John Hassan

John was born in Johnstone in 1879 in Johnstone, Renfrewshire to Henry Hassan and Helen Brogan. His father died when he was 6 and in 1891 census aged 11 he was in a Catholic Orphanage for Boys in the east end of Glasgow although his mother was still alive and living in Johnstone with 3 older children.

On the 12th April 1897 he enlisted in the Royal Scots Fusiliers at Kilmarnock, aged 17 years and 5 months.   He was living in Hurlford, Ayrshire and his occupation was bleacher. His (former?) employer was Adam Boyd of Lochwinnoch in Renfrewshire.  He was 5 ft 2 in had black hair and brown eyes.

He deserted in Glasgow in 1900 and rejoined in 1901. His trial was dispensed with but he suffered the same forfeitures  as if he had been convicted.  Then in 1904 he was charged in the civil courts with felony and sentenced to 56 days in prison after which he was discharged from the army.

He married Thomasina Thomson in Cumnock in 1908 and they had 2 children Henry in 1909 and Mary in 1915.

He was a tilework labourer in 1908 and 1911.

They lived in Garallan Row in 1911 at no. 26 and on army papers in 1915 at no. 5
He enlisted in April 1915 in the 6th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers when he was 35 years old.  He was employed as a fireman (in a mine).

He was posted missing after the Battle of Loos on 26 Sep 1915  but not officially declared dead until October 1916. Thomasina received a pension on 18/6 for herself and the 2 children from Jun 1916. Her address in November 1916 was 5 Townfoot.

He is not on Cumnock War memorial so perhaps Thomasina moved away from Cumnock soon afterwards.  She married Robert Cockburn Carson in 1918 and died in Glasgow in 1946

CWGC

on CC tree