Private William John Hannah

Survivor of WW2

Date of Death:

Biography General Ranks Awards Chronology Print

Service Biography

William John Hannah was born in Stirling, Scotland, on 21 February 1920 and came to Canada as a young child. He left school after Grade 9 to help his father and worked at several jobs in Montreal before enlisting with the Black Watch on 23 October 1939. A piper and stretcher bearer, he served in the United Kingdom and continental Europe and was wounded in action by shell blast on 21 July 1944. He was discharged in September 1945, then continued serving for more than two decades with the Black Watch militia and reserve, becoming Pipe Major and Warrant Officer Class II. He died on 1 October 1999 and was buried in Huntingdon Cemetery.

General Information

Conflict:

WW2

Regimental No.:

D81783

Cause of Death (in war):

Survived

Branch:

Army

Regiment:

Black Watch, Royal Highlanders of Canada

Battalion:

1st Battalion

Company:

Date of Birth :

Place of Birth:

Stirling, Stirlingshire

Date of Enlistment:

Age at Enlistment:

19 years 8 months

Date of Discharge:

Age at Discharge:

25 years 6 months

Date of Death:

Age at Death:

79 years 7 months

Country Born:

Scotland

Trade or Calling:

Labourer

Next of Kin:

Annie Hannah, mother, 2668 Rozel Street, Point St. Charles, Montreal, Quebec

Address at Enlistment:

2668 Rozel Street, Point St. Charles, Montreal, Quebec

Religion:

Presbyterian

Place of Enlistment:

Montreal, Quebec

Was a Prisoner of War:

Height:

5 ft 10.0 in / 178 cm

Weight:

126 lbs / 57 kg

Chest:

36.0 in / 91 cm

Expansion:

1.0 in / 3 cm

Marital Status:

Single

Prior Military Experience:

Yes

Saw Service in:

Europe

Place of Discharge:

Montreal, Quebec

Discharge Type:

Regular/End of Service

Discharge Notes:

Battle Died/Wounded:

Wounded in action by shell blast on 21 July 1944; returned to battalion after about 48 hours.

Length of Service:

2159 days in service

Buried at:

Huntingdon Cemetery

Ranks

Conflict	Rank	Regiment	Branch	Unit	Company
WW2	Private	Black Watch, Royal Highlanders of Canada	Army	1st Battalion
Initial CASF enlistment
WW2	Warrant Officer Class II	Black Watch, Royal Highlanders of Canada	Army	3rd Battalion	Pipes and Drums
Highest postwar militia rank; transferred to Supplementary Reserve 8 Apr 1968
WW2	Pipe Major	Black Watch, Royal Highlanders of Canada	Army	3rd Battalion	Pipes and Drums
Appointment as Pipe Major; later records show Sgt/WO2 substantive rank
WW2	Sergeant	Black Watch, Royal Highlanders of Canada	Army	3rd Battalion	Pipes and Drums
Postwar reserve/militia
WW2	Corporal	Black Watch, Royal Highlanders of Canada	Army	3rd Battalion	Pipes and Drums
Postwar reserve/militia
WW2	Private	Black Watch, Royal Highlanders of Canada	Army	3rd Battalion	Pipes and Drums
Postwar reserve/militia service
WW2	Lance Corporal	Black Watch, Royal Highlanders of Canada	Army	1st Battalion
Record amended to L/Cpl from 1 Jun 1945; discharge certificate separately records Private
WW2	Private	Black Watch, Royal Highlanders of Canada	Army	1st Battalion	Pipes and Drums
Appointed Acting Piper 11 Dec 1939; piper appointment retained in company/notes

Awards

Conflict	Award	Action	Date of Award	Date of Citation	Source
WW2	Centennial Medal
WW2	1939-1945 Star
WW2	France and Germany Star
WW2	Defence Medal
WW2	Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp
WW2	Canadian Efficiency Medal
WW2	Canadian Forces Decoration
1960-12-16

