FOR THE FIRST PART OF PHILIP HARGRAVE’S STORY. CLICK HERE.
Philip Hargrave was a child prodigy. The brilliant young pianist from Adelaide had amazed and delighted audiences from the age of seven. In 1934 the then 13 year old’s national concert tour was interrupted by a bitter and prolonged custody battle between his estranged mother and his beloved music teacher Henriette Garnaut. It was the elderly Miss Garnaut who was appointed his guardian. The following year Philip completed a tour of Australia and New Zealand. A recital tour of Europe was booked as the culmination of the gifted boy’s years of study.
On July 31 1936 came an announcement that shocked everyone. Philip had decided he no longer wanted to be a concert pianist and would instead study to be a doctor. He said he considered medicine a more worthwhile contribution to society.
At this point Harriette Garnaut proved she had been the right choice as his guardian. She calmly accepted his decision, despite the deep disappointment she must have felt. She had devoted years to his care and tuition, and endured the stress of the almost year long custody battle.
In 1939 Miss Garnaut, who in 1926 had relinquished her all other students to concentrate on Philip, put the following ad in the paper;
HENRIETTE GARNAUT – SOLE TEACHER OF PHILIP HARGRAVE – HAS RETURNED TO HER HOME AT 3 EGMONT TERRACE , BURNSIDE, AND RESUMES TUITION FEBRRUARY 2ND. TELEPHONE F1979
Over the next few years Philip concentrated on his studies, although he later swapped medicine for the law. It must have been so difficult because his education had been impacted by his dedication to music He returned to the piano only for fundraising events to assist the war effort.
At the age of twenty he joined up himself. His chosen service was the R.A.A.F., but impaired vision meant that flying would not be possible. After a transfer to the welfare and entertainment department he performed for troops in Australia and around the Pacific until the end of hostilities.
On one occasion touring became far more ‘hands on’ than the young corporal anticipated. He had to reconstruct a piano before giving his recital;
‘When Philip Hargrave went to Morotai [Indonesia] to play to the troops, the only piano available was one that had been dumped on the beach early in the first landing, and had stayed there for three days in the thick of the fighting, It was rusted, full of sand, and most of the strings were broken. But Hargrave worked hard to reconstruct it, added three amplifiers, and used it for his whole tour of the Halmahera’s because the piano intended for the tour never caught up with him. It went to Port Moresby instead. (Adelaide News, April 23 1946)
The following portrait held by the Australian War Memorial is by Geoffrey Mainwaring. It shows Philip playing while visiting the forward area in Aitape, New Guinea.
Much needed downtime in New Guinea; Philip playing cards with off-duty Australian soldiers.
SOURCE – AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL
When the war ended Henriette Garnaut implored the R.A.A.F to discharge her beloved Philip, but they seemed in no hurry to let him go. Her friend, Father Toal from the South Australian town of Burra, then interceded on her behalf, writing an impassioned letter to Arthur Calwell;
Source – Australian Service Records.
Whether this appeal had any affect is unknown, but Philip was discharged a few weeks later.
If there was one thing war service had done for the young man it was to restore his love of performing. Perhaps the enjoyment on the faces of weary servicemen and women reassured him that being a concert pianist was a worthwhile profession. Instead of completing his law studies he again devoted himself to music.
The two women who were closest to Philip are pictured at a concert he gave at Adelaide Town Hall in June 1946. On the far left is Henriette Garnaut his ‘Aunt Hetty’. Second from right is Helena Fisher, Miss Garnaut’s adopted niece. Helena was 15 years older than Philip. She had helped raise him, and tutored him on recital tours. As a talented violinist herself she understood and appreciated his rare gift.
SOURCE – ADELAIDE MAIL, JUNE 6 1946
In September that year Philip Hargrave made the trip to England that had been cancelled ten years earlier.
He was introduced to the cream of society, as an article in Adelaide Advertiser reported in January 1947;
His Aunt Hetty and her niece made plans to join him. They packed up, sold the house in Adelaide, and sailed on the Orion the following year, arriving in time for Christmas. It was an enormous undertaking for Miss Garnaut, whose health had always been fragile.
Philip had found them a flat in London’s fashionable Wimpole Street, but the English climate and severe post war rationing soon had the trio dreaming of life in France, where Miss Garnaut had relatives.
In 1950 came the astonishing news that Philip and Helena were engaged to be married. He was then 29 and Helena was 44. The ceremony was held at the Australian Embassy in Paris, and it was the village of Andrezel in northern France that became their home. Miss Garnaut remained part of the couple’s household. I can only imagine that they recreated the haven of the beautiful home they shared for so many years in Adelaide. The old lady died at Andrezel in 1952.
GARNAUT – ON AUGUST 29, AT ANDREZEL, FRANCE, HENRIETTE MARIE GARNAUT, BELOVED AUNT OF HELENA HARGRAVE, AND GUARDIAN OF PHILIP HARGRAVE, OF ANDREZEL, PAR GUIGNES RABUTIN, SEINE ET MARNE, FRANCE. REQUIESCAT IN PACE.
And what became of Philip Hargrave the one time child prodigy? Certainly he continued to perform in France. If he made a name for himself on the world stage I’m sure we would know about it. It’s possible that after arriving in England his ambition was tempered by his devotion to the two most important women in his life; his aunt Hetty and his wife Helena.
FOR A NEWSPAPER REPORT ON PHILIP’S DECISION TO GIVE UP MUSIC IN 1936 CLICK HERE.
