Sapper Axel Hansen

SAPPER AXEL HANSEN

5081 – 1st Tunnelling Company

It was from the ship Rosamund that Axel Hansen disembarked in Brisbane, Queensland on January 29, 1913 from Seattle, U.S.A. He was the son of Mikkel and Maren Hansen born in Skive, Province of Jutland, Denmark on June 18, 1881. During his two years in Queensland had worked as a labourer residing at Brisbane, Clifton, Warwick, Wondai and was at Kinleymore, via Wondai when he applied to become a Naturalised Australian on March 19, 1915 at thirty-three years of age. The Police Magistrate at Wondai supplied a certificate stating he was of good repute with a Justice of the Peace at Proston also a witness to his character. His Naturalisation Certificate (22054) was granted in Melbourne, Vic on April 4, 1915. This was sent to Kinleymore, via Wondai but readdressed to the Training Camp in Brisbane and was receipted by him on April 22, 1915.

He had enlisted for active service abroad on January 27, 1916 in Brisbane passing the medical examination the same day. Forms of Attestation were completed stating he was 163cms (5ft 4ins) tall and weighed 55kgs (121lbs) with a chest expansion of 89-93cms (35-36½ins). Dark was his complexion with blue eyes and brown hair and his faith was Church of England. Distinctive marks were four vaccination scars and tattoos on his breast and both forearms and a scar on his neck. Next-of-kin was initially given as his cousin Tollwell Marinus Stephensen of Proston, via Wondai, Qld but a later nomination was his father Mr Mikkel Hansen, Fredrikgard, Skive, Denmark. He took the ‘Oath of Allegiance’ the same day.

At the 11th Depot Battalion, Enoggera camp, Brisbane basic training commenced from January 29 until March 1, 1916. After Home Leave Private Hansen went into the Reserve Company on March 11 for eleven days instruction until March 22 and then transferred to the No. 4 Tunnelling Company until March 31, 1916 continuing his training.

On May 10, 1916 a transfer to the Miners’ Training camp at Seymour, Victoria followed with a placement to the 2nd Reinforcements for a further two months training. Assigned the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 5081 his Will was completed in preparation for embarkation abroad by July 18, 1916.

The following day Sapper Hansen was one of 79 Reinforcements departing on HMAT A26 Armadale from Port Melbourne, Victoria. Durban, South Africa was reached on August 15, 1916 and leave was granted from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and they departed the next day. Arrived at Cape Town a few days later on August 20, 1916 where a Route March lasting three hours kept them fit before enjoying leave until 11 p.m. The ship was scheduled to leave at 2 p.m. but cancelled and left the following day at 5 p.m. The quality of liquor in town was considered bad. A one day stopover to refuel at Port le Grand, St Vincent was the last harbour visited on September 8, 1916. After a 64 day voyage the ship arrived at Devonport, England on September 20, 1916. The troops were detrained from Plymouth to Tidworth Station and marched into the No. 3 Camp at Parkhouse for further training for the front.

On October 15, 1916 they proceeded to England and marched into the Aust. General Base Depot four days later. He was taken sick on November 3rd to the 26th General Hospital at Etaples and returned to Base Depot, Etaples on November 6, 1916.

The following behaviour was dealt with while at A.G.B.D. on November 21, 1916:

W.O.A.S. [While on Active Service] Drunkenness

Award: 14 days F.P. No. 2 [Field Punishment]

He was attached for duty in the field with the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion on December 11 until December 31, 1916 when attachment ceased and was Taken on Strength with the 1st Tunnelling Company the same day.

Dental Caries caused him to be sent to the 47th Divisional Rest Station on January 23, 1917 and was discharged to his company eleven days later.

Service and camp life continued until September 14, 1917 when he was wounded in action and taken to the 1st Aust. Field Ambulance and admitted with shell wounds to his right back, left buttock and leg and left forearm and arm. Transferred to the 11th Casualty Clearing station and then conveyed on A.T.18 to the 7th General Canadian Hospital at Etaples on September 15, 1917.

The next day he left on the hospital ship Newhaven to England and admitted to the 1st Birmingham War Hospital at Rednal with shell wounds to back. During his sixty-one days in the War Hospital his disabilities were classed as:

Class IV – non-penetrating wounds

Class VIII – 1 slight

Class IX – 1 slight.

A Telegram was sent to his cousin on September 25, 1917 as follows:

Followed by:

Discharged to furlough on November 11, 1917 had orders to report to the No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny on November 29, 1917. After reporting to Headquarters in London he marched in to the Depot on December 1, 1917 remaining until April 24, 1918.

