Ernest Harry Hann was the fourth of the nine children of Harry Hann (1860-1903) and Harriet Annie Hann née Smith (1859-1923). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1886 in the Islington registration district.
In the 1891 census he is shown as living at 3 Stoke Place, West Green Road, Tottenham, with his parents and three brothers: Horace Charles Hann (1882-1933), Albert Henry Hann (1884-1966) and Charles Leonard Hann (1888-1894). His father was described as a card pattern maker.
He was described as a errand boy in the 1901 census residing at 382 West Green Road, Tottenham, with his parents and six siblings: Horace, Albert, Leah Annie Hann (1891-1983), Frederick George Hann (1894-1923), William Stanley Hann (1898-1959) and Reginald John Hann (1901-1966). His father was listed as a pattern card maker.
In early 1905 he enlisted in the The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), service number 10554, and when the 1911 census was undertaken he was shown as a Lance Corporal in the regiment's 1st Battalion that was stationed at the Dinapore Cantonment, Patna, Bihar, India.
Having served eight years with the colours, he was discharged, but remained on the reserve list. The London Gazette dated 13 November 1913 shows him appointed as either a postman or porter in the General Post Office in London and Postal Service Appointment Books show that he was employed in July 1914 as a postman in west London.
On the outbreak of World War One he was recalled to his regiment as a Corporal and entered France on 22 August 1914. He was promoted to Serjeant and was killed in action on 25 September 1915. His body was buried in Plot 1, Row H, Grave 23, in the Cambrin Churchyard Extension Cemetery, 8 Rue du Château, 62149 Cambrin, France.
On 28 January 1916 his army effects totalling £11-3s-3d were sent to his widowed mother and she was also sent his £9-0s-0d war gratuity on 26 July 1919. He was posthumously awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website and on Page 162 of the Post Office Fellowship of Remembrance's Book of Remembrance 1914-1920.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
