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From Ballarat & District in the Great War

Lt Col (WWII)/Capt (WWI) Hugh Marcell Conran

Starting a new story is a little like a lucky dip – you really never know what you are going to find until all the pieces fall into place. That was certainly the case with Hugh Conran – and what a ripper of a tale it turned out to be!

Now, many names in Ballarat’s Avenue of Honour have only tenuous connections to the city. Some are so obscure as to be non-existent. Others require a little digging to reveal the source…

Hugh Marcell Conran was one of those rare folk who were born at sea – he arrived onboard the Merchant Marine vessel, Gallia, on 9 July 1889. He was duly baptised at South Brent in Devon on 13 August. The birth was registered in London.

Delving into Hugh Conran’s family was a genealogist’s delight! His mother was Catherine Sarah McLeod, who came from good Scottish pioneering stock. She named her first-born son for her father, Hugh Lawrence MacLeod, who was a pioneer settler and owner of Benyeo Station near Apsley. (Benyeo Homestead, where Catherine McLeod was born in 1863, is now protected by the National Trust as a building of significance).

Catherine’s lineage came from the beautiful Isle of Coll in the Inner Hebrides and Talisker on the romantic Isle of Skye. Her grandfather, Donald MacLeod, was recognised as the “6th of Talisker” and served as a major in the 56th Regiment of Foot. Talisker had been in the possession of Clan MacLeod for centuries, but after selling his share in Talisker, Donald MacLeod sailed for Van Diemen’s Land.

This was not the only connection Hugh Conran had to this famous regiment…

His father, Lewis Charles Conran, came from a long and distinguished line of military men. He was born in the small village of Hopton in Suffolk in 1818. However, the Conran family stretched back many generations in Ireland, and was mostly centred around Dublin. The Anglicized form of the surname is a diminutive of the Gaelic Ó Conaráin.
Lewis’ father, James Samuel Conran, held a commission in the British Army and served under General Charles Cornwallis, the Duke of Wellington and Lieutenant-Colonel George Harris. His regiments included the 17th, 22nd and 25th Light Dragoons, and the 52nd Regiment. He spent 22-years in the East Indies and was present at both sieges of Seringapatam (5 Feb – 18 Mar 1792 and 5 Apr – 4 May 1799) during the Anglo-Mysore Wars (between the British East Indian Company and the Kingdom of Mysore). Lewis’ brothers were also army officers: James William was a lieutenant in the 64th Regiment of the Bengal Infantry; Henry Marcell Conran served as a major with the Bengal Artillery; William Adam was a captain with the 56th Regiment of Foot; and Marcell Conran was a major with the 56th Foot and saw service during the Crimean War and in India during the mutiny of 1857 (although his regiment remained in Bombay and was not deployed for active service).

Henry Pole Conran, Lewis’ grandfather, who was born in Ireland, was an a major in the British Army. He served as aide-de-camp and private secretary to Warren Hastings, Governor-General of the East India Company (1780-85). Henry was married to Jane Mary Marcell (born Waterford, Ireland) – this was the origin of Hugh Conran’s second given name of Marcell. Her father, Lewis Marcell, was also an army officer; he was born in Languedoc in France. Her grandfather, Antoine Marcell, a French Huguenot, was killed during the Battle of the Boyne on 1 July 1690 near the town of Drogheda, as part of the army of William III.

Henry Lewis Conran (Lewis’ uncle) rose to the rank of lieutenant-general, and served with several regiments, beginning his career with the 49th Foot. He served in India, the Mediterranean, the West Indies, Canada and, most notably, during the Napoleonic Wars. He was Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica from 1821 to 1827.

This military tradition continued forward with Hugh’s cousin, Marcell William Townend Conran, serving as a British chaplain in the Great War and was decorated with the Military Cross. Marcell Conran’s brother, Owen Mostyn Conran, was a major attached to the Royal Flying Corps when he was killed in action on 29 July 1917.

With this rich ancestry, it was inevitable that Lewis Conran would follow the military life. He served with the 56th Regiment of Foot in Canada and Jamaica. In the 1840’s he was in charge of a batch of convicts sent to Norfolk Island and lived through the ‘stirring times’ of the ‘Cooking Pot Uprising,’ that, after the murder of four officials, led to the execution of twelve prisoners. The punishment was overseen by the new commandant of Norfolk, John Giles Price, who Lewis Conran ‘always held…was a just and right-minded man, although a strict disciplinarian.’

