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
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.
Born 1921
20 December. Rotherhithe, London
1924
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
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“
- 22 December. The 2/11th Bn took up the front line advance.
1945
-
- 2 January . Attack on Matapau by the 2/11th Bn.
- 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″
- 2 January . Attack on Matapau by the 2/11th Bn.
- 13 September. Arthur probably was in attendance at this ceremony of the Japanese surrender in New Guinea.
- 7 November. Arthur transferred out of 2/11th Bn to 2/7th Bn.
1946
- 20 February. Discharged at Kakrakatta WA from 2/11 Battalion.
1948
1960’s
Nelson producers Coop.
Medals
Sources
-
- Ancestry and BFA database
- Australian National Archives
- 2/11th Battalion AWM
- Aitape and Wewak https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/resources/aitape-wewak-1944-1945
- Family Photos from e tribute web page
After the War
1949
Shop assistant living in Donnybrook WA
Death 2022
Died 9 April 2022 age 101 years.
Buried Bunbury Lawn Cemetery
Lot 2 Forrest Avenue East Bunbury Western Australia