JAMES HANNAN - Merchant Navy

[The Longfellow]

Could he have joined the navy under an assumed name?

Anything's possible. As I said, I only heard this story recently and there were no firm facts given.  It might take a while to separate truth from fiction.

[sancti]

He is not with his father on the 1901 census as a 17 yr old. It is possible he joined the navy. Have you searched 1911 UK census

[LH]

Hi

From over two decades searching for a female ancestor, we’ve discovered Hannan must be the easiest name to ‘get wrong’.   Its listed on various official registers listed as Harmon, Harman, Hannen, Hannan and even Carman.

Good Luck with your search.



 

[sancti]

What was his actual date of birth?

[The Longfellow]

Hi

From over two decades searching for a female ancestor, we’ve discovered Hannan must be the easiest name to ‘get wrong’.   Its listed on various official registers listed as Harmon, Harman, Hannen, Hannan and even Carman.

Good Luck with your search.

Haanan, Haney and Heenan are other variations I've seen. 

[The Longfellow]

I think I've found the truth about the elusive Mr Hannan, but none of the original information I was given was correct.  JOHN JAMES HANNAN, aged 24, the son of George and Jane Hannan of Coatbridge, died on 20/07/1945.  He was serving with the Royal Naval Patrol Service aboard the HMT Nebula, a minesweeper.  His record says Died On War Service.  Apparently unable to swim, he drowned in an accident and is buried in the British cemetery in Recife, Brazil. 

It seems to me that the tale I was told was a wildly inaccurate version of this story. 

Thanks to everybody on Rootschat who contributed.