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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Pte. C Hanson
British Army British West Indies Regiment
(d.11th April 1916)
Private Hanson was 20 when he died and is buried in the Somerset Military Burial Ground in Bermuda, Grave 21.
Pte. C. Hanson
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Grimsby
(d.2nd July 1916)
C Hanson is buried in Mieaulte Cemetery
CQMS. Harold Vickerman Hanson
British Army 2nd Btn. Yorkshire Regiment
from:Huddersfield
The Great War cast its shadow over my grandfather's life even before it began, because in August 1914 Harold Hanson went on a Cook's Tour of the Rhineland. It might be thought that this was not the best time to visit Germany, but the holiday had been booked months beforehand when the European situation had appeared quite stable. Everywhere the British party travelled they became increasingly alarmed at the sight of large-scale movements of German troops, which their German guide tried to reassuringly describe as 'just manoeuvres'. However, it was quite evident that Germany was mobilising for war, and the tourists were relieved when they left for home a day or two before the outbreak of hostilities, otherwise they would have faced spending the war in a Civilian Internment Camp in Germany.
My grandfather, being a Yorkshireman, volunteered to join the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and passed his army medical examination as A1 - i.e. fit for combat duty, in spite of the fact that his eyesight was so poor he had resigned from his school cricket team at the age of 13 because he could no longer see the ball! My grandfather was sent to a huge army camp on Salisbury Plain for his basic training where he vividly remembers bayonet practice on rope-hung sacks of sawdust, and the drill sergeant barking out the order 'And before you withdraw the bayonet - give it a twist!' One winter's morning in the 1970's, I was volunteered by my office manager to help him light the central heating boiler when the stoker, a local man, hadn't turned up. My task was to chop firewood for which I was handed a World War One bayonet, which was so razor sharp that with very little effort I soon had a large pile of firewood ready. Remembering my grandfather's training, I shuddered to imagine thrusting this lethal weapon into a human body!
Not long after the commencement of my his training, a very unpleasant event occurred. Fresh rations suddenly and mysteriously disappeared, to be replaced by what the army called hard tack - large square biscuits, nicknamed dog biscuits by the men. The absence of fresh food was entirely owing to the incompetence and indifference of the military authorities - after all, the recruits were not stationed in a remote outpost of the British Empire, but in south-west England! After a few days of this treatment, rioting broke out in one of the barrack huts which were grouped around a large square quadrangle. The riot quickly spread to all the other huts. Furniture and windows were smashed and the dog biscuits used as projectiles, being hurled around indiscriminately. My grandfather, not wishing to participate in the riot or to be hit by one of the fearsome biscuits, dropped to his knees. He had no sooner done so than one of his comrades received one of the biscuits full on the forehead, causing a deep gash from which blood spurted. The man was knocked unconscious by the blow, and fell to the floor at the side of my grandfather, who crawled to one of the windows. Looking out he saw a group of officers standing huddled together in the middle of the quadrangle, heads together, discussing the deteriorating situation. Every now and again, one of the officers would turn and look apprehensively at the huts full of rioting men. Eventually the officers dispersed without attempting to approach any of the huts to remonstrate with the recruits - they were obviously afraid to do so, the men being in such an ugly mood. However, the riot had the desired effect because first thing next morning there was fresh food for breakfast - and plenty of it! No disciplinary action was taken against any of the rioters - the military authorities preferring to pretend that the riot had never happened. Doubtless they realised that the men had been pushed too far - and they wouldn't want the newspapers getting wind of the affair!
It was during this time that my grandfather's deficient eyesight was finally discovered - on the firing range! Each recruit had been given a numbered target to aim at, and the accuracy was plotted by monitors. My grandfather had been firing away for a few minutes when the Captain in command of the firing range came up behind him and demanded 'Which target number are you aiming at?'
My grandfather looked round in some surprise and replied 'I'm aiming at my designated target - No. 2.'
The Captain then said 'Well my monitors tell me that your shots are hitting target No. 4. You had better get along to the M.O. (Medical Officer) and have your eyesight tested.'
The M.O. was going to write out a medical discharge there and then, but it had to be countersigned by a second M.O. who, being a brusque, no-nonesense type said “Oh there’s no need to discharge this man, he's quite fit enough for non-combat duties.'
Accordingly, my grandfather's civilian record was examined and he was awarded the rank of C.Q.M.S. (Company Quatermaster Sergeant) and then posted to Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment a.k.a. The Green Howards. This meant that my grandfather had to bid farewell to the other 29 comrades in his barrack hut, everyone of which, my grandfather subsequently learned after the war, had been either killed or wounded. Not one had come through the war unscathed.
