Hansen, Alfred James

5021 Private Alfred James Hansen MM - 28th Battalion AIF

Alfred James Hansen was born in Augusta WA in 1887 to Alfred and Elizabeth Hansen. He had three siblings, Edward (1889), Denis (1891) and Francis (1893).

Alfred grew up in the South West of the State and after leaving school he took up employment as a Mill Hand at Jarrahdale.

In Fremantle in 1914 he married May Frances Waterhouse and they took up residence at 14 Howard Street Fremantle. A daughter Mary would be born in 1915.

On the 13th February 1916 Alfred enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force at Jarrahdale. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 10 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 164lbs;

Chest Measurement - 38-40 inches;

Complexion - Medium;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Dark Brown.

Distinctive Marks - Tattoo - Faith hope and charity AH on right forearm, AH between thumb and forefinger.

After his successful enlistment Alfred was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp and assigned to the training depot. He had a few weeks here being taken through the basics of infantry work and on the 4th April 1916 was transferred into the 13th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion.

On the 18th July 1916 Alfred embarked from Fremantle Harbour aboard the transport ship HMAT Seang Bee and set sail for England, arriving at Plymouth on the 9th September 1916. Alfred and his group were then marched into the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone Camp on the Salisbury Plains.

Alfred spent the next two months in England training except for a bout of tonsilitis which put him in Fargo Military Hospital.

On the 13th December 1916, Alfred left Folkestone Harbour and proceeded across the Channel to France. Five days later on the 18th December 1916 Alfred was taken on strength of the 28th Battalion.

The 28th Battalion were then on the Somme battlefield undergoing a very cold French winter. On the 11th March 1917 Alfred was wounded by shrapnel in the hand and arm and was evacuated to the field ambulance where his wounds were initially treated. He was then sent to No.11 Stationary Hospital at Rouen.

Fortunately the wounds were not severe and Alfred rejoined the 28th Battalion on the 5th April 1917. Alfred came down ill on the 1st May 1917 and therefore missed his Battalion's action at Bullecourt. He returned to his unit on the 11th May 1917.

From June to August 1917 the 28th Battalion were out of the line for a three month rest period.

In September 1917 the 28th Battalion headed to Belgium to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. They fought at the Battle of Menin Road on September 20th 1917 and Zonnebeke and Broodseinde Ridge on October 4th 1917. 

It was during the Battle of Menin Road that Alfred would be awarded the Military Medal. The official recommendation reads;

For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. At the attack on Westhoek Ridge on the 20/09/17 - as a stretcher bearer he worked without ceasing under the heaviest fire and showed absolute disregard for personal safety. His cheery manner helped everyone near him, and he set a really wonderful example.

On the 14th October 1917 Alfred was officially told he had been awarded the Military Medal and the following day he was promoted to Lance Corporal. On the 6th November 1917 he was promoted to Temporary Corporal.

From December 1917 to March 1918 the 28th Battalion helped to hold the front line between Ypres and Messines.

On the 14th January 1918 Alfred was given two weeks leave to England. He rejoined the 28th Battalion on the 3rd February 1918 but the following day he reported sick.

At the 7th Field Ambulance he was found to be suffering from Gonorrhoea and was then sent to the New Zealand Stationary Hospital at Wisques. He was then transferred to the 39th General Hospital at Le Havre.

He was returning to the 28th Battalion on the 10th April 1918 but again fell ill and was returned to the 39th General Hospital. He was then in hospital for 57 days, being released on the 6th June 1918.

Alfred rejoined the 28th Battalion on the 17th June and reverted to the rank of Private at his own request. When he returned to his unit, the 28th Battalion were then in the vicinity of Villers-Bretonneux. 

Alfred participated in the August 8th advance which pushed the Germans back from the Villers-Bretonneux front but two days later he reported ill. It appears he was still suffering the effects of venereal disease and he was returned to the 39th General Hospital.

Alfred rejoined the 28th Battalion on the 18th September 1918 but three days later was returned to hospital, again being admitted to the 39th General Hospital at Le Havre. He was here till the 28th November 1918 after which time he was sent to a Military Prison as while at Le Havre he joined in a mutiny and released prisoners from a Field Punishment Compound. He was sentenced to four years in prison but this sentence was later revoked. Australian soldiers did not take kindly to the British use of Field Punishment Compounds and after a few years of fighting in the war, Alfred and other soldiers decided to show this disdain for British military law.

On the 8th February 1919 Alfred was sent to England but fell ill and was admitted to hospital in Weymouth.

On the 25th April 1919 Alfred's sentence was quashed by Brigadier General Griffiths at AIF Headquarters.

On the 16th June 1919 Alfred boarded the transport ship Ormonde and set sail for home, disembarking in Fremantle on the 24th July 1919.

Alfred was discharged from the AIF on the 1st September 1919.

He returned home to Fremantle and three more children were born, Alfred in 1920, Robert in 1921 and Gertrude in 1924.

From 1922 to 1925 he was working at Jarrahdale as a mill hand. In 1928 moved to 24 Gold street South Fremantle. From 1931 to 1943 was living at Lot 292 (66) Oakover street, East Fremantle, and was working as a lumper at Fremantle wharf during this time. By 1949 the family were at 49 Clayton street, East Fremantle, and from 1954 to 1963 were at 31 Elvira street, Palmyra.

During WW2 his son Robert was killed at Tobruk while serving with the 2/28th Battalion. His other son Alfred served in the Royal Australian Navy, and from 1939-1942 was on HMAS Perth. He was captured by the Japanese when HMAS Perth was sunk.

Alfred James Hansen died in Palmyra in 1963 aged 75. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery Plot ANGLICAN MON A3 0319.

Following Alfred's death, Frances moved to 7 Wood street Fremantle in 1968 and in 1972 to 18c Davis park, South Fremantle.