Fannon, Bernard
313 Corporal Bernard Fannon MM - 44th Battalion AIF
Bernard Fannon was born in Fremantle WA on the 13th May 1895 to James and Florence Fannon. He had five siblings, with, Ada (1889), Eva (1892), Gladys (1897), Vera (1900) and Cyril (1902).
The family lived at 28 Mandurah Road South Fremantle and Bernard was educated locally. After leaving school he took up work as a Horse Driver.
On the 7th January 1916 Bernard enlisted into the AIF. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 7 & 3/4 inches tall;
Weight - 160lbs;
Chest Measurement - 36-39 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Dark Brown.
Upon his successful enlistment, Bernard was sent to Claremont Showgrounds Camp an was assigned to No.44 Training Depot. After ten days he was transferred to "B" Company of the newly forming 44th Battalion AIF.
The 44th Battalion departed from Fremantle Harbour on the 6th June 1916 aboard the HMAT Suevic. After a long sea voyage the ship arrived at Plymouth on the 21st July 1916.
The next few months were spent training on the Salisbury Plains and in November 1916 the 44th Battalion were sent to France. Initially they were sent to the area around Armentieres but by March 1917 the 44th Battalion had moved to Ploegsteert in southern Belgium.
Bernard was appointed Lance Corporal in May 1917 and survived the Battle of Messines in June 1917. In July 1917 Bernie requested to become a Private again and so got to remove his Lance Corporal rank.
In August 1917 he was sent to hospital when he hurt his ankle. He also had what was classed as trench fever, so Bernie was sent on to England where he had a few weeks stay in hospital, and then a few more weeks in a rest camp.
Bernie rejoined the 44th Battalion in Belgium on the 23rd October 1917. He had missed his unit's major actions during the Third Battle of Ypres and as there were a few gaps in the ranks, he was once again promoted to Lance Corporal. Though again a few weeks later he again requested to become a Private again.
From December 1917 to March 1918 the 44th Battalion was helping holding the front in in Belgium between Ypres and Messines.
On the 17th January 1918 Bernie was transferred into the 3rd Division HQ Show Platoon. He remained there till the 24th March 1918.
In late March 1918 the Australians were sent south to the Somme to try and defend Amiens from the German breakthrough. On March 28th the 44th Battalion met the Germans at Sailly-Laurette and stopped their advance in this sector. The 44th Battalion remained in this area for the next few months as the Germans continued to try and breakthrough without success.
The Australians started to push the Germans back through local attacks along the line. The 44th Battalion were involved in the capture of Hamel village on July 4th 1918 and also took part on the first day of the great advance from Amiens on August 8th 1918 when the Germans line was broken and the Germans retreated. Bernie was recommended for a decoration for his bravery that day. The official recommendation reads;
On the 8th August 1918, during the attack east of Hamel, Private Fannon, when his platoon was held up by a nest of enemy machine guns, rushed through a heavy enemy barrage to a tank, and personally led it towards the enemy post in question and had it destroyed. By his prompt action he saved his platoon many casualties, and enabled it to continue its advance with a minimum of delay. Throughout the operation he displayed great bravery and devotion to duty.
The 44th Battalion were constantly in action from August 8th onwards. Initially to the south of the Somme River they were switched to advance along the north of the Somme. On August 22nd in the vicinity of the French villages of Bray and were in action around here for a few days.
On the 24th August Bernie was badly wounded when shrapnel struck him in the thighs. He was taken to the 9th Field Ambulance for initial treatment and from there was taken to the Casualty Clearing Station. He was then put on an ambulance train which took him to the French village of Rouen and was admitted to the 5th General Hospital.
Bernie only had a few days at Rouen as he was then shipped to England and was admitted to a military hospital in Weymouth. He remained here until the 11th October 1918 when he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. He only spent four more days here and was then granted a month's furlough. While he was in hospital news had come through regarding the award of the Military Medal for his actions on 8th August 1918.
The months furlough took Bernard through to the 19th November 1918. As he was still recovering from his wounds he was not yet fit enough to return to his unit, but he was seconded for duty in England with the Australian Army Ordnance Corps. He worked for this unit through 1919 and was promoted to Corporal. This third time he kept the NCO rank.
On the 18th December 1919 Bernie boarded the troopship Kongin Louise and set sail home for Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 28th January 1920. He was discharged from the AIF on the 5th April 1920.
He then returned home to 28 Mandurah Road South Fremantle and resumed his employment as a horse driver.
In 1926 in Fremantle Bernard married Jean Smarte Munro Lindsay. They then moved to 115 Forrest Street East Fremantle. A daughter Jean was born in 1930 but sadly she died in 1932 aged just two.
Through the 1940's to 70's they were living at 36 Forrest Street Fremantle. In their last few years they were living at 16/234 Canning Highway East Fremantle.
Bernard died in East Fremantle on the 15th March 1984 aged 88. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery Plot General LAWN A 0041.