As C.Q.M.S. my grandfather's duties were varied. On one occasion for instance, he was ordered to oversee a group of Conscientious Objectors who had been set to work digging latrines (toilets). On another occasion he was required to dispose of a huge quantity of discarded uniforms which were dumped on his quadrangle in large rotting heaps. This didn't please his Colonel who demanded 'What's all this bloody mess, Quarters?' My grandfather's response was to ask the Colonel to look more closely at the heaps, upon which he exclaimed 'Good Heavens, they're moving!' The heaps of rotting uniforms were so heavily infested with lice that the constant wriggling of the creatures was making each pile slowly and rhythmically rise and fall, which gives some indication of the appalling conditions in the front-line trenches. From time to time my grandfather received inducements to sell army supplies on the black market, but being a man of scrupulous honesty he always firmly rebuffed such overtures.
With the declaration of the Armistice, my grandfather looked forward to demobilisation, and to be re-united with my grandmother, whom he had married a year previously. However, his hopes were dashed when he was told he was to be posted to Dublin for several months as part of the British Forces garrisoned there, in order to counter the activities of the Irish Nationalists.
My grandfather found the atmosphere in Dublin was poisonous with hatred towards the British to such an extent that off-duty soldiers were under strict orders not to walk through the city streets in groups of less than three. Accordingly, one day he was walking along with two other sergeants when, passing two Irishmen on the pavement, one of the Irishmen made a derogatory remark about the British. Unfortunately, one of the other two sergeants had a quick temper and spontaneously lashed out with his fist, knocking the offending Irishman flat on his back. This was the signal for every Irishman in the vicinity to pounce on the three sergeants, and things would have gone very badly for them had not providence been on their side in the form of a Public House on the corner of the street which just happened to be full of off-duty Seaforth Highlanders, who liked nothing better than a good scrap, and on hearing the rumpus in the street outside, they piled out of the pub, and very soon the entire street was full of men knocking the daylights out of each other. My grandfather took this welcome intervention as an opportunity to make his escape because, although he was a good amateur boxer, he boxed at Bantam Weight, so he was no match for a burly Irishman. However, he was left with the prospect of making his own way back to the barracks along streets where every British soldier was a marked man, and he couldn't afford to hurry or look nervous - fortunately the journey passed without incident.
Although my grandfather did not enjoy his sojourn in Dublin, there was one bright note. The food in the sergeants' mess was prepared by local women, instead of the usual army cooks, and I remember my grandfather telling me that these ladies cooked some 'wonderfully tasty meals' - so at least he was well fed!
Following eventual demobilisation, my grandfather expected to get his old job back without any trouble because the Government had made it very clear to employers from the very beginning of the War that jobs of men serving in the forces were to be kept open for them on their return. However, in spite of having given exemplary service, my grandfather found his employers strangely reluctant to re-employ him. As my grandmother and baby daughter (my mother) had been living with my great-grandparents during the war, my grandfather had to find both a home and an income, and jobs at the time were hard to come by. Therefore he had to swallow his pride and turn to a Veterans' Association who were successful in applying pressure on his employers. He later learned that his job had been taken by a man who had not served in the war but was a relative of one of the Company Directors. This episode graphically illustrates the difficulties soldiers faced when returning to civilian life.
While clearing out my grandparents' bungalow after their deaths within a month of each other, I came across a momento from my grandfather's army days - the casing of a hand grenade that both my mother and myself had played with as children. When a scrap metal dealer came, I tossed the grenade on to the pile of metal objects, remarking with a smile, 'Here's an extra bit of metal for you.' I laughed at his evident alarm and reassured him, 'It's quite harmless, it's hollow inside.' He still looked very dubious, but he took it with the rest and drove away. That same evening my mother received a phone call from a police sergeant who asked her if there was any more live ammunition lying around the property. Apparently the scrap metal dealer had handed in the grenade at a local police station and the Bomb Squad had successfully detonated it. As a child I had, from time to time, considered removing the pin of the grenade in order to ascertain how the pieces of the casing fitted together. I had always been deterred from this course of action by reasoning that the pin fitted so tightly that I might not be able to restore it to its original position. Of course, if I had pulled out the pin I should not now be writing this account, and many years after the signing of the Armistice, the Great War would have claimed yet another casualty.
