, in inhumane conditions, through heat, and lack of food and water.
Ipswich men who died on the same day onboard the Hell ships:
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