Lewis continued his career in Tasmania, before coming to Victoria just before the discovery of gold in 1851. As Aide-de-Camp to Governor Charles La Trobe and Sergeant-at-Arms to the first Victorian Assembly, Lewis cemented his position in the new colony.

In 1852, after returning to England, Lewis concentrated on a position as lieutenant-colonel of the Hampshire Regiment. He had married his first wife, Catherine Spencer Wills, on 12 February 1850. (It is highly unlikely that Lewis was aware that she was actually the granddaughter of Edward Spencer Wills, a convicted highwayman who was transported to Sydney in 1799).

Together, Lewis and Catherine raised five children – three of whom were born in England.

After resigning his commission, Lewis moved his family to Guernsey in the Channel Islands, where their youngest child and only daughter died on 22 December 1864.

Overall, their life was comfortable: they lived at Cambridge Terrace on Cambridge Park Road in the island’s capital of St Peter Port, and were cared for by three servants.

The eldest son, Henry, had already continued the family’s military tradition and was a midshipman in the Royal Navy. (As an aside, his son, Eric Lewis Conran, would later join the Royal Flying Corps early in the Great War and was credited with being the first Australian decorated with the Military Cross).

Moving back to Victoria, Lewis settled his family at Barrabool Hills, a farming area at Highton outside Geelong.

The death of his wife Catherine on 27 August 1884, left Lewis a lonely widower. Hence the late marriage to Catherine MacLeod on 25 April 1888. At 70, Lewis was considerably older than his 25-year-old bride. Indeed, he was several months older than her own father.
Nevertheless, it proved to be a fruitful union, with the arrival of their son, Hugh Marcell, followed by a second son, Noel MacLeod, on 24 November 1891.

Catherine was heavily pregnant with their third child, when Lewis suffered a stroke and died at the family home, Barrabool House, on 10 January 1893. His daughter, Enid Lewis, was born on 9 February.

Hugh’s early years were spent in Geelong. After the death of his father, the family moved into Herne Hill in Newtown. Catherine enrolled her sons at Haileybury College in East Brighton.

Interestingly, the original Haileybury College, near Hertford in England, had been established by the East India Company in 1862 – given the boys ancestral connections to the company, this was decidedly apt.
At the end of 1907, Hugh successfully sat for the Junior Public Examination.

Moving to Ballarat, the Conran’s initially lived at 125 Raglan Street. Life was comfortable. They worshipped at the Christ Church Cathedral in Lydiard Street, alongside some of Ballarat’s finest families.

Deciding to pursue a career in the mining industry, Hugh enrolled at the Ballarat School of Mines (SMB) in 1909. Over the next three years he took subjects that would qualify him as an assayer and chemist – he studied practical, technical and theoretical chemistry, electricity, mineralogy, assaying, metallurgy, dynamic and heat, applied mechanics, mine surveying, algebra, sound and light, and geology.

Whilst at SMB, Hugh became firm friends with Les Coulter (q.v.). The pair had been born just eleven days apart, with Hugh being able to claim a tongue-in-cheek seniority. They represented SMB in athletics and football together, playing alongside Arthur “Algy” Lilburne and Reg Callister (q.v.).

As members of the 7th Australian Infantry Regiment, Hugh and Les were quickly earmarked as officer material.

Both were also members of the Ballarat City Rowing Club and they represented the club together in the maiden pairs of the Victorian Rowing Association’s annual regatta held in December 1909. Hugh was also stroke for the maiden eight, but a bout of influenza hampered his training in the lead up to an event at Colac.

Hugh continued his rowing success during his time at Ballarat. At the regattas held at Ballarat and Barwon in 1910, he was stroke for the maiden and junior eight. As vice-captain of the club in 1911, he performed well in the maiden and junior sculls at the Ballarat Regatta, placing third in each race.

Rowing was particularly popular in those pre-war years and even the local military unit could produce a competitive regatta. A meet was held on Lake Wendouree in 1909; Hugh stroked the eight from H Company, with Les Coulter’s brother, Graham, in the number five seat. They were beaten into second place by just a canvas. Hugh also rowed with Eddie Kerby (q.v.) and Dave Muir in the fours. Given how much time Hugh spent on the water, it is hardly surprising that he was also a good competitive swimmer.

