Frederick Melrose Horowhenua Hanson

Forenames

Frederick Melrose Horowhenua AWMM

Surname

Hanson AWMM

Service number

• WWI 70738 AWMM
• WWII 20034 AWMM

Birth

9 Jul 1896 AWMM

Post war occupation

• Civil Engineer/Civilian AWMM
• Territorial soldier/Civilian AWMM

Next of kin

• Mrs E. Hanson (mother), 15 Upland Crescent, Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM
• Mrs C.M. Hanson (wife), 81 Oban Street, Highland Park, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM

Relationship status

• Pre 16 Nov 1917 AWMM Single AWMM
• Pre 1942 AWMM Married AWMM

War

• World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
• World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Armed force / branch

Army AWMM

Service number

• WWI 70738 AWMM
• WWII 20034 AWMM

Military service

• Royal Military Academy, Duntroon 1915-1917. AWMM
• New Zealand Engineers, 7 Field Company AWMM
• 2 New Zealand Division AWMM
• IV Corps (British) Engineers AWMM

Medals and Awards

• Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and bar (DSO*) AWMM
  DSO: NZ Gazette, 21 September 1944. Citation: "At the Wadi Akarit position on the morning of 6th April 1943, Lieutenant Colonel Hanson was placed in command of a party of tanks, infantry and engineers. Their task was to make two gaps in the enemy minefield after the infantry had passed through and formed a bridgehead. The infantry attack was held up and the minefield covered by enemy small arms and artillery fire. Although the infantry was still pinned to the ground, this officer led forward the tanks to the edge of the minefield and organised his force so that engineers could commence work on clearing the gap. Working himself with the engineers, under considerable fire, he succeeded in directing his force in such a manner that the engineers were enabled to clear the necessary gaps for the tanks to go through and engage the enemy. By his fine example of leadership and disregard for personal safety he enabled an enemy position to be taken which appeared as though it would hold out all day and seriously prejudice the Corps plan. Throughout the campaign the work of this officer has been of the highest order." DSO Bar: NZ Gazette, 30 April 1946. Citation: "For outstanding devotion to duty and great personal gallantry as C.R.E. from the battle of the Senio River to the entry of the New Zealand Division into Trieste. Colonel Hanson throughout the campaign displayed skill of the highest order in planning and carrying out a long series of bridging operations across the Rivers Senio, Santerno, Sillaro, Gaiana, Idice, Reno, Po, Adige and Piave, together with the erection of numerous other bridges over the minor water obstacles which lay between these bigger rivers. The great speed and efficiency with which many rivers and difficulties were overcome, and Bailey bridges, pontoon bridges, and Class 40 rafts were put into operation was largely due to his personal reconnaissances and subsequent control of operations. This work he carried out on many occasions under heavy fire, and his personal courage and resolution were a great inspiration to his men, in carrying on his work in the most trying and exhausting of circumstances. The speed with which Colonel Hanson and the Divisional Engineers under his command performed their work enabled immediate exploitation of all bridgeheads and thus prevented the enemy from re-occupying each successive river line. Their work made possible the rapid advance of the Division." AWMM
• Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) (Military) AWMM
• British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
• Victory Medal AWMM
• 1939-1945 Star AWMM
• Africa Star (8th Army clasp) AWMM
• Italy Star AWMM
• Defence Medal AWMM
• War Medal 1939-1945 with oak leaf AWMM
• New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
• Coronation Medal ER 1953 AWMM
• Efficiency Decoration (ED) AWMM
• Military Medal (MM) AWMM
  London Gazette 11 February 1919, p2144, Rec No 2616 "Awarded for gallantry in handling a Lewis gun and keeping off repeated enemy attacks on an exposed flank near Havrincourt Wood about 14 September 1918". Archives New Zealand. AWMM

Enlistment

• WW1 Law student/Civilian AWMM
• WW2 Engineer/Military AWMM

Embarkation details

• WW1 16 Nov 1917-07 Jan 1918 AWMM
  HMNZT 97 AWMM Vessel was RMS Tahiti AWMM Private AWMM 31st Reinforcements, Wellington Infantry Regiment, B Company AWMM New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
• WW2 Vessel was Unknown Ship AWMM Major/Military AWMM Headquarters 7 Field Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Second Echelon AWMM
  2nd Embarkation AWMM

Medical notes

Wounds Diseases Etc., WWII AWMM
Wounded 3 times during WW2. AWMM

Last rank

• WW1 12 Jun 1919 AWMM Sergeant AWMM
  Wellington Infantry Regiment AWMM
• WW2 Brigadier/Military AWMM
  New Zealand Army Board AWMM

Death

15 Jul 1979 AWMM
Age  83 AWMM

Cemetery

Karori Cemetery, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM Cremated AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Cemetery Records. Wellington City Council.
  http://www.wellington.govt.nz/services/cemeteries/search/search.php
  Sources Used
• Military Personnel File
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R24098343
  Further Reference
• Military Personnel File
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R24098344
  Further Reference
• Military Personnel File
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R24059669
  Further Reference
• Military Personnel File
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R24098343
  Further Reference
• Military Personnel File
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R24098344
  Further Reference
• Military Personnel File
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R24059669
  Further Reference
• Wikidata Entity
  http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5498385
  Further Reference

References

• Haigh, J., Polaschek, A. (Eds.). (1993). New Zealand and the Distinguished Service Order. Christchurch, N.Z.: Authors.
• New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1918). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume III. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  75: 8
• Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 2 (Embarkations to 30th June, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  WW2 2: WW2 78
• Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications
  Vol. 2: Includes portrait
• McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers.
• Coronation Medals 1953 - Nominal Roll. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R21681744)
• Cody, J.F. (1961). New Zealand Engineers, Middle East. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
• McClymont, W. (1959). To Greece. Wellington, N.Z.: Department Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
• HMNZT 97. (1918). From Maoriland to Blighty: Being the browsings of Brown’s cows: S.S. Tahiti, February 1918 (31st Reinforcements). Bennett Brothers, Military and General Printers.