Oskar Hansen
513A Pte. Oskar Hansen MM was born 19th February 1890 in Odder, Jutland, Denmark to Johanes S. Hansen. He arrived in Melbourne from East Africa via India on the SSGracchus on 12th January 1914.
Oskar was living at Bayview Guest House at Cowes and his occupation was listed as planter when he enlisted in Melbourne on 13th October 1916 with the 8/6th Machine Gun Company. He was also naturalized on the 13th October.
He left on the HMAT Medic on the 16th December 1916 and disembarked on the 18th February 1917 at Plymouth.
They were sent out to the Machine Gun Training Depot, Belton Park, Lincolnshire on 23rd February 1917.
Oskar proceeded overseas to France from Folkestone on 27th April 1917 to reinforce the 22nd Machine Gun Company and was taken on strength with the 4th Machine Gun Company, part of the 4th Brigade, on 5th May 1917.
They took part in the Battle of Messines on 7thJune and the Battle of Polygon Wood in September.
The 4th Machine Gun Company left the 4th Brigade to join 4th Machine Gun Battalion, part of the 4th Division in February 1918.
The Fourth Division was rushed to the Somme region to stem the German Spring Offensive and the 4th Machine Gun Battalion took part in the Battles of Hebuterne and Dernancourt.
The Battle of Hamel followed in July with Lieutenant General John Monash in charge of the Australian Corps for the first time.
The 100 Days Offensive was the final Allied offensive and the Battalion took part in the Battles of Amiens and Epehy and the Hindenberg Line.
Oskar was awarded the Military Medal on 14th May 1918, for bravery in the field during action between Monument Wood and Villers-Bretonneux, France.
He was discharged from the AIF in London on 30th August 1919. His last known place of residence was New Compton Street, 65, West End, London.