Hugh was a keen amateur photographer and a member of the Ballarat Camera Club, which met at the YMCA rooms in Camp Street. There are apparently some examples of his work from this time still in existence – glass slides with images of Lake Wendouree.

At the Lydiard Street Methodist Church (Wesley), on 3 May 1911, Hugh stood up as best man for Eddie Kerby when he married Rosina May Prisk. Nelson Wellington (q.v.) was groomsman. The trio of young men were then lieutenants in the 7th Regiment. After the ceremony, the couple passed through the ‘customary “arch of steel”’ which was formed by the swords of the officers from the 7th AIR.

In 1912, the re-organisation of citizen military units to implement the Universal Training Scheme saw the 7th Regiment divided and expanded to become the 70th and 71st Infantry Regiments. Hugh continued as a lieutenant with the 71st Infantry, which was henceforth known as the “City of Ballarat” Regiment. His commanding officer was Major George Morton (q.v.). Hugh was very much a part of the fabric of Ballarat by this stage.

In January 1913, results of examinations set by the Regimental School of Instruction and held at Ballarat the previous December were announced. Hugh had achieved the second highest mark for the theoretical paper with 87 marks. His practical test let him down slightly, scoring just 72, lowering his pass to a good standard.

To pursue his career, Hugh needed to follow the work – mining in Ballarat was on the decline, with few opportunities for a qualified assayer. So, when Hugh gained a position with a mining company at Broken Hill, the offer was too good to pass. News of his impending departure was greeted with sadness by the officers and men of the 71st Infantry. On 12 March 1913, the officers of the regiment gathered to give him a formal farewell.

Whilst little is known of Hugh’s employment in Broken Hill – other than it utilised his skills as an assayer and mineral chemist – his military life continued to blossom. His official transfer to the 81st (Wakefield) Infantry (an area that covered and extended part of South Australia through into New South Wales) was confirmed on 16 August 1913. He was second in regimental seniority only to Lieutenant Arthur Alfred Heinicke, of Moonta. The formal announcement appeared in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 18 October, with Hugh taking on the added responsibility of Area Officer.

At the end of December 1913, Hugh attended a six-day refresher course that was held at the Mount Barker Military School.

Hugh also performed the duties of drum major for the Broken Hill City Band, producing just the right degree of flourish when marching at the head of the musicians. He also joined the Voluntary Engineers’ Rifle Club and became the first president of the Voluntary Engineers’ Corps also acting as their instructional officer.

After the declaration of war in August 1914, Hugh took charge of the volunteers at Broken Hill for two months after Lieutenant Herbert William Gepp enlisted in the AIF and underwent a course of training at Fort Largs with the 12th Field Company Engineers.

Hugh put the men through a preliminary course of infantry training that would prove beneficial to their prospective chances as recruits with the AIF. They would fall in at the Barrier Boys’ Brigade Hall before proceeding to the Proprietary Paddock where they would drill for three hours, concentrating on lines of marching movements and formations. This was interspersed by route marches. In appreciation the men presented him with a tobacco pouch, decorated with a gold disc engraved with his initials.

As area officer at Broken Hill, Hugh also presided over the Broken Hill Volunteer Engineers’ Rifle Club. And in the initial stages of the war, he also did duty as enrolling officer.

On 13 September, the annual parade and memorial service held to honour the men who fell during the Boer War was held at Broken Hill. Hugh Conran, as commander of the local military forces, had charge of the parade and martialled the men into procession.

Thousands of people gathered to witness the occasion and stood silently to hear the chaplain’s address. Rev E. T. Pryor concluded his oration by quoting Henry Newbolt’s poem, "Vitaï Lampada" – the torch of life.
‘…There's a breathless hush in the Close to-night—

Ten to make and the match to win—
A bumping pitch and a blinding light,
An hour to play and the last man in.
And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat,
Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,
But his captain's hand on his shoulder smote
"Play up! play up! and play the game!"
The sand of the desert is sodden red,—
Red with the wreck of a square that broke;—
The Gatling's jammed and the Colonel dead,
And the regiment blind with dust and smoke.
The river of death has brimmed his banks,
And England's far, and Honour a name,
But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks:
"Play up! play up! and play the game!"
This is the word that year by year,
While in her place the school is set,
Every one of her sons must hear,
And none that hears it dare forget.
This they all with a joyful mind
Bear through life like a torch in flame,
And falling fling to the host behind—
"Play up! play up! and play the game!"…’

These words would become a painful and poignant tribute to many a young man over the coming years.
A minor skirmish in November 1914, was to make news all around the country. Members of the local militia ‘dressed in full regimentals and with bayonets fixed’ marched in pairs escorting men ‘of foreign appearance’ to the Broken Hill police station. The men then were removed to a ‘German prisoner of war settlement’ on Torrens Island. Hugh handled the tense situation with diplomacy and authority.

