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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Chief ERA2. Henry Wilson Hanlon
Royal Navy HMS Bergamont
from:20 Seymour, Venue Lipson, Plymouth
“Fatal Thirteenâ€Â
Many accounts of the “bags†made by or Q boats have appeared in the Press in the course of the few months. All of our Special Service Ships however were not so successful, and the following narrative related by a survivor of one of the ill-fated ones, may prove interesting reading, as well as giving the British Public an idea of the hazardous service on which these ships were engaged.
On the 13th July 1917, one our new pattern Q-boat sloops was commissioned on the Tyne. The trials etc. having been accomplished successfully, we started off to our future “base†at Buncrana (a small town on the shores of Lough Swilly). With the exception of a few submarine scares nothing eventful happened for a few weeks.
One Monday forenoon, however, we left Buncrana on what proved to be our last patrol. At 8 pm I came off watch from the Engine room. My quarters were for ‘a’d, and it was getting on towards 8:30 before I was washed + sat down to supper. The Chief & Petty Officers all lived for’a’d - luckily for us – and a fair percentage of them were “turned inâ€Â. Nothing was further from our minds than the catastrophe which was at hand. Suddenly we felt a fearful rending crash followed by the escape of hissing steam. All the lights went out at once, & for a moment or two pandemonium was let loose, as everyone in our compartment crowded to the one means of exit-an iron ladder to the upper deck.
I was one of the last to get up, & immediately made my way to the bath room where my life jacket was. By the time I forced the door (which had been jammed) found & donned it, all but a few had gone to the boat deck. From my position I could see nothing of the effects of the explosion as the after part of the ship could not be seen from there – that it was caused by a torpedo was only too evident. The ominous lurching of the ship to Port as she settled down, warned me that it was high time to get out of her, so without further hesitation I rushed to the boat deck only to find that both the midship lifeboats were at least three hundred yards away. However, near by I saw one of the rafts, quite near the stern which was slowly tilting upwards. It was only then that the full magnitude of the disaster appealed to me. Previously I had acted as one in a dream.
The after well deck was flush with the water & the ship quickly breaking in two. The torpedo had struck her on the Port Side,- entered the Auxiliary Engine Room & burst the divisional bulkhead between it & the Main Engine Room, blowing the dynamo to pieces. The watch keepers had a narrow escape in the latter compartment, the E.R.A. managing to reach the ladder before he was overwhelmed by the inrush of water. The two stokers floated up!! & all three were eventually saved. Unfortunate, however, were the occupants of the Aux. Engine Room. The Leading stoker was killed while the Storekeeper was severely cut on the head & didn’t regain consciousness till he found himself floating in the sea. He also was saved.
The Officer’s Quarters suffered severely, the Chief Engineer, Chief E.R.A., a lieutenant, and the Paymaster being drowned or killed. The 1st lieutenant was picked up unconscious by one of the boats - wounded in the legs & head. The fate of these, of course, I learned afterwards.
To return to my story - I hadn’t been on deck for more than a few moments when a sudden lurch made me lose my footing & I was thrown into the sea. On coming to the surface I struck out for the raft. The ship's end was drawing very near. Her stern & bows had reared themselves in the air & as I reached the raft a tremendous explosion took place probably through the depth charges exploding. The raft turned “turtle†& I again went under water. The concussion caused a sickening sensation in my stomach and for a few moments I thought my end had come. However, it soon passed away & coming to the surface I regained the raft. Several times it overturned through ill balancing on the part of the occupants. Later one of the boats took a couple on board greatly to our relief as we had been greatly exhausted by the frequent submersions.
Night was now coming on fast & to add to our troubles the form of a large submarine loomed up in the near distance. No. 1 lifeboat was now about 2 miles away, while No. 2 had the two rafts in tow, on one of which was our captain. A hail came from the German craft asking where he was. We replied “In the other boat, sir.†Both her guns were trained on us & we feared the worst but the German carried on her way after No. 1 lifeboat. It seems that he went close alongside her & hauled the ships steward on board, he being the only one who had a collar & tie on, & so looked most like an officer. Our fate hung in the balance for some time as the U boat commander closely questioned the steward as to the particulars of our ship, where bound to, etc. He, however, kept his head & managed to deceive the pirate as to her nature. Finally he was told to go back to the boat, the commander giving him a cigarette & also transferring to her a wounded man the submarine had picked up. He was given a glass of a port wine, & with a farewell “See you after the war†she vanished in the night mists.