Sjt. J. W. Hanson
Army 8th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Pte. J. Hanson
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Gateshead
J Hanson was wounded in July 1916
Pte. James Hanson
British Army 1st/5th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Jarrow
(d.14th Nov 1916)
James Hanson who died aged 23 was born and enlisted in Jarrow. He was the son of George and Elizabeth Hanson (nee Harris) of Jarrow. James Hanson, age 17, Cartman for Coal Merchant is with his parents George and Elizabeth Hanson and family at 24 Richard Street, Jarrow on the 1911 census.
James is buried in Warlencourt British Cemetery. He is commemorated on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church Jarrow and on the Triptych (right panel) in St. Mark's Church Jarrow (it is no longer a Church).
Pte. James Hanson
British Army 8th Btn. A Coy. Seaforth Highlanders
(d.25th September 1915)
James Hanson born 22 January 1897 in Derby. Son of James Allen Hanson and Charlotte Hanson (nee Gregory Woolley) who married in 1895 in Derby. James attended St John Schoolm Derby from 1903
He was killed in action on the 25th of September 1915 and has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial in France. He was single and living at the address of his parents 160 Stockbrook Street, Derby when he enlisted. His occupation was Coal Miner and he was employed by the Mapperley Colliery Company, Park Hall Lane, Mapperley in Derbyshire. James is named on the Mapperley Colliery Company's War Memorial, located at the Church Gates of St Wilfrid's Church, West Hallam, Derbyshire, next to the village War Memorial. He was one of the 66 men who died in the First World War employed by the Mapperley Colliery Company.
Cpl. Owen Hanson
British Army 107th Bgd. HQ. Royal Field Artillery
from:Jarrow
(d.20th Jun 1917)
Owen Hanson who died aged 27 was the husband of Harriet Hanson (nee Davies) of Monkton Village Jarrow. He is buried in Reninghelst New Military Cemetery and is commemorated on the Monkton Memorial in Monkton Village, Jarrow.
Pte. Rawdon Hanson
British Army 23rd Btn Durham Light Infantry
Served with 18th DLI
Pte. T. H. Hanson
British Army 10th Btn. Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment
(d.7th Jun 1917)
Sgt. Thomas William Hanson
British Army 4th Tyneside Irish 27th Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Shildon, County Durham
Im doing my friend's family tree and would appreciate additional information you may have on Thomas William Hanson born 1878 died 1955 Regards
Seacunny Abdul Haq
Royal Indian Marine
(d.13 Jul 1916)
Abdul Haq served in Remembered at . WW1
Sgt. Albert Roy Harbeck
Australian Imperial Force. A Coy, 4th platoon. 39th Btn.
from:Cunninghame, Gippsland
(d.1st May 1917)
Roy Harbeck was one of three brothers that served with the AIF. He died of wounds sustained in a communication trench trying to get to the frontline trench near Prowse point at 04:30 on 1st May 1917, shrapnel to the face and neck. He died at the Charing Cross Dressing Station on the Messines Road near Hyde Park Corner. He is buried at Strand Military Cemetery, Ploegsteert, Belgium.
His brothers, Arthur Percival died of wounds and Rex Peter in Gallipoli (Second Krithia and the Nek).
Gnr. Bertie A. Harber
British Army 15th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
(d.26th Sep 1917)
Bertie A. Harber, I don't really know who this young man was, but his name was brought to my attention while looking at the Every Man Remembered memorial site. I was simply glancing at men with my same surname. He caught my eye because we share the same initials, B.A.H., and so I began scouring the internet for more information about him.
According to his Medal Record, Bertie entered the war theatre in France on October 12th, 1915. He served as a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery, 15th Siege Battery. His medal card also lists his date of death as September 26th, 1917, however; I found that there were six casualties on the 25th, all buried at Tincourt (where he is also buried), so I suspect he may have been one of them. From other sources on forums and bulletin boards, I've learned that in September 1917, the 15th Siege Battery was a part of the 21st HAG in Villers-Guislain. The battery was split and two Howitzers sent south the Epehy, leaving two in Villers-Guislain; I don't know which location Bertie was at.
Though I only share his initials and surname, I have no reason to suspect any actual relationship. However, I still feel a strange sense of connection after looking him up. I hope this brief account helps to remember one more soldier, someone's son. May they all, and all they gave, be remembered. Godspeed, Bertie.
Gnr. Emanual Robert Harber
British Army Royal Garrison Artillery
My grandfather Bob Harber was lead driver of a team of horses pulling 60 pounders, and although he never uttered one word about his time in France, my grandmother told me that his favourite horse was blinded by mustard gas and that he was allowed to bring it home after the war. I would love to think that this is true.
Sgt. Harbinson
British Army 11th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
L/Cpl. James Thomas Harbridge MM.