‘…Lieutenant H. M. Conran, when questioned why these seven men, and no others, were in custody, stated that he did not think he was empowered to make any explanation respecting their arrest and
transportation. He also added that, in his opinion, if such information were derived from another source it would be unadvisable to publish it without the consent of the authorities. He was not prepared to give such consent himself…’

On 2 January 1915, Hugh’s engagement to Edith Robina Cooke was announced. Edith, who was born in Ballarat East on 12 December 1886, was the daughter of John Phillip Cooke, bank manager of the Ballarat branch of the State Savings Bank.

After Bert Gepp was released from the army to undertake important work on behalf of the Hughes Government, Hugh Conran saw his way clear to enlist himself. He left for Adelaide onboard the evening express on 29 April 1915, to take up his commission as a lieutenant with the 23rd Infantry Battalion.

Aged two months shy of his 26th birthday, Hugh was in the peak of physical condition – he was just short of 6-feet tall and weighed 11-stone 10-pounds, with an expanded chest measurement of 38½-inches. With his high standard of education and holding a current position as Area Officer (82A), Hugh was deemed ideal officer material.

By this time, Hugh’s mother, Catherine and his sister, Enid, had moved to 215 Drummond Street north. Enid had qualified as a nurse, whilst his brother, Noel, had left Ballarat to manage a station in Queensland.

The 23rd Battalion was notably commanded by a substantial number of Ballarat officers – when Hugh Conran sailed onboard HMAT Euripides, leaving Melbourne on 10 May 1915, he was third officer of C Company after Captain William Brazenor (q.v.) and Lieutenant Duncan Beith – both of Ballarat.

They were still at sea when Hugh was taken ill with bronchitis and influenza. Unfortunately, the condition was to continue to cause him problems and he was admitted to hospital in Heliopolis after reaching Egypt. A further infection resulted in him being hospitalised at the No1 General Hospital at the end of July, effectively delaying his deployment to Gallipoli. A bout of dysentery further complicated the situation and it wasn’t until 20 September that he was transferred to the Convalescent Depot at Ras-el-Tin.

Whilst his health was to continue to cause issues, he was finally able to join his unit at ANZAC on 25 October. They were then in reserve at Brown’s Dip, but formed part of a rotational garrison covering the trenches at Lone Pine. Hugh found himself facing the Turks in the frontline a day later.

Meanwhile, his brother, Noel, had enlisted 3 September 1915, and sailed with reinforcements to the 6th Light Horse Regiment. (Keen to join his brother, Noel transferred to 23rd Battalion on 15 February 1916).

When Captain Frank Morris was evacuated suffering from the strain of frontline duty, Hugh Conran was promoted to the temporary rank of captain on 8 December. However, within days, his weak chest resulted in a further attack of influenza and he too was evacuated. He was admitted to the No3 Australian General Hospital at Mudros, on the Greek Island of Lemnos, three days before Christmas. He immediately reverted to the rank of lieutenant.

After travelling back to Egypt onboard the Carisbrook Castle, Hugh was admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Heliopolis on 11 January, before transferring to the Convalescent Depot at Helouan.
Finally, on 21 January, he was discharged to duty and rejoined his unit then stationed at Tel-el-Kebir. He was soon to be reunited with his brother.

