5728 Private Hans Axel Hansen - 44th Battalion AIF
Born 1st December 1879 Copenhagen Denmark to Hans and Anna Hansen and was one of four siblings born into the family. He was educated in Copenhagen and had his early years there.
His Mother died in 1888 and Father in 1899. In 1905 Hans then travelled to the United States and the same year left New York aboard a transport ship and travelled to South Australia. He spent only a few weeks at Port Adelaide and then moved to Western Australia, taking up residence in Fremantle.
In 1911 he married on the 22nd April to Florence Emily Reading in Northam WA. A son Charles was born in Northam 1912, Florence in Fremantle 1913, and Sylvia in Fremantle 1914. Sadly Florence died a month after birth.
In 1915 Hans applied for naturalisation and at the time the family was living at 57 Suffolk Street (later renumbered to 3 Suffolk) and Hans was working as a labourer. His naturalisation was accepted.
On the 20th December 1915 Hans enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for enlistment, with the medical officer recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 4 inches tall;
Weight - 124lbs;
Chest Measurement - 36-39 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Brown;
Distinctive Marks - Tattoos of flags on right arm.
Upon his successful enlistment, Hans was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the training depot. He was taken through the basics of infantry work and was then assigned to the 15th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF.
After training with this group for several weeks Hans was then returned to No.22 Training Depot. On the 1st May 1916 he was then allotted to the 18th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF.
On the 15th July 1916 Hans left Fremantle Harbour aboard the transport ship HMAT Ajana. They set sail for England, arriving there at Plymouth on the 1st September 1916. Hans and his group were then disembarked and sent to the 3rd Training Battalion.
On the 23rd September 1916 Hans was reassigned and would now be joining the 44th battalion. However ill health intervened and Hans was kept in hospital in England. He had been diagnosed with chronic gastritis and debility.
On the 13th February 1917 Hans boarded the transport ship Ulysses for return to Australia, arriving at Fremantle on the 12th April 1917.
Hans was discharged from the AIF on the 28th June 1917. The family then moved to Bellevue. Hans still wanted to serve, so in July 1917 enlisted into the Home forces. He was assigned to No.5 Military District Guard and served for a few months but was discharged at his own request on the 31st October 1917.
Further chidren were born into the family with, Albert in 1918 in Bellevue and Grace in 1922.
By now the family had moved to Manjimup where they were in a group settlement. This continued through to the early 1930's.
In 1936 the family moved to Coast Road in Australind and remained here through to the 1940's. They moved to South Bunbury in the 1950's.
Hans Hansen died on the 15th October 1961 in Bunbury.
