About Hugh Scanlan

Hugh was born in Brisbane Queensland in 1880 to Michael and Margaret Scanlan. He attended St. Joseph’s School at Nudgee in Brisbane.

Broome Connection

Hugh’s father Michael Joseph Scanlan was a pearler in Broome from around 1903 and owned a number of luggers.

War Service

Hugh enlisted for the AIF in February 1915, while he was in New South Wales and was posted to the 18th Battalion, 5th Brigade. The unit embarked from Sydney aboard the A40 Ceramic in June and disembarked from Alexandria in July. On August 16th Scanlan proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli.  Six days later while at Anzac he was taken to the 4th Field Ambulance with abrasions and shock but returned to duty on the Gallipoli Peninsula on August 28. After the evacuation of Gallipoli the battalion proceeded to Marseilles in March. Hugh was promoted to Temporary Corporal in August, and then to Corporal in November. A brief period of convalescence was granted to Hugh over the Christmas period as he had fallen ill with bronchitis and rheumatism. On the 3rd May the battalion was in action at Bullecourt and Hugh was killed outright by a shell.

Enlistment Details

Newspaper Articles

Other Online Resources

View Hugh Scanlan at the National Archives of Australia
View Hugh Scanlan at the Australian War Memorial
View Hugh Scanlan Red Cross Files