While still patrolling the Canal Zone, Hugh was promoted to captain on 24 February. In replying to a long-delayed letter from W. L. Pike, secretary of the Voluntary Engineers’ Rifle Club at Broken Hill, Hugh wrote,
‘…Have just received your letter dated May 5th 1915, notifying me of the kindly gift which your club was pleased to make me. I need not say how pleased I am to accept the same, although I do not need anything like that to make me remember the good old times we had together. I very often think of our Monday and Wednesday night drills, and oftener still wish I could have you all in my company. We are right out in the desert here, with nothing but sand in sight anywhere. But we have tents, and are very comfortable and quite happy. It is a pleasant change after Anzac, though we had a lot of fun over there, too. So far 'Jacko' has not turned up here, though we are hoping to see him daily. Hope you will excuse this scrawl, which I hope you can read, but sitting on the floor is not the best position for writing. I have to rise at 4 a.m. to-morrow to visit the outposts, so am turning in early to-night…’
The letter had taken nearly a year to reach him!
Just three weeks after receiving his captaincy, Hugh was on his way to France.

The 23rd Battalion was inspected by Edward, Prince of Wales, and General William Birdwood on a ‘very dusty and windy day’ at Moascar on 18 March. The men left by train the following day, bound for Alexandria, where the unit was divided across three transports – the Caledonia, City of Edinburgh and Lake Michigan – to make the dangerous Mediterranean crossing.

After settling in the far north of France, the 23rd Battalion was deployed in the forward trenches of the Armentières sector. It was a comparatively gentle start on the Western Front. But far worse was to follow.

The Australians quickly developed a fearsome reputation in one of the most dangerous activities on the Western Front – trench raids. Done under the cloak of darkness, and completed at lightning speed, the raids were seen as a way of gathering vital intelligence whilst inflicting damage in the process. It was often mentioned that the AIF had a uniquely brutal and efficient approach to this daring type of warfare.

On the night of the 29/30 June 1916, at Rue-du-Bois, Hugh Conran led a party from his battalion on one such raid. The full party, the largest raid thus far conducted, consisted of 252 men drawn from the 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th Battalions. Amongst Hugh’s men was his own brother, Noel.

They entered the German line in three places, but immediately encountered difficulties when it was found that the barbed wire entanglements had not been sufficiently cut. However, they were able to push through, spending just 8-minutes carrying out their attack. It was declared a successful operation – they were supported by the artillery and trench mortars, which inflicted considerable damage. It was estimated that 80 Germans were killed, with five taken prisoner. The 23rd escaped with minimal casualties – at role call it was found that one man had been killed – Corporal Harry Drysdale Graham, from Doncaster; four wounded and another, Private Hector George Ashby, from Stanley in Victoria, was found to be missing. He was later declared as killed in action, having last been seen in No Man’s Land during the raid. Their bodies were never recovered.

Part of Hugh’s role was to write letters to the families of fallen men – Margaret Graham received one such letter, in which Hugh had revealed that her husband was one of his NCO’s during the raid.

‘…One night last week we raided the German trenches with a picked body of men from the whole battalion. I was the captain in charge of the party, and he was the corporal in charge of the storming party that was to take one portion of the enemy trench. His party had successfully stormed the trench, and had reached its objective, in spite of considerable opposition from the enemy. He had just sent a runner to let me know, when a shell or a bomb (we are not quite sure which) burst right on him.

I looked upon him as one of the best N.C.O.'s of my party, and was certain that his work would be well done. He was a brave and efficient soldier, and I would like you to know that he died a soldier's death, fighting bravely. That the raid was highly successful was largely due to your husband's dash and bravery.

I hope sincerely that knowing this will make your loss a little easier to bear…’

In Routine Orders published on 1 July 1916, Major-General William Birdwood made special mention of Hugh Conran’s leadership. At this stage, Hugh was completely unaware that he had been Mentioned in Despatches.

The 23rd Battalion was soon on the move.

At 10pm on 26 July, the men reached the reserve trenches at Pozieres. Around 2:30 the next morning, they moved forward into the close reserve trenches. Then, at 9:30pm on 28 July, they moved to the jumping off tape in preparation for the coming attack.

Around midnight B, C and D Companies linked up (A Coy was in reserve) and after quickly reaching their objective near the Orchard and the Cemetery, they began to dig in. Heavy morning fog facilitated their work and helped to cover their movement, but the enemy shelled the area with shrapnel shells causing multiple casualties, with 69 men killed. These included several Ballarat and district men – Major Eric Brind, Edwin Clifford, Henry Rupert Cocks, Richard Baxter Copeland, Lindsay Joseph Edward Earles, Charles Herbert Harrop, Charles Thomas Hill, Neil MacDonald, and Robert John McHenry. Hugh Conran was amongst the numerous casualties, suffering a gunshot wound to his left arm. Figures would later show that the six weeks fighting at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm would cost the 23rd Battalion almost 90 per cent of its original members.

