CALLIGAN (CALLAGHAN), Hugh Joseph Bentley
| Service Number: | 674 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 December 1916, Sydney, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Machine Gun Company |
| Born: | Petersham, NSW, 16 May 1894 |
| Home Town: | Auburn, Auburn, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Cooks' Hill High School Newcastle |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Hangard Wood, France, 9 April 1918, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bank of New South Wales Roll of Honour Book, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Dec 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 674, 5th Machine Gun Company, Sydney, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Jun 1917: | Involvement Private, 674, 5th Machine Gun Company, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Jun 1917: | Embarked Private, 674, 5th Machine Gun Company, HMAT Suevic, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
HUGH JOSEPH BENTLEY CALLAGHAN, the son of Mr. Hugh J. Callaghan and Mrs. Annie Callaghan, was born at Petersham, New South Wales, on 16th May, 1894. He was educated at Cooks’ Hill High School, Newcastle, and showed an inclination for military work at an early age, holding the rank of sergeant in the School Cadets when only twelve years old.
He entered the service of the Bank on 1st June, 1911, at Millthorpe, and was transferred to Crookwell in the following year, and to Cooma in August, 1914. He enlisted in November, 1916, and was promoted to the rank of corporal within a month. On 21st June, 1917, he left on the “Suevic,” attaining the rank of sergeant on embarkation.
Before leaving Australia he had been offered clerical work in the army, and similar opportunities were offered him on joining his unit; but his old love of military work persisted, and he took his place in the line, and met his death in Hangard Wood, France, on 9th April, 1918, when the Australians were holding up the advancing Germans.
His battalion was supporting the 19th Infantry Battalion, who were momentarily retiring under terrific fire. After the retirement had been safely effected, Sergeant Callaghan went out with Lieut. Coolahan to form posts and to get the dispositions of the enemy's guns. Lieut. Coolahan fell, shot through the lungs. Sergeant Callaghan rushed to the trenches for assistance, but owing to the intense enemy fire decided to return and effect the rescue alone, and was himself seriously wounded before ,he could achieve his purpose.
Several attempts were made from the adjacent trenches to aid him, but he realized that his wound was fatal, and begged his comrades not to expose themselves to useless danger. His gallant action was highly commended. The officer whose life he had gallantly attempted to save, was eventually taken prisoner by the enemy, and also died from the effect of his wounds some three weeks later.
Source Bank of NSW Roll of Honour
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