We in No.2 lifeboat (the captain having ordered the occupants of the rafts to transfer to her) having lost sight of No. 1 took it in turns to pull at the oars (there being no breeze), a course being shaped towards Lough Swilly about 100 miles away. When I say that there was 48 of us in this boat some people may be inclined to turn skeptical. However, it remains a fact & can be proved if inquired into. The boats her Admiralty order contained a supply of biscuits, a couple of tins of corned beef & a small keg of water each. As there was so many of us the captain decided to dole out a gill of water & two or three biscuits per man, daily.
Tuesday morning broke cold & cheerless, but towards midday a slight breeze sprung up so we got the sail up & made better headway. The sun also came out which dried out clothes somewhat. That evening the wind freshened a lot, but owing to our cramped positions & the boat being heavily laden, we shipped a lot of water & got wet through again.
Wednesday morning found us still forging ahead but no land in sight & it wasn’t till midday we were electrified by a shout from the signalman-who had been continually scanning the horizon with his glasses – “Land on the starboard beam, sir.†The captain took the glasses & verified his statement which of course put new life in us.
Unfortunately, the wind had partly died down & 5 pm. Found us still all 5 miles from the mouth of Lough Swilly as it proved to be. All hands however were feeling stronger & more cheerful as the captain had all the remaining provisions & water served out. About 6 pm we managed to draw the attention of a large trawler the “Lord Listerâ€Â- & shortly afterwards were helped aboard, her crew showing us every kindness. The captain collapsed on reaching her deck. He had stuck to the task of steering the boat ever since that fatal Monday evening & had to be taken to hospital along with four others, on reaching land. He deserves a large need of praise for his skill & endurance, but as far as we know has received no recognition from the Admiralty so far, for the simple reason I suppose, that there was no one of superior rank to recommend him.
No.1 lifeboat reached the rocky shores of South Donegal about 2 am. On the Thursday, where they were kindly treated by the coastguards, all survivors finally being dispatched to England & Barracks.
One word more as regards the heading of this article. Our ship was built in thirteen weeks, commissioned on the 13th July 1917, torpedoed at 13 minutes to 9 on the 13th August 1917 and lost 13 hands. H.W.H.
My grandfather’s name was Henry (Harry) Wilson Hanlon. I think he had an Chief ERAII rating at the time. His official number was M1525 if you care to look at his naval records which I have a copy of. “Grandy†wrote his story out on 5 pieces of yellow legal paper, and I typed it exactly as he wrote it many years ago. My grandmother wouldn’t let him publish it as she felt it would be “too pretentiousâ€Â. Well, I think it is time to let the world know how courageous he and his fellow seamen were.
He was pensioned off 1 September 1934, but because of his experience he was mobilized on 28 September 1938 by the Navy to serve his country again during W.W.II. He died naturally in his sleep, in a nursing home run by a retired navy man, at 89 years of age in Plymouth, England in the 1980’s. I live in the United States but was able to visit him twice a year until he died. I am so pleased that he knew who I was until the very end. My mother, his daughter was already deceased, so I asked him to come to the U.S., but like I thought, he said he wanted to die in his own country that he had served so proudly.
Spr. Slyvester Hayward Hanlon
New Zealand Expeditionary Force New Zealand Engineers
from:Northcote, Auckland
(d.13th Sep 1918)
Slyvester Hanlon was the son of the late Mrs. M. Hanlon of Northcote, Auckland. Born at Wanganui. He served in Egypt, at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. He is buried in the Birkenhead Catholic Cemetery, North Shore City, New Zealand.
Pte. J. Hann
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Newbottle
J Hann was wounded in 1916
Sgt. Alexander Hanna
British Army 10th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
from:Belfast
Rfmn. Alexander Hanna
British Army C Coy. 13th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
from:Lambeg, Antrim, Ulster
(d.1st Jul 1916)
Alexander Hanna served with the 13th Royal Irish Rifles.
Sgt David Henry Hanna
British Army Royal Irish Rifles
Pvt. Elmer L. Hanna
United States Army Co A. 145 Machine Gun Battalion
Elmer Hanna was my great uncle and I remember from when I was a child in the mid 1940's and he came to visit his half brother Charles William Weeks in Russellville, Ohio.
