Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"...349 Corporal (Cpl) Justin Thomas Augustin Hanley MM, 50th Battalion from Stockdale, South Australia. A 22 year old mechanic prior to enlisting on 19 August 1914, he embarked for overseas as a Private with G Company, 10th Battalion from Adelaide on 20 October 1914 aboard HMAT Ascanius. While serving at Gallipoli, he was promoted to Lance Corporal on 15 July 1915 and then taken ill and evacuated to Egypt on 2 August 1915. He remained in Egypt and transferred to the 50th Battalion on 26 February 1916 and went with them to France in June 1916. While serving in France, he was awarded a Military Medal for conspicuous bravery on operations near Mouquet Farm between 12 and 15 August 1916. After holding temporary ranks, he was promoted to Corporal on 1 March 1917 and to Sergeant (Sgt) on 24 May 1917. Sgt Hanley was killed in action at Westhoek Ridge, Belgium on 27 September 1917 and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium with others who have no known grave." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

"MILITARY MEDALS.

Cpl. Justin Hanley, who enlisted at the beginning of the war, wrote to his parents from the battlefront on August 30, enclosing the ribbon of the Military Medal, which had been presented to him on the field by Gen. Birdwood, who in an address said that the record of the brave work of Cpl. Hanley and others had been placed before the King, and that His Majesty had been pleased to approve of the decoration represented by the ribbon being conferred. The medal itself would be sent to him later. The following card of congratulation was presented to him in the presence of the whole brigade by Major-Gen. Sir H. V. Cox, commanding officer of the 4th Australian Division:—

"No. 349, Cpl. J. T. A. Hanley, Congratulations on his con- spicuous bravery, untiring energy, and de- votion to duty during August 12 to August 15, 1916. Place, B.E.F. France. Date, August 23, 1916. (Signed) H. V. Cox, Major-General."

Since the receipt of the letter the parents of Cpl. Hanley have re- ceived a cablegram saying that their son had been wounded." - from the Adelaide Register 28 Oct 1916 (nla.gov.au)

- completed by Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College

On the 12th of March 1892, Louisa and Thomas Hanley welcomed Justin Thomas Augustine Hanley to their family, 2 years after giving birth to their first son Leo Patrick Hanley (Find a Grave, 2025). Hanley was raised in the city of Norwood Payneham & St Peters in South Australia and completed his education at Northfield Public School in Yatala, South Australia (Virtual War Memorial, 2025). Hanley soon went on to become a mechanic and salesman.

At 22 years old, Hanley, as a single clerk who had once served in a Scottish infantry, made one of the biggest decisions of his life. On the 19th of August 1914 in Morphettville, South Australia, Hanley joined the Great War in the 10th Battalion G company.
20th of October was a day of not only fear but one of opportunity for Hanley as he embarked for war on the HMAT A11 Ascanius from Adelaide (UNSW Australia, 2024), sending his final goodbyes to his family. He was sent to Albany, Western Australia to train for 2 months, testing his strengths and limits. A horrifying reality hit Hanley as the 10th battalion was sent to Alexandria, Egypt (BirtwistleWiki, 2023).

On the 2nd of March 1915, Hanley left Alexandria, Egypt to join M.E.F (Mediterranean expeditionary force) bound for Gallipoli on the H.M.T. “Ionian”. Then, on the 25th of April, after 53 long days on a ship, H anley, along with the 3rd brigade consisting of the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Battalions, arrived on the vast deadly battlefield where ANZACs showed true spirit: Gallipoli, Turkey at 4:30am, as the first men onshore (saanzacspirits., n.d.). The ANZACs attempt to seize Gallipoli Peninsula to suppress the Turkish defences guarding the Dardanelles, however, by the first evening, 16,000 men had landed but 2,000 Australia were left wounded or dead (Australian War Memorial, 2025). Hanley, part of the 3rd infantry brigade, landed at Ari Burnu Point, which later became known as ‘Anzac Cove’, w ith 4 other battalions. By 3am that night, over 1,700 casualties had been vacated from the location of the Anzac landing, primarily through the beach to the south of Ari Burnu. Hanley survived the first night of terror, knowing there were to be many more of these nights to come. Hanley, through his hard work and commitment, was soon presented with the promotion to the rank of Lance Corporal on the 15th of July 1915.

Hanley supported the 10th Battalion in establishing and defending the front line of the Anzac position, serving whole-heartedly with resilience until the 8th of August when he became so severely sick he was sent to hospital. However, he returned to his unit on the 8th of January 1916. Despite being reprimanded for neglect of duty, Hanley remained in service with his unit.

