Hanson, William Russell

Photo of WR Hanson in uniform

Age: 20
Date of birth: Q4 1896

Parents: John Hanson and Eliza nee Russell
Wife: Single
Address: 6 Pickard Row

Occupation: Labourer at Nelson Dale and Company

William’s parents John (1862-1951) and Eliza nee Russell (1865-1915) were married at All Saints Church in 1894.  William had two brothers, John (1895-1966) and Lawrence (1900-1965) He also had two younger sisters – Frances Ivy May (known as May – 1903-1989) and Vicissima Kathleen (known as Violet – 1905-1986)

By 1911, the family were living at 15 Chapman Street, Emscote and both Johns’ (father and son) are working at Nelson Dale Gelatine Works.  William was 14 at the time but is not included on the census as he was boarding at an Industrial School (location not known).

William Hanson Russell
William Hanson Russell

William’s ancestor writes – “Great uncle William Russell Hanson tried to join up in the army while he was still under age I think he was found out so he enlisted under the name of Hanson Russell. He was in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, he was in La Bassee France when wounded on 16th of May 1915.   He was brought back to Stanmore Military hospital and died from his wounds on the 11th February 1916. He was interred at Richmond Cemetery on 15th February 1916.”

This appeared in the ‘In Memoriam’ section of the Warwick Advertiser on 19th February 1916 :

Military Service

Rank & Number: Private, 2520
Regiment/Service: Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Brigade/Division: 1st Battalion
Date of death: Friday, February 11, 1916
Cause of death/Battle: Died of wounds at Stanmore Military Hospital
Commemorated/Buried: Richmond Cemetery
Awards: 1914*
Commemorated locally at:

There are two Attestation records on file where William tried to enlist, whilst underage, with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, under the name of Hanson Russell – as mentioned by his relative.  The first was on 13th December 1913 and the second on 31st March 1914.

Ian Shuter of South Warwickshire Family History Society writes: ‘William suffered a gunshot wound to the thorax and spine in the trenches at Steenbecque on 8 Apr 1915, most likely a sniper as there was no actual battle that day. He was paralyzed and following treatment in Boulogne he was transported back to Stanmore Military Hospital and then on 18 Oct 1915 he was discharged from the Army as unfit due to his wound.  He died from his wounds on the 11th February 1916.’

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