L/Cpl. Frederick George Hanna
British Army 6th Btn. Queens Own Cameron Highlanders
from:Glasgow, Scotland
(d.17th Jul 1917)
A Silver War Badge medal was handed down to my brother and I from our Grandmother, whose husband was Norman Hanna. It was awarded to my Grandfather's older Brother Frederick George Hanna. Nobody remembered any stories other than he had died in WWI. After doing some research for my family tree, I came across a story on this website that seemed to match the Information I had found: Frederick died on 31st July 1917, killed in action at Flanders. He was a L/ Cpl. in the 6th Battalion of the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, recruited from Glasgow Scotland. The story of Cpl. Jock Pender happened on 31st July 1917 in Ypres, Flanders and tells of a "Wee Hanna" running over to help after Jock was shot in the shoulder and Wee Hanna being shot dead by a sniper himself. Jock Pender then lay under the body of "Wee Hanna" until darkness & went back to look for him but the body was lost in the Flanders mud. I was amazed to find this story that matched up so perfectly with the information I already had. It's surprisingly emotional, and I feel pride that my Great Uncle was trying to help in what must have been very difficult situation for all.
Pte. George Hanna
British Army 1st Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers
from:Belfast
(d.6th Nov 1917)
George Hanna was executed for desertion 06/11/1917 age 26 and buried in Neuville-Bourjonval British Cemetery, Neuville-Bourjonval, France. He was the son of Henry and Elizabeth Hanna.
Rfmn. John Hanna
British Army 12th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
from:Ballymoney, Co. Antrim
(d.2nd Jun 1917)
18 year old John Hanna was one of four young Ballymoney friends preparing for the Battle of Messines Ridge, when on the morning of the 2nd of June a single shell landed in the midst of them. John Hanna, Lance Corporal McCoubrey and Rifleman Wade, died instantly, they were buried together, side by side, in Pond Farm Cemetery, Belgium. The fourth man, Rifleman George Wales, was fortunately sheltered from the direct blast and was injured by the shell, but was killed later that year at Cambrai.
Lt. Robert Hill Hanna VC
Canadian Expeditionary Force 29th Battalion (British Columbia Regiment)
from:Canada
Pte. Samuel Hanna
British Army 8th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers
from:Eliza Street, Belfast
(d.4th May 1916)
Samuel Hanna served with the 8th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers, in the 36th Division, comprising of 28 Battalions mostly of Irish Regiments. They arrived in France in February 1916 and were assigned to the Loos sector. The soldiers experienced trench warfare and suffered casualties during this early period in the front line. They were in the trenches at Hulloch when the Germans launched a gas attacks on 27th and 29th of April 1916. Of the 1980 casualties, 570 were killed and many of the wounded died later from respiratory diseases.
Pte. William Hanna
British Army 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers
from:Ballymoney, Co. Antrim
(d.3rd Oct 1918)
William Hanna, like many young men at the time, wanted to fight for his country and see the world, unfortunately, he was too young, so lied about his age when he enlisted. When his mother found out she contacted the army and brought him home, but William was determined, the next morning when his mother went to wake him he was gone again! William eventually enlisted in Hamilton, Scotland, and transferred to the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers. His battalion was involved in many conflicts including the Somme in 1916, Messines in 1917 where William was injured by a shell blast, and endured a winter of snow in the open trenches at Cambrai. By late September 1918 the Battalion was involved in fierce fighting in the Messines area. It was here that he was seriously injured and died of his wounds on 3rd October 1918. Willim Hanna has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sister. Hannah
Queen Alexandras Nursing Service No. 16 Stationary Hospital
Aw02 J. B Hannah
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:North Leith
J Hannah was wounded in 1916
L/Cpl. James Hannan
British Army 2nd Btn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
from:Jarrow
(d.21st Mar 1918)
James was born in Jarrow around 1875. Mother Elizabeth Rowan (late Hannan) of 37 Commercial Road Jarrow. Enliste in Glasgow.
James Hannan, Lance Corporal 18966 (documented as Hunnam on CWGC) was aged 41 who died on 21st March 1918. He is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial and is commemorated on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church, Jarrow.
Ast.Cook. Robert Hannan
Mercantile Marine SS Hollington
from:Burnley, Lancs.