Sadly, Noel Conran was listed as missing.
After being treated at the 1st Australian Field Ambulance, Hugh was immediately transferred to the British run 44th Casualty Clearing Station at Puchevillers. The following day he was loaded onto an ambulance train and taken to the Red Cross Hospital at Le Touquet.

Despite the wound being regarded as slight, it was decided to evacuate Hugh to England. He sailed onboard the Hospital Ship Dieppe on 2 August and was admitted to the 1st Eastern General (Research) Hospital at Cambridge later the same day.

Although Hugh was discharged from hospital on 30 August, his health was far from robust. The Medical Officer in Command of the High Beach Auxiliary Hospital, Charles Heaton, wrote, ‘[Captain Conran] has been under my care for bronchial catarrh and insomnia. His general condition is improved but he is still unequal to strain.’

Adding to that strain was the almost certain knowledge that his brother was dead.

As reports were gathered it quickly became obvious that Noel Conran had been killed. Private Harold Selleck (1556) saw Noel hit by a shell and immediately ran to his assistance, but a piece of the shell had passed straight through him, killing him ‘almost immediately.’ Selleck described him with great accuracy. Lieutenant George Hinchliffe confirmed the evidence and Private Vincent Smith (2787) added that the body was buried by a salvage party from the 21st Battalion near the cemetery at Pozieres.

Despite this information reaching Catherine Conran, who had moved to the city of Nuwara Eliya in the tea country hills of central Ceylon (Sri Lanka) with her daughter, no confirming action was taken. This took a distressing turn when Catherine contacted Base Records in October 1916, stating that she had not received notifications regarding her sons’ casualties. She received a contrite and apologetic letter in response:
‘…I have to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 9th ultimo, and regret that you were not advised from this office as to the casualties of your sons, the Casualty Section being under the impression that advises to India and Ceylon would be sent direct from the London or Egyptian Offices as the case may be. I regret very much that they should have occurred and have issued such instructions as will prevent a repetition in the future…’

By this stage, Hugh had been discharged to the No1 Command Depot at Perham Downs and a decision had been made to repatriate him home to Australian for a “change.” He sailed from Portland on 12 November.

During the voyage on the Wiltshire, it was noted that Hugh’s condition had changed very little. The wound to his arm caused him no ongoing issue, but he was clearly suffering from significant post traumatic stress and experienced sleeplessness, frequent headaches, and exaggerated knee jerks. His appetite was only fair.

As the Wiltshire neared Australia, Matthew Baird (q.v.), from Ballarat, wrote to Base Records asking for an approximate date of arrival – ‘as he was a brother officer of mine in the 23rd, and he is also a Ballarat boy, hence my interest in his arrival.’

Hugh finally reached Melbourne on New Year’s Eve. He was admitted to the 11th Australian General Hospital in Caulfield – the former home of the Ricketson family in Kooyong Road, known as Glen Eira. He remained there for three weeks before being discharged for ‘home treatment,’ still plagued by bronchitis and breathing trouble caused by adenoids and a deviated septum.

Taking leave from hospital, Hugh married his fiancée, Edith Cooke, at St Andrew’s Kirk, Ballarat, on 10 January 1917. Reverend John Walker, who had already lost two of his sons, performed the service. Mindful of the ongoing situation of the war, the couple chose to celebrate quietly. It was, nevertheless, a full military wedding, with Hugh Conran supported by two fellow officers from Ballarat, Reverend Walker’s son, Captain John Stuart Dight Walker, and Lieutenant Henry Tunstall Eggington, both recently returned from the Front. Sadly, Walker was to be the third son of John and Jessie Walker to be killed during the war.

‘…The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a graceful gown of soft white satin ninon and silver lace corsage, the train arranged from the shoulders with very pretty effect. The draped skirt was finished at the foot with lace and tiny ninon posies. A bouquet, of exquisite white flowers was carried, and a lovely tulle veil was worn (lent by Mrs. A. A. MacLeod, a friend of the bride).

