The “Bomber Boys” who headed across the dark Channel and into the face of blistering attack from German fighters and ground batteries were at the highest risk of any branch of the services. The crews were young and pilots were trained as quickly as possible and thrust into front line service, gaining experience under fire. Around half of the crews didn’t make it back and combat missions were not the only danger - many perished in training exercises over home territory.
John Hannah joined the RAF in 1939 from his home in Scotland. He trained as a radio operator and was promoted to Sergeant in 1940 and posted to 83 Squadron flying Handley Page Hampden bombers from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.
Sgt Hannah was aged just 18 on September 15, 1940 when the squadron ventured across the Channel to attack German barges at Antwerp, almost certainly part of the build-up preparing for an invasion of Britain.
After dropping its bomb load, P1355, met with intensive anti-aircraft fire and took a direct hit into the bomb compartment which started an immediate fire resulting in exploding ammunition pinging around the cabin. The rear gunner and navigator bailed out and were eventually made prisoners of war. Sgt Hannah began to fight the fire with extinguishers, eventually using his radio log book to beat out the flames. While doing so he sustained burns including to his face and eyes.
He then crawled forward again to make sure the navigator had managed to bail out, collected the navigation log and maps and took them to the pilot who nursed the plane home.
The aircraft’s captain, Canadian Flying Officer Clare Connor, recommended John Hannah for the Victoria Cross and he himself was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The pair were invested with their medals by King George VI at Buckingham Palace.
John Hannah was in hospital for many weeks recovering from his burns. His weakened condition is thought to have been a factor in his contracting TB in the year after his brave act. Promoted to Flight Sgt he tried to continue his RAF service but his illness and injuries meant he was given an honourable discharge with full pension in1943.
John Hannah had met and married a local girl, Janet Beaver from Oakham, during his service in Lincolnshire. They set up home in Birstall on the outskirts of Leicester raising three daughters. Despite the illness that gradually weakened him he attempted to work in various areas and proudly refused any help that he regarded as being “charity”.
After months in Markham Sanatorium, Leicester, John Hannah died, aged just 25, in June, 1947. The local paper Leicester Mercury was at last able to help, setting up a fund for readers to donate money to support his wife Janet and his daughters.
Flt Sgt Hannah is not forgotten. His Commonwealth War Graves Commission gravestone has a prominent position in the beautiful churchyard of St James in Birstall. Janet was buried with him after her death aged in hr eighties and is marked with a memorial stone.
He is also remembered at the International Bomber Command Centre near Lincoln (Website: www.internationalbcc.co.uk) with a bronze bust (pictured) alongside Dam Buster leader Guy Gibson.
Tragically, John Hannah’s parents James and Eva in Glasgow lost a second son, Charles, who died aged 24, in December 1947 during service with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.
There are many stories like this behind the Commonwealth War Graves in churchyards and cemeteries in Britain’s towns and villages. We plan to bring some of those stories each week so their sacrifice is not forgotten. Women played a huge part in the Second World War effort and many paid the ultimate price for the service. Next week we tell the stories of some of the ATS women and their vital role in defending the country.