(d.2nd June 1917)
Robert Hannan was killed in action during a submarine attack on the 2nd of June 1917, aged 17. Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London, he was the son of Robert Hannan, of Parker's Arms, Burnley, Lancs. Born at Rawtenstock.
Cpl. James Edward Hannant
British Army 11th Btn. Sherwood Foresters
from:Walbottle
(d.21st Nov 1916)
James Hannant died at the Red Cross Hospital, Bellahouston, Glasgow, at 9.10 a.m. on 21st November 1916 of secondary haemorrhage which was bleeding that occurred from seven to fourteen days after surgery for a leg wound (gunshot).
John Joseph Hannay
British Army 38th Brigade Royal Field Artillery
(d.19th Oct 1917)
My great-uncle, John Joseph Hannay, died on the 19th of October 1917, he was in the 38th Army Brigade RFA. From what I can see this may have been at Passchendaele?
Lt. Reginald Hannay MID 1916
Royal Army Medical Corps 36th Field Ambulance
from:Dalton in Furness
Pte. James Hanning
British Army 1st Battalion Royal Scots
from:Edinburgh
(d.20th Apr 1915)
James Hanning died of wounds sustained in fighting at Sanctuary Wood, Zillebeke. He was aged 26, the son of William and Ann Hanning of 5 Spittal Street, Edinburgh. James lies in Bedford House Cemetery.
L/Cpl. Harry Hanock
British Army 7th Btn. Kings Own Shropshire Light Infantry
(d.7th Nov 1917)
My uncle, Lance Corporal Harry Hancock, 14199 was killed on 7th November 1917, I'd like to know what 7th Battalion KSLI were doing on this date?
Pte. John Hanrahan
British Army 6th Btn. Royal Irish Regiment
(d.30th Jan 1917)
John Hanrahan was 22 when he died and is buried on the east boundary of the Ballingarry Old Graveyard in Co. Tipperary, Ireland.
Pte. George Edward Hanscombe
British Army East Kent Regiment
from:Beckenham, Kent
My great uncle George Hanscombe served with the Buffs.
Spr. Axel Hansen
Australian Imperial Force 1st Tunneling Coy Royal Engineers
(d.17th April 1919)
Axel Hansen, born was in Skive, Denmark. He served with the 1 Aus. Tunnelling Coy. He died on 17th April 1919 and is buried at Tidsworth Military Cemetery. On his gravestone in Danish is: "Tro mod sin slægt - Tro mod Danmark" (Faithful to his family - Faithful to Denmark).
Capt. Percy Howard Hansen VC.
British Army 6th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment
from:Denmark
Percy Howard Hansen was a 24 year old a captain in the 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, when he was awarded the VC. His citation reads:
"On 9 August 1915 at Yilghin Bumu, Gallipoli, Turkey, Captain Hansen's battalion was forced to retire leaving some wounded behind, owing to the intense heat from the scrub which had been set on fire. After the retirement Captain Hansen, with three or four volunteers dashed forward several times over 300-400 yards of open scrub, under a terrific fire and succeeded in rescuing six wounded men from inevitable death by burning."
Rflmn. William Henry Hansen
British Army 16th Btn. D Coy. Rifle Brigade
from:Saint Pancras
(d.24th Jun 1917)
William Hansen was the son of Henry and Rose Hansen, husband of E. Hansen. He joined the 16th Btn. Rifle Brigade at some time during June/July 1915. He landed with the Battalion at Le Havre on 8th of March 1916. On June 24th 2017, the regiment relieved the 17th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, in the right sector front line after being in right support. That same day he was one of 5 killed. Eight others were wounded.
Pte. W. H. Hansey
British Army 2nd Battalion, D Coy. London Regiment
Private W H Hansey was wounded while serving with the 2nd Battalion, London Regiment.
Pte Frederick Henry John Hansford
Royal Berkshire Regiment 5th Btn.
from:Portsmouth
Before being transferd to the Royal Berks my Father, Frederick Hansford was in the Somerset Light Infantry and his last Regiment was the ROAC.
William Hansford
British Army J Dep Coy. Royal Engineers
from:Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth
My grandfather William Hansford seved with the Royal Engineers J Dep Coy. in WW1. He worked on the railway before the war and was I presume seconded to the Railway Division. I have a photo of him in uniform an a postcard from Kent saying he was fine. I cannot find out any more about him except that thankfully he survived and thus we have memories of him.
Page 14 of 90
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