Hanley returned to Egypt with the 10th Battalion and on the 26th of February 1916, he was transferred to the 50th Battalion. Hanley persisted with his ongoing heavy labour with resilience and courage, which rewarded him with a promotion from Lance corporal to Corporal on the 6th of May 1916. Soon after, Hanley embarked Alexandria for B.E.F. on H.M.T. “Arcadian” on the 5th of June and disembarked a week later, on the 12th of June at Marseilles in France. Only 5 days later, Hanley reverted to Lance Corporal.

On the 13th on August 1916, Hanley, along with the 50th Battalion, were involved in the battle at Mouquet Farm and only a day later, Hanley was promoted to Corporal, through his outstanding performance. Soon after Hanley was wounded in action in Mouquet Farm but remained on duty with his Battalion, showing true mateship and courage.

On the 4th of October 1916, Hanley was honoured with a Military Medal due to his tremendous efforts and bravery. Both the Adelaide Chronical and Commonwealth Gazette noted his, 'Conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty near MOUQUET FARM during the 12th to 15th August 1916”. The Commonwealth Gazette went on to explain the situation of his bravery. “Under a continuous heavy barrage, he [Hanley] repeatedly delivered to and from an isolated post most important written and verbal messages, at the same time carrying water and stretchers to wounded men and fighting when there was nothing else to do. The energy he displayed was marvellous.' (The Adelaide Chronicle, 1916).

Sickness attacked Hanley again and forced him to revert back to Lance Corporal on the 7th of November 1916. After rejoining his unit on the 17th of February 1917, he regained the rank of Corporal on the 1st of March (Nartional Archives of Australia, 2025). The 2nd of April entailed true support and courage as Hanley was involved in the battle of Noreuil. The attack was led by the 50th and 51st Battalions, with 49th and 52nd supporting on the morning of April 2nd. While the 51st battalion advanced quickly, Hanley and the 50th had encountered much heavier opposition through the village from the south. Once the reserve battalions were sent to combat, the 50th battalion managed to secure positions to the south of the 51st battalion. The sunken road, however, remained in German possession and was not occupied until they withdrew in the early hours of 3 April (Australian War Memorial, 2025).
On the 24th of May 1917, Hanley was awarded the role of Sergeant due to his immense efforts. Through sleepless nights and bloodshed Sergeant Hanley persisted and went on to participate in the battle of Messines on the 7th of June 1917. From the 7th of June to the 14th of June, the British successfully attacked the Messines-Wytschate Ridge and strongly held a strategic position on the western front, which the Germans had held since late 1914. British forces initiated the detonation of 19 mines underneath the German front line, resulting in approximately 10 000 German casualties. Within the first few hours of battle, the Australian, New Zealand and British infantry achieved their objectives and defended against German counter attacks until 14th of June when the infantry retained possession of the captured areas (Australian War Memorial, 2025).

Hanley, tired and exhausted, went on to fight in the battle of Polygon Wood, named after a young planation forest along the Anzacs axis of advance. The battle of Polygon Wood was important due to its role in the third battle of Ypres, aiming to secure allied positions and stop the Germans from reaching the Belgium-French borders due to its close proximity to England. The day prior to the scheduled start of battle, a German strike nearly stopped the planned attack as the surprise assault interrupted preparations, leaving the Australian troops to fend off the Germans and continue with uncertainty regarding the security of their flank (Australian War Memorial, 2025). The Commonwealth Forces began to strike at the scheduled time: at 5:30am on the 26th of September. The 4th division, on the left, consisting of the 13th brigade and 50th battalion, including Hanley, and the 5th division, on the right, took the lead in the Anzac sector, advancing behind heavy artillery barrage. The battleground of Polygon Wood was compared to the sound of a roaring bushfire. However, only a day later, as Hanley rested and thought of his family, he was struck. The heavy bombardment took Hanley’s dugout and buried him alive (Virtual War Memorial, 2025). Hanley, along with 5,770 Australian casualties, faced the consequences of a war they never caused. However, the third battle of Ypres resulted in British victory and the death of Hanley, along with the death of 310,000 Commonwealth soldiers, 38,000 being from the Australian forces, was not left in vain (Australian War Memorial, 2025). Hanley’s grave was left unknown and unidentified, leaving his family to mourn and weep knowing he would never be given the peace of an identified resting place. At only 25-year-old, Hanley had his life taken from him, and despite serving his country with pride and determination, the Belgium dirt suffocated him and took away the opportunities that many take for granted. However, Hanley is still remembered and commemorated in Belgium and Australia (Commonwealth war graves commission, n.d.), forever honoured as a man who made a difference.

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