Service Chronology

1920-02-21 — Born in Stirling, Scotland.
1939-10-23 — Enlisted in the Canadian Active Service Force with the 1st Battalion, Black Watch (RHR) of Canada in Montreal. [Montreal, Quebec / 1st Battalion, Black Watch]
1939-12-11 — Appointed Acting Piper with the 1st Battalion, Black Watch in Montreal. [Montreal, Quebec / 1st Battalion, Black Watch]
1940-03-14 to 1940-03-28 — Granted 14 days furlough while serving with the 1st Battalion, Black Watch. [Toronto, Ontario / 1st Battalion, Black Watch]
1940-07-24 — Posted for duty to the Canadian Infantry Training Centre at Aldershot, Nova Scotia. [Aldershot, Nova Scotia / C.I.(R)TC]
1940-08-20 — Returned to the 1st Battalion, Black Watch at Aldershot, Nova Scotia. [Aldershot, Nova Scotia / 1st Battalion, Black Watch]
1940-08-22 — Embarked at Halifax for overseas service with the 1st Battalion, Black Watch. [Halifax, Nova Scotia / 1st Battalion, Black Watch]
1940-09-04 — Disembarked at Gourock, Scotland, beginning overseas service in the United Kingdom. [Gourock, Scotland / 1st Battalion, Black Watch]
1942-07-21 — Sustained a wrist injury; examined at No. 18 Canadian Field Ambulance and no treatment was indicated. [United Kingdom / 1st Battalion, Black Watch]
1944-07-05 — Embarked from the United Kingdom for France with the Black Watch. [United Kingdom / 1st Battalion, Black Watch]
1944-07-07 — Disembarked in France for continental operations. [France / 1st Battalion, Black Watch]
1944-07-21 — Wounded in action by shell blast; hospitalized for about 48 hours and then returned to the battalion. [France / 1st Battalion, Black Watch]
1945-05-07 — Left Belgium during the return from continental service. [Belgium / 1st Battalion, Black Watch]
1945-05-31 — Struck off strength of the Canadian Army overseas for return to Canada. [United Kingdom / Canadian Army Overseas]
1945-06-01 — Taken on strength in Canada; rank record amended to Lance Corporal from this date. [Montreal, Quebec / 4 District Depot]
1945-09-20 — Discharged on demobilization and return to civil life. [Montreal, Quebec / 4 District Depot]
1946-11-04 — Re-engaged in the Canadian Army Reserve Force with the 3rd Battalion, Black Watch for three years. [Montreal, Quebec / 3rd Battalion, Black Watch]
1947 — Awarded the Canadian Efficiency Medal for qualifying militia service. [Montreal, Quebec / Black Watch]
1948-01-05 — Promoted Corporal in the 3rd Battalion, Black Watch. [Montreal, Quebec / 3rd Battalion, Black Watch]
1950-01-16 — Promoted Sergeant in the 3rd Battalion, Black Watch. [Montreal, Quebec / 3rd Battalion, Black Watch]
1950-09-30 to 1950-10-11 — Called out from the Reserve Force to visit France, Germany and England. [France, Germany and England / Black Watch Reserve Force]
1951-09-19 — Appointed Pipe Major of the Black Watch. [Montreal, Quebec / 3rd Battalion, Black Watch]
1956-02-27 — Promoted Warrant Officer Class II in the 3rd Battalion, Black Watch. [Montreal, Quebec / 3rd Battalion, Black Watch]
1960-12-16 — Canadian Forces Decoration award acknowledged. [Montreal, Quebec / 3rd Battalion, Black Watch]
1962-08-10 — Assaulted outside the Bleury Street Armoury after leaving the men's canteen; treated at Jeanne d'Arc Hospital with five stitches near the right eye and multiple bruises. [2067 Bleury Street, Montreal, Quebec / 3rd Battalion, Black Watch]
1966-10-22 to 1966-10-26 — Proceeded to Louisville, Kentucky, USA, and returned to Montreal. [Louisville, Kentucky, USA / 3rd Battalion, Black Watch]
1967-11-23 — Awarded the Centennial Medal. [Montreal, Quebec / 3rd Battalion, Black Watch]
1968-04-08 — Transferred from the Canadian Army Reserve to the Supplementary Reserve; highest rank recorded as WO2 (Pipe Major). [Montreal, Quebec / Supplementary Reserve]
1999-10-01 — Died at St. Anne's Hospital at age 79. [Montreal area, Quebec]
1999-10-03 — Buried in Huntingdon Cemetery; a memorial service was to be held later in Montreal. [Huntingdon, Quebec / Huntingdon Cemetery]

Notes

Born in Stirling, Scotland, he came to Canada at about age three. He attended Lorne School in Montreal, reaching Grade 9; childhood illness caused him to miss Grade 6, and he left school to help his father during financial difficulty. Before enlistment he had worked in a zipper factory, on dairy jobs including as a C.N.R. trackman, and on building alterations for the Bank of Nova Scotia. He enjoyed baseball and hockey and collected stamps. After the war he continued with the Black Watch militia/reserve, becoming Pipe Major and later Warrant Officer Class II. Had his medals stolen after a practice. On 10 August 1962 he was assaulted outside the Bleury Street Armoury and treated at Jeanne d'Arc Hospital.

[Previous notes - manual reconciliation required]

buried Huntingdon Protestant
Request confirmation number EA2026_0172276
He continued to serve with the black watch/pipes and drums after discharge. Had his medals stolen after a practice. His Canadian Forces Decoration is not noted.
Nor is the Canadian Efficiency Medal P15
Attempted to reenlist after war service ended
Chronology has 2 lines, last one Jan 1940
Completed Grade 8 Lorne School (Montreal?) Quebec School at 16 Left school to help father in financial need
Worked as building maintenance man at Bank of Nova Scotia, Montreal 1938-1939
Expects to be employed with CNR
Was a stretcher bearer during war
Attacked and robbed leaving Armory on 10 aug 1962

Additional Service Notes

Served with the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) of Canada. A piper and stretcher bearer, he served in the United Kingdom and continental Europe, was wounded in action by shell blast on 21 July 1944, and returned to his battalion after about 48 hours.

Additional Next of Kin Notes

At enlistment he was single and named his mother Annie Hannah as next of kin; his father Robert Hannah and mother Annie Hannah were both living at 2668 Rozel Street, Point St. Charles. A 1946 reserve engagement form identifies his wife as Ruth Hannah (née Bailey). His 1999 obituary states that Ruth predeceased him.

Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-09-28 02:05:04 by: marc