Background
John Clarence Hanson was born May 23, 1893 in Sussex, New Brunswick, to Rupert Douglas Hanson and Gussie Price. His parents married one another September 28, 1892 in Sussex. Rupert had been working in the area as a school teacher when he met Gussie who came from Petitcodiac. According to records, John was an only child in a small family heavily involved in education in the province. After working for a time as a school teacher in Sussex, Rupert eventually moved the family to Fredericton where he took up the position as Inspector of Schools. Given his work Rupert was often traveling throughout New Brunswick. As a result, newspapers reveal that John’s early education began at the Bathurst and Chatham Grammar Schools. In 1909, he enrolled at the University of New Brunswick and upon graduation in 1913 won the alumni medal for the best Latin essay and the Governor-General’s medal for efficiency in science. After graduating, “Jack”, as his friends called him, moved to Albert County where he was a school teacher and then principal of the Riverside Consolidated School. All this time, his service record reveals that he belonged to the local militia and had three years of experience with the 71st Regiment at Camp Sussex. While John moved away for his teaching career, his parents remained in Fredericton where they had a home at 818 Charlotte Street. When war broke out in 1914, John was given a commission as Lieutenant of the 104th Battalion. He remained in Canada for training with the 104th until 1916, and during that period of time newspapers reveal he formed a close bond with two other officers from Fredericton, Hubert Osborne and Royden Barbour. All three had enlisted with the 104th and had ambitions for becoming pilots once overseas. It is unclear if ever saw his family again before leaving for England.
Wartime Experience
On June 28, 1916, Lieutenant Hanson embarked from Halifax, Nova Scotia, aboard the S.S. Olympic for Liverpool, England. According to his military service record, he stayed in England during the remainder of 1916 where he requested permission to join the Royal Flying Corps. After passing all the necessary courses for becoming a pilot with the RFC, in late March 1917 he was assigned to the 55th Squadron described by newspapers as being “one of the best fighting squadrons equipped with the newest machinery.” Before going to France, the three Fredericton boys, John, Royden, and Hubert went to London on pass and John and Hubert had their photos taken and placed in lockets to send home to their mothers. By June 10 Jack had landed in France alongside pilot officer 2nd Lieutenant H.E. MacFarlane. Newspapers suggest that throughout his service he routinely wrote home. By July, the following letter had been received by his parents:
“Dear parents, well, my first show is over. We did not see any signs of a Hun machine. Cooke, my Canadian friend who joined the squadron around the time I did, has five shows to his credit. I’m beginning to fear that he will get his wing before I do. Mine is bound to come through before long. The weather has turned fine and warm again. I had to get up at 8 o’clock this morning because the sun was so hot, but now I am getting the benefit of a lovely breeze. All I wore yesterday was a pair of shorts and a shirt. It sure is a contrast. In the air, I it difficult to keep my hands warm. As you can imagine, stiff, cold fingers is an awful nuisance, so I usually sit on my hands and beat them together. One of these days I will find the right rig to keep warm and then I will be the Jake. There have been some tanks in the neighbourhood for training, so I want to try and set an eye on them. While I would not mind having a ride in one, they say driving one is very much rougher than a football match and it is possibly true. They are just starting the harvest here and the populations hate the tanks most cordially. Well, I really must stop as I have another letter to write. Lovingly, Jack.”
A few days after writing home, Jack and his crew mate were asked to perform a test flight of a new Rolls Royce aircraft. According to Major J.S. Baldwin, on the morning of July 14, 1917, they were performing the test flight near the aerodrome when for some reason the machine nose-dived into the ground and both officers were killed. Accounts written home in newspapers offer that, “it was impossible to say why the accident occurred… and that it seems such a waste of a useful officer. Your son was doing exceedingly well in his squadron and was a good observer.” After the accident, his body was admitted to hospital for treatment, however, there was little doctors could do. A few months after his death, the Brunswick Street Baptist Church held a memorial service in honour of John and two others who had been killed overseas, Stewart Kitchen and Stanley Edgett. At the time of his death, John was twenty-four years old.
Lest We Forget
Lieutenant John Clarence Hanson is buried with honour at the Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, located in St. Omer, France. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, there are approximately 3,390 identified casualties in this cemetery. John and his pilot are buried beside one another.