Hannah, George Frederick
4427 Private George Frederick Hannah - 2nd Pioneer Battalion
George Frederick Hannah was born in Liverpool England on the 21st February 1887 to William and Ann Hannah. After his birth the family moved to Everton. He was educated in Everton and after leaving school he took up work as a machine joiner. He did a five year apprenticeship with GL Descer in Liverpool.
His mother Ann died in Liverpool in 1907.
George Hannah travelled to Australia on 6th September 1910 aboard the Osterley and set up residence in Fremantle WA.
On 22nd December 1913 he married Jessie Jeam Mack in Fremantle and John would be born in 1914. The Mack family lived at 630 Edmund street Beaconsfield (later renumbered to 142 Edmund) and after getting married George moved in to Jean's family home and was working locally as a wood machinist.
George had attempted to enlist early in the war but was knocked back for medical reasons. He tried again on the 26th June 1917 and was this time accepted for service. The Medical examiner recorded George's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 1 inch tall;
Weight - 112lbs;
Chest Measurement - 31-33 inches;
Complexion - Dark;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Dark Brown.
After his successful enlistment George was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was initially assigned to the training depot. He spent a few weeks being taken through the basics of infantry work and then on the 27th July 1917 was sent to join the 11th Reinforcements to the 51st Battalion AIF. He spent a few weeks training with this group and then on the 14th August 1917 was transferred to the 12th Reinforcements to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion.
The Pioneer Battalions were an engineering/labour unit that were used to build trenches and dugouts as well as being utilised as infantry. He trained for the next few weeks in WA and then the men were shipped to Melbourne to complete their training.
On the 30th October 1917 George and his group left port Melbourne aboard the transport ship HMAT Aeneas and set sail for England, arriving at Devonport England on the 26th December 1917.
After being disembarked George and his group were sent to the Pioneer Training Camp at Sutton Veny Camp. He spent the next few months in England. His father had died in England in February 1917 so it's possible that during the next few months in England George was able to return to Liverpool to visit family.
On the 6th March 1918 George proceeded to France and was sent to the Australian Base Depot Camp at Le Havre. He was taken on strength of the 2nd Pioneer Battalion on the 16th March 1918.
The 2nd Pioneer Battalion were then located south east of Ypres, between Hollebeke and Messines. On the 21st March 1918, the Germans launched their Spring offensive which broke through the British line further south. As a result the Australian Divisions were sent south to the Somme to help stop this advance.
The 2nd Australian Division soon reached the area around Ville-sur-Ancre and Morlancourt and remained here through April and May 1918. On the 14th June 1918 George was assessed and found to be medically unfit for further frontlines service. He was then returned to the Base Depot Camp at Le Havre and was then returned to England.
On the 21st July 1918 George was sent aboard the transport ship Boonah and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 11th September 1918.
They would have more children, Edna 1919, Robert 1922, Kenneth 1926 & Ronald 1931 and Heather.
George was discharged from the AIF on the 21st October 1918. He then returned home to Edmund Street Beaconsfield and returned to his occupation of being a Wood Machinist.
By 1925 the Hannah's were living at 636 Edmund St (later 140 Edmund Street). They then moved to 88 McCleery street (later renumbered to 36) in 1931 and George was now working as a caretaker.
George's wife Jessie died in July 1944 and George died on the 1st December 1955 aged 68. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Anglican MON A7 0253.