946 Private John Henry Hancock
Company D
1st Battalion Royal Newfoundland Regiment
1st July 1916
Born on 01/10/1896 in White Rock, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland. He was baptised on 30/05/1897.
His parents were Joseph Hancock (27/08/1868- 30/06/1906) and Amelia Priddle pike (09/02/1872-1941. They were married
on 16/01/1893.
John had a brother Richard (7/06/1894-04/07/1964).
In 1906 Johns father died with his mother remarrying five years later on 15/12/1911 to Eli Rowbottom (born in 1867).
John enlisted in St John's, Newfoundland on 25/01/1915. He was attested and had his medical, also in St John's on 28/01/1915, details as follows:
Trade or Occupation - Fisherman
Height - 5 Feet 9 Inches
Weight - 160lbs
Chest measurement when fully expanded - 36inches
Range of expansion - 3 inches
Distinctive Marks - Colour - Fair , Hair - Light Brown, Eyes - Blue.
He stayed at St John's until 20/03/1915, when he embarked on the Tramp Steamer Stephano bound for Nova Scotia. He arrived in Nova Scotia on 22/03/1915,then disembarked, before embarking on the Tramp Steamer Orduna they same day and set sail for Liverpool, England.
John arrived in Liverpool on 30/03/1915 and then after disembarking was sent by Train to Edinburgh , Scotland, where they were being billeted in Edinburgh Castle.
On the 04/07/1915 at Stobs Camp , near Edinburgh Castle, John was charged and found guilty of being absent from tattoo roll call
and was awarded a punishment of loss of 2 days pay.
John looked to be heading for Egypt when he embarked in Devonport in late March 1916, but rather than Egypt,
He disembarked in Marseilles, Southern France on 03/04/1916, joining his battalion 5 days later on 08/04/1916.
On 26/05/1916, He was admitted to 87th Field Ambulance with NYD (not yet determined/diagnosed).He was transferred to D.R.S. (Divisional Rest Station on 30/05/1916.
Once rested he was returned to his battalion and was killed in action on 01/07/1916.
His personal effects (photos) were returned to his mother.