Pte 332160 John Hanley

• Age: 34
• From: Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Friday 11th October 1918
• Commemorated at: Roisel Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: II.A.20

John Hanley was born in the September quarter of 1884 in Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland, the son of Hugh Hanley and his wife Frances (née Prytherch). His father was born in Liverpool, whilst his mother was born in Llanfaelog, they married in St. George’s Church, Everton, in 1878.  His father had joined the 11th Hussars in 1865 and served two periods of engagement, including service in India.  The family moved around to different stations. They had five children:  Hugh, born in 1879 in Colchester, Essex (but died at age 2), then George Henry, born in Aldershot, Hampshire in 1880. 

On the 1881 census the family were living in Hounslow Barracks, his father listed as a Corporal, 11th Hussars.  Ada was born in Hounslow in 1882.  Then the family moved to Ireland, living in Ballincollig Cavalry Barracks where John was born in about 1884 (a baptism has not been found).  It is not known how long they were stationed in Ireland, but his father was discharged in 1886 and by 1891 they were back in England, living in Liverpool. 

The 1891 census finds his parents living at 34 Desmond Street, Everton, with George, Ada, and John, 6.  His father is a general labourer. The youngest child, James, was born in Liverpool in 1893. 

In 1901 they are at 36 Desmond Street. His father 56, is a plasterer, George, 20, is a paper hanger, Ada is a tobacconist, John is 16, a shop boy, James is 8. 

His father died in 1903 at the age of 58. 

They are still at 36 Desmond Street in 1911.   His widowed mother Frances, 57, is head of household, Ada, 28, is a tobacco stripper, John, 26, is a lamplighter for Liverpool Corporation, James is 18, an apprentice ship’s plumber. 

John enlisted in the 2/9th Bn King’s (Liverpool) Regiment as Private 332160. The War Gratuity, based on rank and length of service, suggests that John served from about September 1916, after conscription was introduced.  The 2/9th, a Second Line battalion, landed in France in February 1917. It is not known when John was transferred to the 14th Bn K.L.R.  The 14th fought in the Balkans in 1916 and 1917 and moved to the Western Front in June 1918.  

In August 1918 the battalion is absorbed by the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment, becoming the 18th (Lancashire Hussars) King’s (Liverpool) Regiment.  The Hundred Days Offensive, the Allied push which would eventually end the war, begins on 8th August, 1918.  On 7th October 1918 the 18th Bn arrives at the Hindenberg Line at Bony. 

It is not known when John was wounded, but he died of his wounds at 48 Casualty Clearing Station on 11th October 1918.  He was 34 years old.

John now rests at Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme. 

Roisel town was occupied by British troops in April 1917, and evacuated after a strong defence by the 66th (East Lancashire) Division in the evening of the 22nd March 1918. It was retaken in the following September.

Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension was begun by German troops, who buried immediately to the North of the Communal Cemetery. It was developed in October and November 1918, by the 41st, 48th, 53rd and 58th Casualty Clearing Stations, and it was completed after the Armistice by the concentration of British and German graves from the country North, East and South of Roisel.

There are now 878, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 120 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 12 soldiers from the United Kingdom and one from Australia who are known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of two soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves could not be found on concentration. The graves of 88 soldiers of the United States Army buried here in October 1918, have been removed to another cemetery. There are also 514, German Foreign Nationals commemorated in this site, 190 being unidentified.

The cemetery covers an area of 6,010 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall on three sides.

His mother Frances, living at 36 Desmond Street, Everton, received his effects of £8-18-6d and a War Gratuity of £11-10s. It is not clear from the pension card if a pension was paid.  

His mother died in 1921 aged 67. 

John is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 59 

Mersey Docks and Harbour Board Memorial.

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