He left the Depot and entered the Overseas Training Brigade at Deverill and proceeded to France via Southampton on May 8, 1918. The next day arrived at the A.G.B.D. at Rouelles and rejoined his unit on May 15, 1918. Soon after on May 22 he was admitted sick to the 5th Canadian Field Ambulance suffering Pyrexia (Fever) unknown origin (P.U.O.) and discharged to duty on May 30 rejoining his unit the following day.

When the cessation of hostilities was declared his unit remained on the front as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation of roads and bridges and other important maintenance.

The following punishment was issued by the Commanding Officer of the 1st Tunnelling Company on March 14, 1919:

W.O.A.S. A.W.L. from 9 p.m. 18/2/19 until 6 p.m. 20/2/19

Award: 7 days C.B. [Confined to Barracks]

Total forfeiture: 2 days pay.

On March 29, 1919 he was Struck Off Strength with the Aust. Corps before departing for leave on April 3 to Scandinavia returning on April 8, 1919 and marched out to the Aust Infantry Base Depot two days later to prepare for return to England the next day.

The troops crossed the English Channel arriving at Southampton on April 11, 1919 and returned to the A.A.S.C. Training Depot at Parkhouse camp.

At No. 4 Camp, Parkhouse Sapper Hansen was found dead about 6 a.m. on April 18, 1919.

The Officer Commanding telephoned the findings to Headquarters A.I.F. Depots and a written report dispatched. An inquest was held at Tidworth on April 21, 1919 where the Coroner’s Jury gave the verdict of ‘death from alcoholic poisoning.’ Burial took place on April 24, 1919.

Sapper Hansen was buried in an elm coffin with brass mountings in the consecrated ground of the Military Cemetery, Tidworth in Section C, Grave no. 384. His service was officiated by Church of England Chaplain, W.B. Currwick of Garrison Headquarters, Tidworth. The Undertakers were Bell & Co. of Andover and his coffin was from stock held at Headquarters, A.I.F. Depots at Tidworth.

With full Military honours a Firing Party from Headquarters A.I.F. Depots preceded the coffin draped with the Australian flag being borne on a gun-carriage to the gravesite. Six comrades from his late Unit supported as pall bearers along with a number of Australians and Headquarters A.I.F. Depot representatives following to the graveside ceremony. The ‘Last Post’ was sounded and volleys fired over the grave. He was thirty-seven years of age.

On April 29, 1919 his information was forwarded to the Officer in charge of the Graves Section.

His Will was handed over to London Headquarters on July 30, 1919.

Base Records received a letter from Mr G.A. Blythe, Nannup, via Balingup, Western Australia dated August 27, 1919 on hearing of the death of Sapper Hansen. He requested further information and his home address and would be greatly obliged in regards to his death. He added he was not a relative but the wittiest pal he ever knew. Base Records replied on September 13, 1919 stating that according to advice received, Sapper Hansen died suddenly at the Parkhouse Training Depot on April 17, 1919 resulting from illness. Furnishing the names and addresses of next-of-kin members, unless a satisfactory reason is given was prevented by military departmental instructions.

The Commonwealth Savings Bank Department, Melbourne on February 25, 1920 wrote to Base Records requesting a Death Certificate and next-of-kin of Sapper Hansen in order to finalise his account. This was forwarded on March 5, 1920.

Base Records wrote to Mr T.M. Stephensen at Proston, Wondai, Qld on July 2, 1920 requesting the address of the father of Sapper Hansen as mail to his address at Fredrikgard, Denmark had been returned unclaimed.

Mr Stephensen replied on August 16, 1920 to say that he had been in contact with Private V.O. Jensen who was with the Sapper a few hours prior to his death and had forwarded him the address of his sister. Private Jensen advised her address as: Frŭ C.I. Cristiansen, 23 Nǒrevolgade, Kǒbenhavn. The Circular was forwarded to her on September 2, 1920.

Base Records must have received information that his father was living in England because the pamphlet ‘Where The Australians Rest’ was sent to his father. The Memorial Plaque (342822) was forwarded on April 27, 1922 to him in England and the Memorial Scroll (342822) was sent on May 24, 1922 but noted not to have been issued in England.

On November 30, 1932 a Register Order Form was sent.

Sapper 5081 Axel Hansen, 1st Tunnelling Company was awarded the British War Medal (44291) and the Victory Medal (43798) for enlisting for his country and died while still in service.

LEST WE FORGET

Tidworth Military Cemetery