The bridesmaids were Miss Florence [Florrie] E. Cooke (sister of the bride) and Miss Dorothy W. Daniel. They both wore handsome frocks of white crepe de chene, with ninon corsage and crimson bands showing through. Their hats were of black panne velvet, also trimmed with Capt. Conran's regimental colours (crimson and brown), and they carried pretty bouquets. These, with their pearl rings, were the gifts of the bridegroom…’

Hugh gave his bride a signet ring and combined card-case and purse of brass beaten with gold and silver.
While the couple signed the register, Miss Aileen Rogers (a pupil of Dame Nellie Melba) rendered ‘a very sweet song.’

Concern over the delay in further information regarding his brother’s fate prompted Hugh Conran to contact Base Records on 15 May 1917 on behalf of his mother. She had received no update, no information regarding personal effects or anything regarding deferred pay. Since returning to Australia, Hugh had heard news that he had been Mentioned in Despatches. The reply (dated 23 May) stated that the most recent update was a Court of Enquiry held on 25 September 1916, which found that Noel Conran was “still missing.” It was further claimed that they had been unable to forward a copy of the honour ‘gained by you at Gallipoli (sic)’ due to a lack of definite address. The letter was promptly sent…

‘…I have much pleasure in forwarding herewith copy of extract from Routine Order dated 1st July, 1916, relating to the conspicuous services rendered by Captain H. M. Conran, 23rd Battalion.

------ COMPLIMENTARY -----
“On the night of the 29/30th June. A raid on a bigger scale than any of our previous raids was carried out by a selected party: strength 1 company, from all Battalions of the 6th Australian Infantry Brigade.
The Divisional Artillery and Corps Heavy Artillery gave effectual support to the raiders.

The enemy trenches were entered at three places in square 1.21 c. The right and centre parties met strong opposition in the enemy trenches, and had no time to take prisoners. The left party met with less resistance, and brought away 5 prisoners. It is estimated that the raiders killed 80 Germans, including 2 officers.
One of the officers taking part in the raid was: -
Captain H. M. CONRAN, 23rd Battalion.”

Hugh Conran’s appointment in the AIF was terminated on 16 May 1917. He was immediately granted an increase in pension (as was his wife) – they were then receiving a total of £3/3/9 a fortnight – this amount was halved on 3 January 1918. During this period, they were living at The Waldorf Hotel in Fitzroy Street, St Kilda.

Although grand-sounding, the small Edwardian property was quite ordinary.

On the same day that Hugh’s pension was demonstrably reduced, it was officially confirmed that his brother had indeed been killed in action at Pozieres on 28 July 1916. This information would, inexplicably, not be conveyed to the family for a further three months.

Hugh worked as a metallurgical chemist and clerk after leaving the army, although he was still officially listed as a soldier. He and Edith settled in a substantial home in Kensington Road, Toorak (now designated South Yarra), where they awaited the birth of their first and only child. Little Robina Ida (known as Robin) was born at Sister Annear’s Private Hospital in Armadale, on 7 July 1919.

In 1921, Hugh took up a soldier settlement block at Red Cliffs near Mildura. The process began on 26 March, with the application for a lease made on 17 August. Whilst waiting for approval, Hugh worked at the Red Cliffs Nursery. He held a certificate in irrigation which was a bonus when it came to fruit growing in the area.

At the time he owned a block of land at Prahran, (it was worth about £480 and was under offer of sale). His other assets including 25 shares in the British Broken Hill Mining Company and 240 shares in the Broken Hill Gas Company; he also held a £100 War Loan Bond. This all added to the likelihood of him making a success of the new venture. The lease was granted on 2 January 1922.

His new life as a viticulturist was about to begin.
Hugh immediately became a major contributor to the Red Cliffs Fruit Growers’ Association.

In January 1924, he was part of a committee to report on a direct marketing scheme for fresh gordo blanco or white muscat grapes.

On 25 November 1925, the registration of the new fruit growing business of Humphreys and Conran Proprietary Limited was announced. Hugh’s partner was Thomas James Henry Hume-Humphreys. They offered 10,000 shares at £1 each. For several years, the men ran the best packing shed in the area and their export sultanas were regarded most highly.
Hugh took an active role in ANZAC Day commemorations and was involved in mentoring schoolchildren in the lead up to the day. He was an active member of the Red Cliffs Returned Services League, a Worshipful Master of the Memorial Mildura Freemasons Lodge and an Assistant County Commissioner for Scouts in the Sunraysia district. He also represented Red Cliffs on the Citizens’ Welfare Committee.

