On the morning of the 7th June 2012 I was scanning the internet when I discovered a tweet about John Hannah VC. It was the anniversary of his death from TB in 1947. What caught my eye in particular was that his burial place was Birstall in Leicestershire – A place I know well and had once lived for a number of years. I decided there and then to discover more about this man and to go and pay my respects later that day.
John Hannah, Copyright Delta Magazine, RAF Scampton.
John Hannah was a Scot, he was born in Paisley on 27th November 1921. When he left school he took a job as a shoe salesman, but it didn’t stick and in August 1939 he volunteered for the RAF on a six year regular engagement.
After training as a wireless operator and completing a gunnery course he was posted to 83 Squadron at Scampton in Lincolnshire. The Squadron flew Hampden bombers and was at the forefront of an intensive series of day and night operations targeting German occupied ports along the Channel coast.
At 22.30 on the night of 15th September 1940 Hannah and his crew were part of a raid on the port of Antwerp where suspected German invasion barges were gathering.
The Hampden was a medium twin-engine bomber with a crew of four. On board alongside John that night were:
- Pilot Officer C A Connor
- Sergeant D A E Hayhurst (Navigator and Bomb-aimer)
- Sergeant George James (Another Gunner)
All them were experienced on operations, especially Hayhurst who had already notched up 38 combat missions.
Hampden Bomber, No. COL182, Imperial War Museums collections.
Hannah, as Radio Operator, sat in a cramped space facing the tail. In front of him were two Vickers Gas Operated Machine-Guns and by his side were his wireless set and a basket with two carrier pigeons. With bulky flying clothing on it was almost impossible to move around once the aircraft was flying.
A hail of Flak greeted them over Antwerp. As they released their payload a shell struck them in the bomb bay, vicious lumps of shrapnel damaged the left wing, perforated the tail and pierced the wing petrol tanks. There was a huge explosion as the rear of the fuselage blew-up. George James had no option except to bale out as the damage spread and the floor began to melt around him.
Hannah got on the intercom immediately and told Connor that the aircraft was on fire.
“Is it bad?” Asked the Pilot.
“Bad, but not too bad” Replied Hannah’s calm voice.
Meanwhile Hayhurst was unable to reach his colleagues, he saw the fire and also baled out. Hannah was burning from head to toe, suffocating from the fumes and the heat. Fearing that he was going to pass out he opened the Perspex cupola above him and took long gulps of fresh air. Exhausted he used two fire extinguishers on the flames before resorting to his bare hands. As the flames slowly receded the ammunition pans around him began “cooking-off”, bullets whizzing past him in the tiny compartment. He was forced to pick them up and throw them from the plane. He got back on the intercom to Connor, “The fire’s out, Sir.”
For his exploits that night Hannah was awarded the Victoria Cross. He was just nineteen years old, the youngest ever recipient for aerial operations. But unfortunately, as is sadly often the case, winning the VC didn’t fix his life or mend his wounds. While recovering from his burns he contracted Tuberculosis and was medically discharged from the RAF in December 1942. Recently married (to Janet) and with a new family to support he struggled to make ends meet.
The grave of John Hannah, VC and his Wife, Janet. Photo by C A Parkinson
On the 9th of June, 1947 he finally succumbed to the TB and was buried in the churchyard of St James the Great Church, Church Hill, Birstall. He left a Wife and three very young daughters.
Touched by John’s story I found the church where he was buried and eventually located his headstone. I was hoping that there may be other bunches of flowers there but sadly mine was the only one. He was a brave man and it is an honour and a pleasure to have had a chance to learn more about him and his exploits.
RIP John Hannah, VC 1921-1947.
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What a fantastic story, I must thank him for giving up his life for us all and you for the research.
THANK YOU BOTH.
RIP
Thank you. A fascinating story of courage & suffering behind the bare facts of the medal & untimely death.
My Grandson Ben was on a training week with the RAF, he is only 15 , when one of the RAF personnel called him across to look at a group photograph of Aircrew on display at RAF Coningsby. He is the exact likeness of John Hannah who is in the photograph. I hope he proves to be made of the same stuff if called upon.
Feel humble and proud and forever grateful.
I’d like to just say RIP to my great grandfather John Hannah vc. I am honoured to know what he has done.
Hi Daniel, thanks for sharing that. His achievements were incredible – I can’t even begin to comprehend how terrifying it must have been in that burning aircraft. I’m glad you found the article about him that I wrote. All the best, Chris.
John Hannah was my grandfather and it makes me so proud that people remember him and recognise his bravery. Although I never met him, I have grown up with so many stories of his life that I feel I know him. He was a very modest man and he felt he was no different from the many who put their lives on the line during what was, to most of us, an unimaginable time.
RIP all our heros, may you never be forgotten.
Alan
If anyone is interested, I have documents and records that I can make available that give more detail to John Hannah’s VC award
Hi Alan,
Great to hear from you. Thanks for your offer of more details re. VC award. Take care and keep in touch. Chris.
John Hannah although born in Paisley his Family moved to Knightswood in Glasgow. He went to Bankhead Primary School,thereafter to Victoria Drive Senior Secondary,Glasgw. He was a Member of the 237th Company Boys’ Brigade,in St David’s Church, Knightswood, Glasgow. John Hannah’s Family and my Parents house were only 100 yards apart.I remember as an 11 year old seeing John when He came home to visit His Parents.I went to the same schools and was in the same BB Company.Because he married and lived in England we never heard much about him,until His untimely death from TB. I never forgot John or the pride we had in Him especially at the School and the BB.
In 1986 I was invited on to the Board of my old School Victoria Drive, Glasgow,and to commemorate our ” Our Hero” I raised the “John Hannah VC ” Memorial Prize for the Pupil who brought Distinction to the School,each year.I had up till that time kept in touch his Brother James ( Jimmy )who each year came to the School and presented the Prize. Sadly the School has been closed and demolished,and I am lead to believe the Trophy is in the City Chambers in Glasgow. Jimmy has sadly passed on. WE had our own Hero and we didn’t forget Him. What resurrected this, was some Boys’ Brigade Papers which I had in an old file,relating to the 21st. Anniversary of our Company in 1950 and the programme details the Citation relating to John’ Victoria Cross. Thank you for raising the Memory of John,we hadn’t forgotten. Make contact if you wish. Donald Forbes (Ex- RAF 1955 -58. ) E-mail djforbes195@hotmail.com
The Citation in the Boys’ Brigade programme is in accord with your own research.
Big thank you ,and I can make the old Programme available.
Donald Forbes.
One of my best school friends Bryan Newman married John Hannah’s eldest daughter Jennifer. I lost touch with them when I moved to Australia. I wonder if Alan Burditt (Jenny’s nephew) has any contact with them?
Mike H
Hi Mike,
I haven’t heard from my uncle Bryan for many years since he and my auntie Jen seperated. I am in regular contact with my auntie Jen and if you would like to send me your email address, I’ll forward to her and maybe she can contact you directly.
Regards
Alan
Hello Alan. I was looking up the history of the Village of Birstal, Leics, where I lived as a child, and came across a reference to John Hannah V.C. As kids we were all aware of John Hannah’s heroism. I Have a vague memory of Jennifer Hannah who was in the same 1st or 2nd year infant school class as me. I doubt that she would remember me as I do not recall her from my memory of later primary school years. I have been living in Minnesota, USA for the past 41 years. Please pass my name on to your aunt, to see if it tweaks any memory.
Mike Thompson