Hanlin, Hugh Eric
37713 Gunner Hugh Eric Hanlin - 12th Field Artillery Brigade
Hugh Eric Hanlin was born in Fremantle WA on the 29th October 1897 to Robert and Emily Hanlin. He was one of five Hanlin siblings, with, John 1889, Emily 1890, Robert 1892 and Reginald 1895.
It was their Mother Emily's second Marriage, her first husband having died at sea. She was a member of the well known Fremantle Manning family.
Their father Robert was a Clergyman for the Presbyterian Church and the family initially lived at Burdop Cottage at 83 Cantonment Street Fremantle. In the 1900's they were living at 349 High Street (now numbered 247 High) from 1903-1906 and then at 338 High Street (now numbered 186 High) in 1907 before taking up residence at 83 Victoria Road Fremantle (later renamed to Queen Victoria Street-original house site now a car yard).
Hugh was educated at Fremantle Boys School during which time he also spent three years in the Naval Cadets and also the 86A Army Cadets but after leaving school went to the Western Australian countryside where he became a cattle drover. However, his home address was still listed as 83 Queen Victoria Street Fremantle.
On the 30th October 1916 Hugh enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 11 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 183lbs;
Chest Measurement - 38 to 40 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Brown.
Upon his successful enlistment Hugh was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the training depot. He was taken through the basics of infantry work for the next few weeks. However in January 1917 Hugh was assigned to the Artillery Reinforcements. As the Artillery training camp was at Maribyrnong in Victoria, Hugh was transferred there to continue his training. For the first few months of 1917 Hugh would be trained in every aspect of becoming a Gunner.
On the 10th April 1917 Hugh was assigned to a Field Artillery reinforcement group and he trained with them till the 25th May 1917. It appears he then fell ill and was sent to the 11th Australian General Hospital. Upon his return to camp in June 1917 he was assigned to another reinforcement group.
On the 25th August 1917 he again fell ill and was sent to hospital and would not return to camp till the 5th November 1917. The following day he returned to camp and was assigned to the 30th Reinforcement group for the Australian Field Artillery. This group soon departed from Port Melbourne aboard the transport ship HMAT Port Sydney and set sail for England.
The journey took them via Suez in Egypt where they disembarked on the 12th December 1917. They then re-embarked on the 18th December 1917 and sailed for Taranto in Italy. After a few days in Italy the voyage was resumed, and they reached Southampton on the 7th January 1918.
After being disembarked Hugh and his artillery group were sent to the Artillery Training Camp at Heytesbury. Hugh would have the next several weeks training in England.
On the 21st March 1918 Hugh arrived in France. The same day the Germans launched their massive offensive which broke through the British line on the St Quentin front. The Germans made a quick advance. The Australian infantry Divisions which were then in Belgium, where sent south to stop this advance.
The Artillery batteries were due to follow the infantry divisions south, but when Hugh joined the 12th Field Artillery Brigade they were still located in Northern France. He was posted to the 112th Battery of the 12th Field Artillery Brigade.
In early April 1918 the Germans launched another large attack, this time in Belgium, and once again they were initially successful. The 12th Field Artillery Brigade HQ were soon to find themselves in the front line as the Germans made a swift advance. The 12th Brigade HQ positions came under German rifle fire and Hugh and his fellow Gunners had to mount a hurried defence to protect their artillery batteries and withdraw their guns. They helped form a defence near the La Bassee Canal.
They managed to withdraw under German fire and set up positions further back from which they supported the British infantry of the 51st Division in stopping the advance. Hugh and the 12th Field Artillery Brigade then remained in the northern French sector for the next few months. They were now supporting the 1st Australian Division around Merris and Meteren in Northern France.
On the 4th July 1918 Hugh was wounded while on duty at his Artillery Battery. He had been hit in the arm by shrapnel and was then taken to the 3rd Field Ambulance where initial treatment was given. He was then sent to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station where further treatment occurred. The following day Hugh was put on an ambulance train which took him to the French town of Boulogne. On arrival he was admitted to the 2nd Australian General Hospital. He only spent three days here and was then sent to the Hospital Ship St Denis which took him across the Channel to England.
On arrival Hugh was taken by train to Ipswich which he was admitted to the East Suffolk War Hospital. Hugh would remain a patient there from the 8th July to the 15th August 1918. He was then transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford. After a medical assessment, and having recovered well from his wound, Hugh was now given a two-week furlough.
On the 30th August 1918 Hugh returned from his leave period and was sent to No.4 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott. He would spend another six weeks here and on the 22nd October 1918 was transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell. On the 8th November 1918 he was then sent to the Royal Artillery Training Camp at Heytesbury. Hugh was here when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918.
With the war officially over, the men would begin to return home. Hugh had to wait a few months for a berth on a troopship. On the 28th February 1919 Hugh boarded the ship HMAT Ceramic at Devenport and set sail for Australia, reaching Albany on the 7th April 1919. After being disembarked the men were entrained north for Perth.
After arriving in Fremantle Hugh was given a medical examination at No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle. Despite his wound Hugh was found to have no lasting disability. He was then discharged from the AIF on the 4th May 1919.
He then returned home to Victoria Road Fremantle for a short period of time. He then took up residence in Subiaco, living in Heytesbury Road.
Hugh was married on the 25th August 1927 to Sybil Scott Foreman and a daughter Joan was born in 1929. Sybil was from 92 Tuckfield Street Fremantle (later renumbered to 63 Tuckfield St)
Hugh's mother died on the 26th March 1929 in Fremantle and his father died on the 9th October 1933. The West Australian newspaper on the 10th October 1933 published an obituary of Robert Hanlin.
By 1936/37 Hugh was living at Keane Street in Peppermint Grove and was a departmental manager.
In 1938 to 1944 the family then lived at 10 Irvine Street Peppermint Grove, before moving to Grant Street in Cottesloe. Hugh was now working as a Psychologist and in 1954 was living at 17 Valley Road Kalamunda.
Hugh Hanlin died on the 5th October 1962 aged 64. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery and his ashes placed in the family grave at Plot Presbyterian MON E 0082.