Hann, Edward John
4289 Private Edward John Hann - 48th Battalion AIF
Edward John Hann was born in Charters Towers Queensland in 1888 to Charles and Catherine Hann.
The family moved to WA in the 1900's and took up residence in Fremantle. Edward had been working in the coal mines in Collie. Prior to the Great War they lived at 49 Arundel st Fremantle. (later renumbered to 1 Arundel)
They also resided at 37 Mandurah Road South Fremantle for a period of time.
On the 6th September 1915 Edward enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 7 inches tall;
Weight - 140lbs;
Chest Measurement - 33 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Light Brown.
Upon his successful enlistment Edward was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was initially sent to a depot training unit. He spent the next month being taken through the basics of infantry work. On the 1st December 1915 Edward was transferred to the 13th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion AIF. The next three months would be spent training with this group in WA.
On the 29th January 1916 Edward and his group entrained to Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Runic. The ship then set sail for Egypt, arriving at Alexandria on the 26th February 1916. The men were then disembarked and sent to the AIF training camp.
Edward spent just over a month at this camp and then on the 2nd April 1916 was transferred to join the 48th Battalion AIF. They trained in Egypt until the end of May 1916 and on the 2nd June 1916 embarked for France. After arriving in Marseilles on the 9th June 1916, the 48th Battalion was sent to the north of France to gain trench line experience around Armentieres. They were in this sector till mid-July when they were relieved by the 5th Division units. The 48th Battalion was sent to the Somme where they went into action at Pozieres on the 5th August 1916.
Edward survived the unit's first foray at Pozieres during which time they helped to defend against a large German counter attack. On the 14th August Edward fell ill and was evacuated to hospital where he was diagnosed with gastritis. He would be away from his unit for a few months, only returning on the 17th October 1916.
When he returned the 48th Battalion were returning to the Somme battlefield after a short time in Belgium.
It was on the Somme battlefield where they would spent the freezing cold 1916/17 French winter. During this period, the 48th battalion spent much time in the front line area of the Somme near Flers and Delville Wood.
In March 1917 the Germans began their withdrawal to their pre-prepared defensive position known as the Hindenburg Line. The Australian and British units pressed their withdrawal all the way and several sharp actions occurred before the Germans reached their defensive barrier.
On the 11th April 1917 the 48th Battalion was one of the units assigned to break the German line at Bullecourt. The 48th Battalion entered the German trenches but was unable to stay there due to the Germans surrounding the Australians. The 48th Battalion had large casualties though Edward came through unscathed.
In June 1917 the 48th Battalion were moved to Belgium where they would take part in the Messines offensive. They saw much action at Messines and were in this sector from June to August 1917. Edward again came through this time safely.
In September 1917, the 48th Battalion were moved to Ypres where they would take part in the current offensive. Edward was temporarily detached to the 12th Machine Gun Company on the 21st September 1917 and served with them for the next month, and they saw action at Polygon Wood, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele. On the 12th October 1917 the 48th Battalion and 12th Machine Gun Company took part in an unsuccessful advance on Passchendaele and casualties were very heavy. Edward again came through safely and on the 21st October 1917 rejoined the 48th battalion.
The 48th battalion remained near Passchendaele through to November 1917. In December 1917, as part of the 4th Australian Division, they moved to Peronne in France. By January 1918 the 48th Battalion were back in Belgium. From January to March 1918 the 48th Battalion were holding the front line south east of Ypres near Hollebeke.
On the 21st March 1918 the Germans launched their Spring Offensive which broke through the British lines further south. As a result the Australian Divisions were sent south to help stop this German advance. The 48th Battalion were sent to the sector around Albert and Dernancourt. In late March 1918 they came into contact with the Germans. Edward survived the initial encounters safely. On April 5th 1918 the Germans launched another large assault on the Australian positions. They made some initial success but the Australians held firm.
The 48th Battalion then moved to the vicinity of Villers-Bretonneux from May 1918. They fought an action at Monument Wood on the 3rd may 1918 and would remain in this sector for the next few months and were in support positions when Hamel village was successfully captured on July 4th 1918.
Edward then participated in the 8th August 1918 advance from the Villers Bretonneux front which broke through the Germans lines. He was in action with his unit from August 8th to September 18th 1918. He came through all this time unscathed.
The September 18th action at Le Verguier was the 48th Battalion's last action in the war. They were then pulled out of the line for a rest period and the Armistice was announced before they could return to the front. After the Armistice was announced the 48th Battalion went to what had been German occupied parts of France and Belgium.
After the Armistice, Edward was sent on a two week furlough to England. During his time there he fell ill with influenza and was admitted to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital. The illness was quite severe and he remained in hospital for the next month. The medical authorities decided that Edward should be returned to Australia and on the 13th December 1918 he was taken aboard the Hospital Ship Karoola for the voyage home. The ship arrived in Fremantle on the 22nd January 1919 and Edward was taken to No.8 Australian General Hospital in Fremantle.
Edward spent more time there recovering and was discharged from the AIF on the 11th June 1919.
While he had been overseas his Mother had left Fremantle and moved to Darlinghurst NSW. He soon joined her in NSW, taking up residence in Camperdown. In 1923 he applied for assistance under the War Service Home Act.
Edward died on the 7th November 1948 at Concord Hospital Sydney NSW.