John Joseph Scanlan (soldier)
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John Joseph Scanlan DSO & bar |
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|---|---|
Lieutenant Colonel J. J. Scanlan, DSO and bar, 59th Battalion
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| Born |
19 October 1890 South Melbourne, Victoria |
| Died | 6 December 1962 (aged 72) Kingston, Tasmania |
| Allegiance |
 Australia
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| Service/branch |
 Australian Army
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| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands held |
59th Battalion Lark Force |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order & Bar Mentioned in Despatches (3) Legion of Honour (France) |
Lieutenant Colonel John Joseph Scanlan DSO & Bar (19 October 1890 – 6 December 1962) was an Australian Army officer who served during the First and Second World Wars.
John Joseph Scanlan was born in South Melbourne, Victoria, on 19 October 1890. He attended Christian Brothers College, St Kilda, after which he worked as a shipping clerk at the Customs Department. He joined the Citizens Military Force in 1910 and was initially posted to 5th Battalion (Victorian Scottish Regiment). Two years later, by then a sergeant, he transferred to 60th Battalion. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 58th Infantry (Essendon Rifles) in July 1913.
Following the outbreak of the First World War, Scanlan was a volunteer in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Having been commissioned a second lieutenant the previous year, he was posted to the newly raised 7th Battalion. After departing Australia in October, he along with the rest of the battalion spent the remainder of 1914 and early 1915 in Egypt.
A lieutenant since February, Scalan was amongst the first of his battalion to land at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. A chest wound received on 8 May ended his participation in the Gallipoli Campaign and he was evacuated to Egypt. After convalescing for over a year, firstly in Egypt and then Australia, he was posted to the 59th Battalion, then recuperating in England after the Battle of Fromelles. Promoted to captain on 1 November 1916, and then to major on 20 February 1917, he held a number of staff positions at brigade and divisional level. He briefly commanded the 57th Battalion in late January 1918 before being promoted to lieutenant colonel on 6 February and given command of the 59th Battalion at the age of 27.
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