HANNAN, Robert Emmett
| Service Number: | 3416 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 31st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 23 May 1896 |
| Home Town: | Rockhampton, Rockhampton, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Christian Brothers College, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Blacksmith/Striker |
| Died: | Killed in action, Belgium, 12 October 1917, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Gracemere Roll of Honour, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3416, 31st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 3416, 31st Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Choon embarkation_ship_number: A49 public_note: '' | |
| 4 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 3416, 31st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Seang Choon, Brisbane |
Help us honour Robert Emmett Hannan's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Robert Emmett Hannan was the son of Daniel and Mary Ellen Hannan of Rockhampton, Queensland.
His brothers, 4401 Pte Daniel Hannan 31st Battalion AIF, 1647 Pte Arthur Kennedy Hannan 49th Battalion, and 3105A Pte Thomas Patrick Hannan 4th Pioneer Battalion, all returned to Australia in mid-1919.
Their father Daniel wrote to the Rockhampton Daily Record in April 1918,
“Please find enclosed a view of the battle of Polygon Wood, September 20th, 1917, when my three sons took part in. I have also received a letter from my son, Private Daniel Hannan, from France with this view. “He states each man has been presented with one in memory of the battle fought, and the planting of the Australian flag on Anzac Redoubt. (German pill box) at 7.15 a.m. September 20th 1917, at Passchendaele Ridge, Belgium. Private Robert Emmett Hannan who also took part in it, and was killed, has his grave to the right of this view. Please find enclosed a letter from Captain Chaplain J.A. Malcomson 31st Battalion, A.I.F. I would feel thankful if you would kindly copy the view and publish the enclosed letter and view in your most valuable paper.”
The enclosure is as follows: - “Dear Mr. Hannan, It is with profound regret I inform you that your son, 3416 Private R. E. Hannan, 31st Battalion, was killed in action on the 12-10-17 at Passchendaele Ridge, Belgium. Our fullest sympathy goes out to you in the heavy loss you have sustained. Your son was a good lad, and proved himself a valiant soldier. He never hesitated to make the supreme sacrifice. He gave himself, the best a man can give, for God and country. We can never speak nor think too highly of our brave lads. To live amongst them as I have done, one gets to realise something of their true worth, their calmness in danger, cheerfulness in privation, and bravery in action: whilst comrades true as steel. You have lost a good faithful son, and one whose loss is surely felt by us all. Our sympathy is very real towards you, and we pray that you may be comforted by the love and tenderness of divine consolation. As you go along the path of loneliness and sorrow, may you experience to the full the love and presence of an ever-loving Saviour. With, my deepest sympathy, (Sgd.) J. A. Malcomson, Captain-Chaplain.”
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