British Army 183rd Coy. Machine Gun Corps
from:Great Barrow, Cheshire
(d.3rd Dec 1917)
James Harbridge was born in Great Barrow, Cheshire, 1894, and died in 1917, aged 23. His military enlistment records were destroyed and the only surviving records found to date are his Military Medal award roll and record card, his soldier military effects record and the Commonwealth War Graves records. The information on these records vary in so much as some show he was a private and on others a lance corporal.
He was killed missing in action, serving with 183rd Machine Gun Corps in December 1917. His death is recorded on the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, and the Great Barrow, Village War Memorial.
James was not married and the census records do not tell us what his occupation was prior to his enlistment. His parents and grandparents worked in the farming industry and perhaps James followed in their footsteps.
Pte. Richard Harbut
British Army 1st Btn. Hampshire Regiment
(d.7th Jul 1915)
Gnr. Andrew Harcus
British Army 95th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
from:Orkney, Scotland
(d.3rd Aug 1917)
Gunner Andrew Harcus served with 95th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery during WW1 and was killed in action on the 3rd August 1917, aged 27. He is buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery in Belgium. He was the son of Andrew and Jessie Harcus, Husband of Frances Harcus, of Dogtoo, Westray, Orkney. Native of Tirlot, Westray.
Maj. James Logie Harcus
Australian Imperial Force 20th Bn.
(d.11th Dec 1915)
James Harcus died on the 11th of December 1915, aged 34 and is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial in the Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey. He was the son of Andrew and Jane Harcus of Heatherbank, Westray, Orkney, Scotland.
Gnr. Thomas Harcus
British Army 95th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
from:Scotland
(d.3rd Aug 1917)
Gunner Thomas Harcus served with 95th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery during WW1 and was killed in action on the 3rd August 1917, aged 32. He is buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery in Belgium. Husband of Ellen Rendall, he left two children and was a native of Westray, Orkney
Pte. Bernard Alfred Hardcastle
British Army 21st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment
from:Leeds
(d.16th June 1917)
Pte. R. Hardcastle
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Forrest Hall
R Hardcastle enlisted in 1914
Pte. Richard Townley Harden
British Army 7th Btn. Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment
from:Birkenhead
(d.7 Jun 1917)
Pte. Howard Keith Harder
Australian Imperial Force 12th Australian Field Ambulance
from:Coburg, Victoria
Keith Harder was one of two brothers from the Harder family in Coburg who fought in World War One. Keith was a stretcher bearer but was injured in the left thigh which resulted in a physical disability for the remainder of his life.
Keith's brother, Victor, was successful in gaining a commission in the British army and became a Lieutenant in the Field Artillery. He was killed at the battle for Kemmel Hill.
Pte. George Hardie
British Army 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders
from:Blantyre, Lanarkshire
(d.14th Dec 1914)
My uncle, George Hardie was lost without trace in the defence of the Ypres Salient. His name is on panel 38 of the Menin Gate.
2nd Lt. J. C. Hardie
British Army 173rd Brigade, D Bty Royal Field Artillery
Pte. John Hardie
Australian Imperial Force 33rd Btn.
from:Grong Grong
My Dad, Jack Hardie was a Lewis Gunner and saw action at Passendale, Abbeville, Armentires, La Bassiville, Ypres, Messines and Cashy-Villers Bretonneux. He was wounded by shell fire and was invalided home on eve of victory. He died in 1947 of cancer in a kidney which had been damaged in action as gas was present. He had been hospitalised twice before the "homer", but went back in on recovery. He told us he had refused promotion and spoke of climbing a building in Cachy to fly a French flag they had recovered from mud, just to annoy the enemy.
He never forgot the sorrow of an astounding victory, where a naive attack by the enemy failed, and "We mowed them down in hundreds, and they were only lads". Jack's full story is in the National War memorial, on Red Cross paper, written down while in hospital in England.
Pte. Alfred Allen Dewdney Harding
British Army 9th Battalion, D Company Royal Sussex Regiment
from:East Grinstead
(d.10th May 1916)
Alf Harding was a domestic gardener and keen football player before he joined up. Once he was in the army Alf used to write home when he could especially to his younger brother Ted, trying to discourage his younger sibling's enthusiasm for joining up, describing to him the reality of their situation abroad.
According to the Regimental diary entry, on the 10th of May 1916, Alf was killed in action by German Machine Gun fire whilst undertaking his duty as trench digger and stretcher bearer.
Charles Harding
British Army 6th Btn. Wiltshire Regiment
(d.1st Jul 1916)
Charles Harding served with the 6th Wiltshire Regiment
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