61274 Private Herbert Alfred Moses Hanlon, 12/8/1879-21/9/1918. "Dead Man's Corner"

Bertie Hanlon is listed in the newspapers of 1918 as "dangerously ill."  He was wounded in action on September 13, a "gsw" (gunshot wound) in the left buttock and thigh.

Bertie was in the 1st Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment.  The Official History records that the Battalion moved up to Berlincourt to relieve the 1st Battalion of the Otagos on September 11.  

"Before dawn on the 13th, the Wellington-West Coast Company of the 1st Battalion had pushed forward along Chip Lane, and joined up with 2nd Wellington at the junction of Chip Lane and Snap Trench.  At noon, by pushing forward patrols, Wellington-West Coast Company had established posts along Soot Avenue and Snap Trench, although, considerable machine-gun fire was experienced along the high ground.  During the morning, a patrol from Ruahine Company worked down Smut Trench and reported all clear. After the field Artillery and Stokes Mortars had bombarded several machine-gun positions, Wellington-West Coast and Ruahine Companies (1st Battalion), during the afternoon, in conjunction with the 15th Company, 1st Auckland, on the right, simultaneously sent strong parties to work down forward saps to establish a line along Snap Trench. Wellington-West Coast Company were successful in establishing a post at the junction of Snap and Midland trenches; but, by some mistake, the post in Smut Trench had been vacated and a platoon of Ruahine Company working down this trench was surrounded and lost heavily, having no less than thirteen men missing. Forward of Dead Man's Corner, Ruahine Company and 1st Auckland were at first successful in their enterprise, Ruahine Company taking eight prisoners; but the enemy, who belonged to a Jaeger Division, proving stubborn fighters, launched a series of counter-attacks, and, after three hours' fighting, we were forced back to our former line.

During this fighting there were numerous acts of bravery. One of outstanding gallantry was was that of Lance-corporal L Greenbank. He first led his section against an enemy machine-gun post. Having captured the gun himself, he pushed on, in spite of heavy casualties in his section, with two others and, coming upon a strong enemy position, set upon the Germans with bombs, and finally gained his objective."

Whether Bertie received his wound "along the high ground" or whether he was in Greenbank's section I am unable to ascertain.  

PERSONAL. 

Private B. A. M. (Bert) Hanlon, of Dunedin, reported died of wounds, was very well known .in yachting circles in Otago, having bean from boyhood connected with the crews of the old yacht Madge and later of the well-known launch Matarua. He was at one time an active member of the Alhambra Football Club and a member of Court Pride of Dunedin, A.O.F. He was well liked by all who knew him.   -Otago Witness, 13/11/1918.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.  DCC photo.