Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Hannibal Sloan

1871 ‐ 1945

Hannibal Sloan was born on 11 May 1871 in Kilmore, Victoria. He was the eldest of eight children. His father was John Sloan and his mother was Isabel Whyte. The family later lived in Molesworth.

By 1888, Hab had enlisted in the Colonial Military Force of Victoria, serving some 22 years with them and the New South Wales Military Force and the Commonwealth Military Force as a Private, Non-Commissioned Officer and Warrant Officer. In 1900 he was appointed to the Permanent Staff, as a third-class colour sergeant instructor, attached to the Seventh Regiment known as the St. George’s Rifles.

Hab married Martha Jane O’Donnell in 1900 in Newtown and lived at 194 Hampden Road, Artarmon.

Hannibal was involved in a court case in 1910 involving a person named Piggott, to do with a shooting competition in New Zealand. The newspaper stated “Hannibal Sloan, sergeant‐major and instructor to St. George’s Rifles, stated that on the day following the last stage of the King’s match, Piggott received £100 in notes at the pay window. Afterward, the £100 was returned and he was led to believe it came from Piggott.” More evidence was given, but the case was extended for a week and the verdict was not noted.

In 1915 he was awarded The Permanent Forces of the Empire's Beyond the Seas Long Service Medal.

On 19th August 1915, aged 44 years, Hab was commissioned in the Australian Imperial Force with the rank of Captain and was posted as Adjutant to the 30th Infantry Battalion, embarking on 9th November 1915 at Sydney aboard ''HMAT Beltana A72'' for the Middle East. The battalion arrived at Suez, where they disembarked on 11th December 1915, and by 19th July 1916, the 30th Battalion headed for the Western Front, where their first major battle was at Fromelles on 19th July 1916. Initially tasked with carrying parties for supplies and ammunition, the Battalion was soon drawn into the battle and was involved in vicious fighting. After that battle, the Battalion was rotated in and out of the front line but was not involved in any major offensives for the rest of the year. On 4th October 1916, Hab was promoted to Major.

He was admitted to hospital with bronchitis on 23rd December 1916, re‐joining the 30th Battalion on 10th January 1917 from the NZ Stationary Hospital at Amiens. He was seconded for duty with the 8th Infantry Training Battalion in England on 1st February 1917. On 25th February 1917, he was admitted to Fovant Hospital at Hurdcott, being sick. He marched into the 8th Training Battalion at Hurdcott on 17th March 1917. A Medical Board at Tidworth on 15th October 1917 found him permanently unfit for general service and unfit for home service for six months. He was to be invalided to Australia. He returned to Australia on 25th November 1917 aboard ''HMAT Ormonde''. He was recommended for a decoration on 23rd July 1916. On 16th April 1918, Hab was found unfit for further service at Sydney. His appointment was terminated on 20th April 1918.

After the war, Hab published a book, ''The Purple and Gold: a History of the 30th Battalion, compiled by H. Sloan''. He was an active member of the 30th Battalion Association, including serving a term as President. Hab wrote an article in ''Reveille'' in September 1935, an obituary for Sergeant Robert Barnes, who had served with the New South Wales Lancers in the Zulu War and was with the 1st Field Ambulance on Lemnos during the First World War's Gallipoli Campaign.

Aged 74 years and having been widowed for four years, Hab passed away on 10th August 1945 in Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, on Sydney's North Shore Hannibal, of 194 Hampden Road, Artarmon, (late 1st 30th Battalion, and A.I.F) Privately cremated." He was survived by his daughter, Edith.