His son records that his actual birth date is 21 January 1892

Samuel Hanna and his friend Jack Macky left New Zealand in March 1915 travelling to England to join the Royal Navy. Sam joined Locker-Lampson's Number 15 Squadron Royal Naval Armoured Car Division in May, in the rank of Sub Lieutenant.

He went to France in July 1915 being based near Dunkirk. The unit did several spells in the trenches before being withdrawn to England in November.

In England the unit reformed into an Armoured Car Division for service in Russia, departing England in December 1915. From January 1916 Sam became involved in the administration of the unit as Assistant Adjutant of the Squadron and later Adjutant.

Transcripts of his diaries have been deposited with the Imperial Museum (London); The Naval Museum (Devonport, New Zealand) and the Army Museum (Waiouru, New Zealand)
The original diaries have been deposited with the Botherton Library, University of Leeds.


While in Russia Sam suffered several bouts of ill health being invalided to England at one time. Despite this he continued to perform his duties and his ability and dedication resulted in the award of Distinguished Service Cross.

When the unit withdrew from Russia Sam travelled to New Zealand via Vladivostok for leave. In January 1918 he was commissioned into the Army as adjutant of a Motor Machine Gun Corps for service in Persia (now Iraq). At the end of the war he returned to England to demobilise the unit.

Awarded DSC in 1917, decorated at Buckingham Palace 8 May 1919

His medals have been gifted to the Army Museum, Waiouru

Attended Auckland University College (now the University of Auckland). AWMM