Woodstock in 1923, Bardien had little formal schooling. He ran away from home at 16 to join the Cape Coloured Corps and was conscripted to fight in Alexandria during World War II.
References
Bunsee, B (2005) “Debate on race returns to haunt ANC politics in the Western Cape” [online] Cape Times, July 7. [Accessed 26 February 2009]|Cleminshaw, D. (1976) Bandwagon, May edition. Published by the Cape Office of the Christian Institute, p13.|Green, P. (2008) Choice, not Fate: The Life and Times of Trevor Manuel. The Penguin Group: South Africa|(1976) Sechaba Vol. 10 p46 (SAHO private collection)