5 replies to this topic

[stevebecker]

Mates,

I am looking for any Bio's details on this officer?

I have the following;

HANMER Henry Ivan 552 Pte 6 LHR A Sqn disch 19-4-15 to British Army prom 2/Lt 7Bn South Staffordshire Regt 33rd Bde 11th Div (Gallipoli) to Flt/Lt RAF DFC to Sqn/Ldr Duxford 1923 AKA Hammer (British OTC 5 years)

From Staplehurst UK

Thanks

S.B

[Theletterwriter]

Steve

In The Distinguished Flying Cross and how it was Won 1918-1995 by Nick and Carol Carter, there are two entries for this airman : -

Hanmer, Henry Ivan. Capt. RAF
London Gazette : 1/1/1919:96

Hanmer, Henry Ivan DFC. Capt/A/Major. RAF (Egypt)
Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross
London Gazette : 8/2/1919 : 2040

A brilliant and very gallant airman who is gifted with great organising powers combined with endurance and disregard of personal danger. He led the machines that were detailed to keep in touch with the Desert Mounted Corps, and it was due to Capt. Hamner's energy and personal supervision that our machines were enabled to render the assistance they did.
Amended L.G. 4/4/1919 : 4227 (to read Bar to the DFC).

[Trevor Henshaw]

Here's a little bit - from 10th November 1917 - with the man being wounded:

BE2e 14Sqn
**B shot up dam (2Lt HI Hanmer WIA) rib slight, bullet hit cigarette case Δ

And some relevant blurb about the circumstances:
These casualties(* for the other see below) came about during an attack on the railway bridge near Junction Station, over the Wadi es Sarar. This important station was being bombed to hinder the Turkish withdrawal and the destruction of the bridge would have additionally isolated an important railway centre. The raid was not a success, none of the bombs exploding.
In addition, 2Lt McConnell died of wounds:

BE2e 14Sqn
**B mg fire MIA (2Lt HLC McConnell DoW 22.11.17) DoW in Damascus Δ

All the best,

Trevor

[IPT]

A 21 yr old grazier, he enlisted into the 6th Australian Light Horse, AIF, as private 552  in November 1914.

His Australian service papers are here;

http://recordsearch....e.asp?B=4255388



(PS - This is the right man, in case anyone thinks i've gone mad)

[Trelawney]

Steve,

Henry Ivan Hanmer was born 5 February 1893, at Rochester, Kent, the son of John & Constance Catherine (Busby) Hanmer.  Part of the                                                    Hanmer Baronets of the U.K., John Hanmer was the Justice of the Peace for Kent.  Henry Hanmer died in 1984, in Nottinghamshire                                                       (according to the Death Notice in The Times) and is buried at Holy Trinity Cemetery, Southwell, nottinghamshire.  The BMD confirms                                                                     his birth as registered at Medway, Kent,during 1st Quarter 1893.  Several photos are available on google.com if you search under                                                                   "Henry Ivan Hanmer."  The Times death notice lists him specifically as Group Captain Henry Ivan Hanmer.  Debrett's Peerage has                                                                       more information about his lineage as well as descendants (also referenced on Google.com).

Regards,

Trelawney

[stevebecker]

Mates,


Thanks for that, it helps.

Served in 14 Sqn RFC thats also is very good as I thought he must have been in one of the British Sqn's in Egypt/Palestine.

Does any one have any details of his service with the 7Bn South Staffordshire Regt?

I read that all officers from this Regt were killed or wounded during the fighting in the Chocolatte Hills in Aug 1915 at Suvla?

Cheers

S.B