Sydney Hart served as a submariner in the North Sea, the Atlantic, and the Mediterranean during World War Two. Unable to settle in Civvy Street in post-war England, he decided to emigrate to Australia, departing from Liverpool as one of the £10 Pommie Migrants on the Empire Brent. It was on board this ship that he met his future wife, Betty.
Following the birth of his first daughter, the family decided to return to England, settling with relatives in the North West of England. With the sea always in his blood, Sydney joined the crew of the George, bound for the Middle East, but neither of the Harts had fully decided whether their permanent home would be in England and with a ticket confirming passage back to Australia, the question remained. However, shortly before they were to sail, Sydney accepted a position in a car factory and the family remained in the UK. It was after this that he began to write about his experiences and three books followed: Submarine Upholder, Discharged Dead and Pommie Migrant. He died suddenly in 1979. His last request was that he be buried at sea from Portsmouth, as a true submariner