The AIF Project

Herbert SANLON

Regimental number2807
Place of birthKorumburra, Victoria
True NameSCANLON, Herbert
ReligionMethodist
OccupationFarmer
Address452 High Street, Preston, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 5.5"
Weight137 lbs
Next of kinBrother, Frederick Sanlon, Emu Railway Station, Emu, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date16 July 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name22nd Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/39/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 27 October 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll59th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 16 October 1916
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Allotted to and proceeded to join 57th Bn, 23 February 1916; joined Bn, Tel el Kebir, same day.

Admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital, 29 February 1916 (dental problem).

Transferred to 59th Bn, 15 March 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Admitted to 15th Field Ambulance, 6 July 1916 (periostitis of elbow: accidental injury); transferred to 12th Casualty Clearing Station, 8 July 1916; discharged and rejoined unit, in the field, 13 July 1916.

Wounded in action, 19 July 1916 (shell shock); admitted to 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 20 July 1916, and trnsferred to Ambulance Train; admitted to No 1 Convalescent Hospital, Boulogne, 21 July 1916; discharged to Base Details, 3 August 1916.

Admitted to 26th General Hospital, Etaples, 13 August 1916 (influenza); transferred to England, 22 August 1916 (nephritis), and admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital, Dudley Road; discharged from hospital, 16 October 1916 (nephritis, gun shot wound, slight).

Commenced return to Australia from Southampton on board HS 'Karoola', 16 October 1916; disembarked Melbourne, 2 December 1916; discharged (medically unfit), Melbourne, 12 February 1917.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Declared by Statutory Declaration, 7 January 1919, that his true name was Herbert SCANLAN and that his true age at Attestation was 17 years 10 months.

After the war Scanlon embarked on a career as a writer, eventually publishing some 17 short collections of short stories, poems and the occasional humorous episode. While many of the stories are standard trench experience accounts, a number are written with sensitivity and passion. The booklets were sold for one shilling by door-to-door salesmen, ex-servicemen whom Scanlon claimed he had selected for their
Date of death26 December 1936
SourcesNAA: B2455, SANLON Herbert

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.