Pte 21828 John Hankin

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Neuville-vitasse Rd Cem
  Panel Ref: A.15

John (Jack) Hankin was born in Toxteth Park, Liverpool in the third quarter of 1891 the son of William Hankin and his wife Ellen (nee Griffiths),  who married on the 8th September 1878 at St Michael's Church, Toxteth.  William was a 26 year old plumber of St James Place, Ellen was 22 of Hurry Street. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 17 Allington Street, which is off Aigburth Road. Both parents are present in the household – William is 47 and is a plumber, Ellen is 42. John now aged 9 and has five siblings at home - Elizabeth Jane is 21 and is a dressmaker, Ellen is 18 and a drapers assistant, William is 16 and an apprentice plumber, Edward 12 and Thomas is 6.

John’s sister Elizabeth Jane married William Brown in March 1902 at St Johns the Baptist, Toxteth.

John’s father William was accidentally killed on 18th July 1907, aged 54, and is buried in Toxteth Cemetery.

The 1911 Census shows that the widowed Ellen and her family have moved a few doors away to 23 Allington Street. John is a single man aged 19 and employed as a ships steward as is his brother Edward. Also living there are his siblings; Ellen who is still a drapers assistant, William who is a plumber and Thomas who is an apprentice house painter.

Crew records from between 1907 and 1912, show both Edward and John serving as waiters for the Cunard Line on their ocean liners - the RMS Carmania which plied the Liverpool to New York route, and on the RMS Saxonia and the SS Ivernia which sailed Liverpool to Boston, Fiume and Trieste.

John enlisted in Liverpool in the 19th Battalion (3rd City) of The King’s Liverpool Regiment on the 14th September 1914 as Private No 21828. He gave his age as 23 years and 2 months and his occupation as a steward. He was described as being 5' 3" in height, weighed 113lbs, with a 33" chest  He gave his next of kin as his mother Ellen, 23 Allington St, brothers William 34, Thomas 23, sisters Ellen 36 and Elizabeth Browne 39, Saughall Rd, Chester.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

He arrived in France on the 16th December 1915, where he served for only a few weeks when he was taken back to hospital in England for treatment for synovitis in his knee. He was posted back to France in April 1916. On 12th May 1916 he was admitted to hospital with a hernia, later 6th Canadian hospital and was discharged on 25th June 1916. 

He was transferred to the 18th Battalion a few months later.

He was killed in action on the 09th April 1917 during the Battle of Arras.

Arras 09th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the 18th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up” for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position

immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded.

Jack now rests at Neuville-Vitasse Road Cemetery, France.

An article in the Liverpool Echo on the 1st May 1917 states:

Private Jack Hankin K.L.R. was killed in action on April 9th. He was the third son of Ellen and the late William Hankin. He resided at 23 Allington Street, Aigburth, and was previously employed with the Cunard Steamship Co. His Captain writes saying that he was an excellent soldier in every way and a great favourite with the remainder of the men in his company, and his loss will be felt by them all.

Their mother, Mrs. Ellen Hankin, of 23 Allington Street, Liverpool, was awarded pensions for both sons. Ellen died on 27th September 1922 aged 65 and is buried alongside her husband William at Toxteth Cemetery.

Jack and Edward Hankin are commemorated on the family headstone at Toxteth Cemetery, and on the following war memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Edward at Panel 55 Left and John on Panel 59 

Christ Church C of E Church, Sefton Park

St Michael in the Hamlet, Church and C of E School.

We currently have no further information on John Hankin, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.