Biography

John was born in Richmond Missouri USA in 1911 to recently arrived Scottish immigrants John and Margaret Hardie. In 1912 the family returned to Scotland then emigrated to New Zealand in 1922 aboard the SS Remuera from Southampton to Auckland.

The family lived in Mataura, Southland and John left school at 12 to work for the local grocer. John open a shop on the corner of Bealey Ave and Colombo St Christchurch in 1934, he was there for about two years before moving to another shop on Brougham Street for around a year. After that business closed he returned to Mataura where he worked in the freezing works for a year.

John then returned to Christchurch and worked as a sales representative for Cereal Foods until 1941 when he joined the RNZAF. He served as a pilot officer and was sent to train for 18 months, returning to NZ in 1944 without having seen active duty. From 1945 to 1952 he worked as a traveller for Hobbs & Richardson until he brought his shop at the corner of Ilam and Clyde Roads where he stayed until his retirement in 1975.

Found in 81 Collections and/or Records: