Scanlan Arthur Francis 1921 – Blencowe Family in World War Two

Arthur Francis Scanlan

1921-2022

Father Nm: Arthur Charles Scanlan was born 1893 in Greenwich London and died 1940 Wellington, Western Australia

Mother Nm: Rose Jane Blencowe [4585] born 12 March 1898 St. Olave’s, died 1959 Wellington Western Australia

Arthur left with his Father and Mother, sister Olive, and baby Edward abt 1928

Marriage Dt: February 1948 at the Roman Catholic Church, Donnybrook, WA

K comments: Father Arthur Charles Scanlan served in WW1
Spouse comments: Nancy Roma Hannah

Children. Raymond, Judith, Kevin and Robert

Born 1921

20 December. Rotherhithe, London

1924

Arthur back centre at about 16 so that would date the family photo about 1937. from left to right Edward Scanland Mother Rose (Blencowe) Dad Arthur and sister Olive

Emigrates with parents to Western Australia and for the first few years lived on land part of a WA Govt group settlement scheme. The family were allocated land to clear timber and turn it into Dairy farmland.

1939

Arthur has a very bad crash while driving a Truck and his brother Edward was badly injured, but he rescued Arthur from the overturned truck
Aug 3 1939
Western Mail Perth, Western Australia, Australia

WW2

Scanlan Arthur Francis Private WX29182, 25th Light Horse Regt., 2/11th (City of Perth) Battalion 6th Australian Division Cavalry

1940

4 January. Enlisted at Donnybrook WA age 19 occupation Shop Assist. Assigned to 25th Light Horse (Machine Gun) Regiment

1941-43

During this period was based in Australia with various units and was promoted to Lance Corporal in January 1943. However, with the Australian Army taking up more Pacific assignments in March 1943 he was posted to 2/11th (City of Perth) Bn for overseas service. The 2/11th Bn had returned from the Middle east in 1942 and was an experience combat unit and made up part of the Australian 6th Division Cavalry for the New Guinea campaign.

1944-45

The 2/11th Bn embarked for New Guinea. The 2/11th landed at Aitape in New Guinea on 13 November 1944 to undertake its only campaign against the Japanese.
“Its main areas of operation were east of the Danmap River (January 1945), and in the foothills of Prince Alexander Range to the south of Wewak (April-July 1945). Following the Japanese surrender on 15 August, drafts of 2/11th men began returning to Australia for discharge..⁴“
Wewak Region of New Guinea

Australian Forces line of attack against Japanese in late 1944-early 1945 source https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/resources/aitape-wewak-1944-1945
22 December. The 2/11th Bn took up the front line advance.

1945

- 2 January . Attack on Matapau by the 2/11th Bn.
  Australian soldiers from A Company, 2/11th Battalion resting on a river bank before attacking Japanese positions near Matapau in New Guinea.
  
  Men of the 2/11th Battalion move with great caution in an attack on Japanese positions east of Matapau on 2 January 1945. The day had begun with a Japanese attack on a 2/11th company perimeter. That day, the battalion lost 2 killed and 5 wounded, while killing 14 enemy and wounding many more. It was the beginning of five days of sharp fighting as determined Japanese sought to halt the coastal advance. AWM 078058
- 6 and 20 January. “The 2/11th repulsed counter-attacks and continued advancing, helped by close artillery and air support. Three tanks of the 2/4th Armoured Regiment also assisted the 2/11th in the capture of Niap, Dogreto Point and Abau on the coast between 6 and 20 January.^5″
- 11 May. “Another 80 Japanese died on 11 May, as the Australians took the airfield. Further south, the 2/11th Battalion, which was seeking to block the Japanese retreat from Wewak, captured the 710 Feature in an intense struggle.^5″

WIRUI BEACH, WEWAK, NEW GUINEA. Washing day AWM

13 September. Arthur probably was in attendance at this ceremony of the Japanese surrender in New Guinea.
Lieutenant General Hatazo Adachi, commander of the Japanese XVIII Army, hands his sword to Major General HCH Robertson, General Officer Commanding 6th Division, on 13 September 1945. This was part of the surrender ceremony at Cape Wom, near Wewak. Adachi would commit suicide in a prisoner of war camp at Rabaul almost exactly two years later, after expressing shame at the loss of more than 100,000 men of his army since 1942. AWM 096225
7 November. Arthur transferred out of 2/11th Bn to 2/7th Bn.