Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Grave: | Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe | V. G. 8. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.124 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 21B GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | British War Medal Victory Medal | ||
Family :
Son of Henry and S. J. Hanham, of Otaua, Waiuku, New Zealand. Native of London, England. Unmarried.Education & Career :
Bridge Builder, Camtooya (1914).
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 25/Australian Infantry, A.I.F. |
BEAN 19 May. 145. at&. on Morlancourt. 10-11 June 219 223.41; |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.
Detail :
Service No. 4184, enlisting and attesting 16th December 1915. Embarked on the "TUNISIAN" landing at Marseilles 5th June 1916. Taken on strength 25th Battalion 2nd August 1916. On the 14th November he suffered a shell wound to the buttock and died of wounds at 38th Casualty Clearing Station, Flers, France a day later, 15th November 1916.
There had been confusion over his death when his sister had received a Christmas Card in the weeks following his death.
A letter from the Officer i/c Base Records confirms the circumsance of Paul's death to his mother: "Dear Madam, With reference to the report of the regrettable loss of your son, the late No. 4184, Private P.E. Hanham, 25th Battalion, I am now in receipt of advice which shows that he died at 38th Casualty Clearing Station, France, on the 15th November 1916, of wounds (shell wounds buttock) received in action, and was buried in the Cemetery adjacent to the Hospital, Heilly. These additional details are furnished by direction, it being the policy of the Department to forward all information received in connexion with deaths of members of the Australian Imperial Force."
See also: AIF Project, UNSW Canberra.
See also: Service Record.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Southern Cross No. 1315 E.C. | Australia |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
9th March 1914 | 27th July 1914 | 26th October 1914 |
The news of Paul's death was slower in masonic circles. His war service is noted in the contribution record, but it shows, as his final annotation, "Killed in Action Feb 1917."
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley