John Hannah - Community Interviews 2020 - Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc.

A portrait photograph of John Hannah October 2020 – born in Bacchus Marsh in 1938, remembering Bacchus Marsh in WWII and the Darley Military Camp.

Courtesy of John Hannah’s Personal Collection.

John was born in Bacchus Marsh in 1938 and was only 2 years old when the Darley Military Camp was first built. He recalls a few events as he grew a little older. John’s family lived in Dickson Street. In those times they had an uninterrupted view across the paddocks towards the Lerderderg Gorge and Ranges where the Darley Military Camp was located.

A 12 pound field gun being towed behind a truck along Main Street, Bacchus Marsh during World War II.

A 25 Pound Field Gun being towed behind a truck on Main Street, Bacchus Marsh during World War II.

The 25 Pound Field Guns were used at the Darley Military Camp for training purposes.

Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.

He recalls clearly the red flash and the crack of the blast of the 25 Pound Field Guns during firing practice at the Darley Military Camp.

“When we heard the Military band and the marching soldiers coming along Gisborne Road, we used to run up to the corner of our street and watch with amazement the show that was before us”.
John Hannah

The Military Band leading a procession of the First Australian Imperial Forces AIF soldiers who have arrived in Bacchus Marsh by train. They are marching across the Werribee River bridge along Grant Street, Bacchus Marsh on their way to the Darley Military Camp. Courtesy of the John Hannah Collection. — The Military Band leading a procession of the First Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) soldiers who have arrived in Bacchus Marsh by train. They are marching across the Werribee River Bridge along Grant Street, Bacchus Marsh, on their way to the Darley Military Camp. Courtesy of the John Hannah Collection.

D.I.Y. Backyard Air Raid Shelter

During the war many Australian families, businesses and schools prepared special shelters to protect people in the case of a bombing attack. Bacchus Marsh had already established a designated place for plane spotting, but now we learn how individual families also responded to the threat. John tells us how his father constructed a special shelter in the backyard next to the peach tree to protect his family.

“Dad built an air-raid shelter in the backyard”.
John Hannah

Shows family of women entering backyard air-raid shelter – circa 1941 – World War II.

Courtesy of Argus Newspaper Collection of Photographs, State Library of Victoria.

John is a keen historian and has an impressive collection of memorabilia about Bacchus Marsh and district. He is always on the lookout for something of interest and has kindly contributed a number of period photographs to this important community project.

The dilemma of a 1000 Pound Bomb

He recalls an interesting story from an old Express Newspaper about a 1000 pound bomb being transported to the Bomb Dump (RAAF Ammunition Store Area) in the Pentland Hills.

A photograph of Airforce Person, Roy Holloway sitting in a wheel burrow with a dog at the Bomb Dump in the Pentland Hills. Taken during World War II.

Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.

Read about the day a 1000 pound bomb slipped off a truck at the corner of Grant Street and Main Street creating a new interesting challenge for the local community. What happened next? Check out our Facebook page now.