Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War 1917 ‘Hill 60’ M.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant E. H. Scalan, 1st Tunnelling Company, Australian Engineers, Australian Imperial Force, who was thrice wounded during the course of the war, the last - a gassing - eventually invaliding him out of service

Military Medal, G.V.R. (267 Cpl. E. H. Scanlan. 1/T’lg: Coy. Aust: E.); British War and Victory Medals (267 Sjt. E. H. Scanlan. 1 Tun. Coy. A.I.F.) good very fine or better (3) £1000-1200

M.M. London Gazette 26 May 1917.

Ernest Henry Scanlan was born in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Brisbane on 8 November 1915, and was posted to 1st Company Mining Corps. He left Australia with the unit for France in February 1916, and served in the French theatre of war from May 1916. Scanlan advanced to Corporal and transferred to 1st Tunnelling Company Australian Engineers in December 1916.

Scanlan was wounded in action, 20 December 1916, and advanced to Sergeant in April 1917. He was awarded his M.M. for gallantry in action, 5 June 1917, on the latter date the 1st Tunnelling Company were engaged (and had been for some time) with the preparation of the mines and tunnels in and around Hill 60 and The Caterpillar position, as a prelude to the Battle of Messine (7 - 14 June 1917). The mines were detonated the day after Scanlan’s exploits. He was wounded in action on two further occasions, 18 September 1917 and 16 October 1917 respectively. On the latter occasion Scanlan was gassed, and was transferred to England for recuperation. He was ‘Invalided’ out of service, and returned to Australia in April 1919. Scanlan died in July 1940.