South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 19 December 1942

Rose From Ranks

Lieut. A. Hanby, a native of Mexborough, joined the Army in February, 1920, at the age of 19. He served with the Army of Occupation at Cologne for two years and then went to Egypt for three years. Returning to Egypt after another spell in England in 1938 to help train the Egyptian army, he’ was at that time mechanical staff sergeant.

When war broke out he was posted, to Palestine, from there to Greece and was eventually evacuated to Crete. He got out of Crete thanks to the Navy and the Merchant Service. He was made Lieutenant after the Crete campaign and was put in charge of vehicle recovery. He was in Tobruk for nine months prior to its fall and was fortunate enough to escape along with a nephew.

He has had a spell in hospital and is now recommended for a captaincy. His two brothers served in the last war, the elder in the R.N.V.R., as a gunner. The other brother served in the Army. He was reported missing in March, 1918, but later turned up. All are members of the Mex-borough branch of the British Legion.