Photo: Brian Chandler
C.E. Hardwick
The Royal Northumberland
Fusiliers
Att. Q.O. Cameron Highlander
10th June 1942, age 23.
Loving memories
of my dear son
always remembered
by his mother
Charles Edward was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, the son of Nellie and stepson of Ernest Bolam of Benwell and husband of Joyce Hardwick of Gillingham, Kent.
He enlisted at Newcastle with the 30th Battalion and was attached to 4th Battalion Cameron Highlander. He was accidentally killed alongside his colleague (4277224, Fusilier S. Cain).
Charles Edward is listed on the Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945.
The following report appeared in the Berwick Advertiser Thursday, 11/06/1942:
Two Soldiers Drowned.
“Two young married soldiers were drowned in the River Tweed on Wednesday. They were Fusilier C.E. Hardwick, a native of Newcastle, whose wife is at present residing at Hoole, Cheshire and Fusilier Cain. Both were drowned while crossing the Tweed about half a mile above Carham Hall. Hardwick’s body was recovered on Wednesday night by dragging operations, while a search is still being continued for Cain’s body. It is thought that the soldiers stumbled into holes when crossing the river and both went under.
(Note: a report on the following Monday claimed a body had been recovered that day by the same method, although it is not clear if this was Cain, as another drowning had taken place the previous week).
Acknowledgements: Ron Carson
The name of Charles Edward Hardwick does not appear on any local memorial.
