John Andrew's Story.
Birkenhead News 21 July 1917
C. Q. M. S. JACK HANLON KILLED.
It is with deep regret that we have to announce the death of C.Q.M.S. Hanlon, which occurred on June 14th while conveying rations for the men of his company in the trenches. The deceased soldier who was a prominent member of Our Lady’s R.C. Church, was very well-known in the town, especially in musical circles, and his loss on account of his popularity will be keenly felt by all who knew him. At the outbreak of the war he was one of the first to answer the call of duty, having joined the South Lancashire Regt., in which he was Q.M.S of “C” Company since May, 1915, and had seen two years active service in France. Numerous letters of sympathy have been received by his mother and sisters from the officers and men of the battalion, including one from the captain, who says :- “Although I only joined this Battalion and took over command of “C” Company at the end of April, I very soon shared in the affection in which your son was held by all who came in contact with him. I was with the ration party at the time, and am able to say that death was instantaneous, and he could have suffered no pain. Amid many expressions of grief from his officers and comrades we saw him reverently laid to rest at a cemetery near by. We have lost a true and sympathetic friend and a fine soldier, who was ever ready with a cheery word and song to brighten the lot of his men, and who gave up his life nobly doing his duty.”