John William Hannell, soldier of the 49th Battalion
By Greg Corbett, Engagement Officer, Anzac Square Memorial Galleries | 8 October 2024
J.W. Hannell, one of the soldiers photographed in The Queenslander Pictorial, supplement to The Queenslander, 1915. Brisbane: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, 2014. Print. https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/tqqf2h/alma99183927298502061
Born in Liverpool, John William ‘Willie’ Hannell enlisted at Lilyvale on 27th February 1915 at the age of 31 and joined the 9th Battalion at Gallipoli. After being admitted to hospital with enteritis, he was transferred to the newly raised 49th Battalion in March 1916.
Earlier that year, Willie had written to his sister Maggie. In his letter, he appears to describe an unresolved dispute with his brother Bob. He writes, 'I am as right as rain so cheer up. I am afraid the letters you have written previously were on the transports that were torpedoed otherwise I should have received them... I have not received any letters from (our brother) since I left Enoggera and when I meet him there will be a big row... He does not seem very anxious as to how his brother is doing at the front...’ (National Archives Australia)
Excerpt of a letter from William Hannell to his sister Maggie. (NAA: B2455, HANNELL J W)
Willie expresses both optimism and pragmatism regarding the dangers of his situation. ‘I forgot to tell you if there is an accident to me I am leaveing (sic) all I have to you. Such a thing however is not likely just now. A man would run more risk in L.pool he might get run over by a tram car. How I would like to see Eileen and the others you can imagine.’ (National Archives Australia)
The 49th Battalion plaque at Anzac Square Memorial Galleries. Image: State Library of Queensland
During an attack at Mouquet Farm at 6am on September 5th, 1916, the troops endured a very heavy bombardment in which Willie was reported missing believed killed. Sergeant Henry Sinkins, who was in the same reinforcements as John and knew him well, saw him badly wounded in a shell hole. He said, 'The shelling was heavy. There was no chance of his being taken prisoner. I never heard of him again.' (Australian War Memorial) It's not clear if his family feud was ever resolved, but Willie signs off his letter appearing to wish his family members, including his brother, well.
If you cannot see them drop them a line and say I am anxious to know how they are doing so goodbye for the present. Your loving brother, Willie.
John William Hannell is commemorated at Courcelette British Cemetery, France.
Courcelette British Cemetery, France. Markus3 (Marc ROUSSEL), CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
To hear more Queensland stories of service, visit Anzac Square Memorial Galleries 10am-4pm Sunday-Friday.
References
2155 Private John William Hannell, Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files, 1914-18 War 1DRL/0428, Australian War Memorial, viewed 23 January 2023, https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1063327/document/5651042.PDF
Australian War Memorial 2023, ‘First World War Nominal Roll - John William Hannell’, viewed 23 January 2023, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2195710
Commonwealth War Graves Commission 2023, ‘Courcelette British Cemetary’, viewed 23 January 2023, https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/2000045/courcelette-british-cemetery/
Commonwealth War Graves Commission 2023, ‘John William Hannell’, viewed 23 January 2023, https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/2000045/courcelette-british-cemetery/
National Archives of Australia 2024, B2455, HANNELL J W, www.naa.gov.au, viewed 24 September 2024
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