Both Hugh and Edith played competitive golf. Hugh also continued to shoot competitively.

Through the 1930’s Hugh continued his successful grape growing business. It wasn’t all plain sailing, however, in November 1934 Red Cliffs faced a devastating grasshopper plague. Hugh led a group of twelve men to lay poisoned bait with ‘good progress.’

Continuing his connection to the military, by 1937 Hugh was commander of the Red Cliffs company of militia – the 7th Battalion “North-west Murray Borderers” of the Australian Military Force. On Sunday 15 August 1937, around 3000 people gathered at the Recreation Reserve at Mildura for the presentation and consecration of the King’s Colours to the 7th Battalion.
‘…It was a most imposing sight as the 400 members of the battalion marched at the slope around the outside of the arena, led by their commander (Lieutenant-Colonel F. T. H. Goucher), with his second in command, Captain H. Wagstaff…’

Captain Hugh Conran commanded one of the five companies of men.

On 15 May 1939, 457 officers and men of the 7th Battalion took part in the Melbourne march of naval reserve and militia units to celebrate the King’s birthday. About 100 recruits came from Mildura, Merbein, Red Cliffs and Wentworth (New South Wales), with Hugh Conran as second in command.
Hugh Conran was one of a significant number of Great War veterans who chose to re-enlist during the Second World War. On 15 June 1940, he was appointed to command one of seven new AIF recruit training depots and was stationed at the No1 Infantry Depot, Balcombe Camp. He enlisted officially on 1 July 1940, with the regimental number V50227, and was assigned to command the 2nd Training Battalion.

In September 1940, Hugh was transferred to 2/7th Training Battalion at Balcombe. He was to work with training units and schools at Darley, Balcombe, Wooloomanata, and Broadford.

News of a major appointment came on 15 September 1941, when it was announced that Hugh had been named as commanding officer of the 2/39th Battalion with the temporary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He took over command on 1 October.

Peter Fitzsimons made special mention of Hugh in his book, Kokoda.

‘…The Battalion’s Commanding Officer was the vastly experienced Colonel Hugh Marcell Conran, who had been a lieutenant (sic) with the 1st AIF in the 23rd Battalion. He was not a bad sort of fella to be leading a newly formed outfit like this. For while he was very much old school and had all the fortitude and command of one who had successfully hauled himself up in life by his own bootstraps – and believed that others could do the same – he was also a family man with a strong streak of compassion and high sense of duty to Australia…’

The unit sailed from Sydney on 27 December 1941 and reached Port Moresby on 3 January 1942. Whilst the 2/39th Battalion was to go on to earn great battle honours at Kokoda, they would do so without their commanding officer. Just four weeks into the deployment, Hugh developed cellulitis in his left knee and had to be evacuated back to Australia.

On 1 June 1942, Hugh was appointed to command the 6th Training Battalion. Three months later he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel.

After nearly a year, Hugh chose to relinquish his command and was placed on the Regimental Supernumerary List. With no available positions within the Lines of Communication Area, it was advised he be transferred to Reserve of Officers List in the war with the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel to date from 13 August 1943.

Hugh suffered periods of illness through 1943 and into 1944 – bouts of enteritis, brachial neuritis (neuralgia and fibrositis) in his shoulder, and resurfacing of his old respiratory problems severely impacted his ability to perform effectively.

Despite this, Hugh Conran’s work was recognised with the awarding of the Australian Efficiency Decoration on 14 August 1945.

Meanwhile, Robin Conran had trained as a nurse at the Alfred Hospital and was registered in September 1944. She enlisted on 3 May 1945 and saw most of her duty at the Heidelberg Military Hospital in Melbourne, holding the rank of lieutenant.

The Conrans retired to Blackburn after the war. Hugh and Edith, with their daughter Robin, then lived in a house on the corner of Canterbury and Holland Roads.
Hugh died at Blackburn on 10 October 1957. He was cremated at the Springvale Cemetery.

For those interested in the memorialisation of Hugh Conran at Ballarat, his name can be found on the Roll of Honour at the Christ Church Cathedral, at the Ballarat City Rowing Club, the School of Mines and in the Ballarat Avenue of Honour, tree number 2633.