Description
Queen’s South Africa Medal, 6 bars, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Daimond Hill, Belfast, King’s South Africa Medal, 2 bars, SA 1901, SA 1902, Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, EDVII issue, 3508 Sergeant Alfred Edgar Hannam, Welsh Regiment. As well as his son’s IGSM described below.
A Long serving Welshman from Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales. In his retirement the proprietor of the 17th Century Pub the “Bull Inn” in Farningham, Kent, still in business today as the “Pied Bull” on the High Street in Farningham.
QSA Officially impressed: “3508 Sejt A.E. Hannam Welsh Regt.” Some edge bruising through wearing.
KSA Officially impressed: “3508 Serjt A. Hannam Welsh Regt.”
Army LSGC officially impressed: “3508 Sjt A.E. Hannam Welsh Regt.”
Entitlement confirmed on the roll, all 6 clasps for the Welsh Regiment, some serious field service with the regiment, present at all the battles and doubled as Officer’s Mess Sergeant, he must have been a fine chef to warrant a valuable marble clock, a pair of bronzes, a gold engraved pocket watch and an engraved silver calendar holder to be gifted to him.
With his son’s post war India General Service Medal, bar Waziristan 1921-24, officially impressed: “3948385 Pte G.A.J. Hannam. Welch R.”
Provenance, Ex Lewellyn Lord Collection of Welsh Regiments, DNW 2016.
Since re-united with his son’s IGS bar Afghanistan.
“SERGEANT OF THE WELSH
The officers of the 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment have presented a valuable marble clock and a pair of bronzes to Sergeant A.E. Hannam, who has left the Regiment on a pension after serving over 18 years, including 13 years as Mess Sergeant.
He took part in the South African War from 1899 to 1904, and possesses bars for the Relief of Kimberley, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, and Belfast, as well as the King’s medal and 2 bars, and is also entitled to the Good Conduct Medal.
Sergeant Hannam was for 5 years in the Cardiff Post Office, under Postmasters Webber and Fardo.
He was born in the old recruiting house, the Neptune Inn, Caroline Street, which has been in the family since 1848, and as far back as 1827 when his father enlisted in the 41st Welsh.
When Sergeant Hannam left the regiment on 31st August this year from Egypt, he took over the management of The Bull, a well known hostelry in Farnham, Kent.” The Evening Express, 23rd September 1910.
An early advertisement for the Bull Inn, in Cycling, 22nd Feb 1912:
“FARNINGHAM, KENT – Bull Inn, NCU and CTC Quarters, whist drives and concerts arranged with club runs; tea gardens, the Proprietor is A.E. Hannam, Late Officers’ Mess Caterer, Welsh Regiment.”
Born during early 1874 in Cardiff, Wales.
He actually grew up in an Inn himself, his father Sergeant William Hannam, had been a long serving soldier of the 41st (Welsh) Regiment, and spent many years in India with the regiment and possibly fought in the 1st Afghan War.
His father had retired to Cardiff and ran the well regarded Neptune Inn, which doubled as a recruiting centre, it was said that by his death he had “Enlisted more men than any other recruiting sergeant in South Wales.”
Possibly this was his Grandfather, Chelsea Pensioner and Postman, whose son born 1845 was also William Hannam.
Aged 18 he first joined up at Cardiff on 4th July 1892 for Army Service with his local regiment, the Welsh Regiment.
Joined 1st Battalion in March 1893 and it did not take long to see promotions.
Promoted to Lance Corporal, 18th Sept 1893.
Promoted Corporal 10th Oct 1894.
Qualified as an Assistant Instructor in Military Engineers, 18th July 1895.
Appointed Lance Sergeant, 27th Sept 1895
Promoted Sergeant, 4th Sept 1896.
Posted to South Africa with the regiment on 4th Nov 1899, serving throughout the war and not returning home until April 1904.
With his retirement he became a Licenced Victualler in Kent, using his late experience as Mess Sergeant to the 1st Welsh Regiment, in 1930 his home was burglarised, leading to a fire, which possibly destroyed his prized Gold Demi Hunter watch and Silver Calendar Holder, presented to him by the Officers of the 1st Welsh Regiment upon his retirement.
Sheffield Independent, 22nd April 1930:
“DETECTIVES DISCOVERY AFTER HOUSE BLAZE
After a fire at Wembley, yesterday, in which a family had to fight their way to safety through smoke and flames, detectives discovered that a safe in the front room was missing.
it now appears that burglars forced their way in through a back window, and that after they had left the fire started.
The scene of the fire is an eating house owned by Mr A.E. Hannam, and the premises were seriously damage.
Mr Hannam and his wife and 12 year old boy, were sleeping above the premises, were awakened by the smell of smoke and dashed downstairs in their night clothes.
The front of the shop was well ablaze, and they were compelled to fight their way through dense smoke and flames to the back entrance.
Firemen were able to save the living rooms above, but large stocks of cooked meats, tinned food and cigarettes were destroyed.
The safe contained £150 in cash, a gold demi hunter watch, and a silver calendar-holder, both inscribed, ‘Presented to Sergeant A. Hannam by Officers of the 1st Welsh Regiment, 1910, as an appreciation of his services as Mess Sergeant.’ and a gold brooch set with diamonds and rubies.”
His son GAJ Hannam, also Welsh Regiment.
Gerald Alfred J Hannam, was born into the Welsh Regiment, whilst his father was stationed at Aldershot during 1899, shortly before leaving for the Boer War.
With his father gone to war, he and his mother immediately moved back to Cardiff, to raise him in their home at Canton, Cardiff as of the 1901 Census.
By 1911 when his father was discharged, he was raised in the family Inn.
Gerald was aged only 36 when he died during late 1935, in Hackney, London.
