L/Cpl
Arthur James Bishop Hancock
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1889 |
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Place of birth: Maryborough, Victoria, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Farmer |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Lance Corporal |
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Service number: 901 |
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Enlistment date: 06/03/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Horsham, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 38th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 13/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Waterfields, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 28 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 25 M |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Lance Corporal Arthur James Bishop Hancock served in C Company of the 38th Battalion A.I.F., 10th Australian Brigade, 3rd Australian Division. The former farmer enlisted in Horsham on 6 March 1916 and sailed on 20 June 1916 from Melbourne to the UK and later France.
On 4 June 1917 he was appointed Lance Corporal. Three days later, on 7 June he suffered a gunshot wound to the head and arm while in action in Messines. After recovering in the 1st Canadian General Hospital in Etaples he could rejoin his unit on 8 September 1917 to participate in the Battle of Passchendaele.
During the battle on 12th October 1917 the 10th Brigade attacked south of the Ravebeek with the 37th, 38th and 40th Battalion. The 38th Bn. was allotted the 3rd or final objective, a line beyond the village of Passchendaele. The battalion formed up on its tapes, C Coy. were to function as moppers up. Waterfields fell to the 40th Battalion. The 38th Battalion joined remnants of the 37th Battalion past Waterfields. But the advance suffered heavily from machine gun fire. The 10th Australian Brigade eventually had to pull back to approximately its jumping off line. The 38th Battalion held the new consolidated line until they were relieved during the night of 13/14 October. It was during this attack that lance corporal Arthur James Bishop Hancock was killed by a shell. His adopted brother Albert John Hancock suffered the same faith and was killed just one day later.
On 4 June 1917 he was appointed Lance Corporal. Three days later, on 7 June he suffered a gunshot wound to the head and arm while in action in Messines. After recovering in the 1st Canadian General Hospital in Etaples he could rejoin his unit on 8 September 1917 to participate in the Battle of Passchendaele.
During the battle on 12th October 1917 the 10th Brigade attacked south of the Ravebeek with the 37th, 38th and 40th Battalion. The 38th Bn. was allotted the 3rd or final objective, a line beyond the village of Passchendaele. The battalion formed up on its tapes, C Coy. were to function as moppers up. Waterfields fell to the 40th Battalion. The 38th Battalion joined remnants of the 37th Battalion past Waterfields. But the advance suffered heavily from machine gun fire. The 10th Australian Brigade eventually had to pull back to approximately its jumping off line. The 38th Battalion held the new consolidated line until they were relieved during the night of 13/14 October. It was during this attack that lance corporal Arthur James Bishop Hancock was killed by a shell. His adopted brother Albert John Hancock suffered the same faith and was killed just one day later.
Connection to other soldiers 1
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Albert John Hancock
Adopted Brother (Cousin) |
Sources 7
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"Passchendaele, The Day-by-Day Account",McCarthy C., Arms&ArmourPress, London, 1995, page 113 - 115 Sources used |
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AIF Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=125066 Sources used |
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AWM https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=Hancock+Arthur+James+Bishop&people_service_number=901&people_unit= Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/923978/ARTHUR%20JAMES%20BISHOP%20HANCOCK/ Sources used |
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Service Record https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4256698 Sources used |
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The Long long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/3rd-australian-division/ Sources used |
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War Diary https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1356455 Sources used |