Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021:
Bank clerk Hugh Callaghan, 24, was born in Petersham, NSW. He enlisted in December 1916 at RAS Showground Camp in Sydney, nominating his father, Mr H Callaghan of 54 Alice Street, Auburn, as his next-of-kin. Callaghan was six months in Australia before embarking on the Suevic in June 1917. He reached the Front in January 1918, marching into the 20th Battalion in Belgium over the quiet winter period.
Callaghan had no wounds, sicknesses or crimes on his record and he held the rank of Acting Sergeant on the voyage to England and while in England. Yet in his service record at the Australian National Archives there is a document headed PROCEEDINGS OF COURT MARTIAL, dated 7 January 1918. The document states ‘Pte A/Sgt H J B Callaghan 20th Btn’ and under verdict is recorded ’NG’. There is no indication what this matter was about. It is also unclear why Callaghan was in Australia for almost six months before embarkation and why he was in England almost five months before crossing to France in January 1918.
Callaghan had spent almost three months at the Front before he was killed in action on 9 April 1918. He was one of 10 Auburn Memorial men killed in action facing the German offensive of March and April 1918. However, Callaghan is one of very few Auburn Memorial men for whom there is a detailed report of the circumstances of their death in battle. In July 1918, the following memo was sent by the CO of the 2nd Australian Machine Gun Company to Callaghan’s father:
"In reply to your inquiry of 10th May I regret to confirm the news of the death of your son No 674A Pte H.J.B. Callaghan. It will, I trust, be some comfort to you to know that he met his death in a very gallant manner. While advancing with an officer during an attack, the officer was wounded, and your son came back to obtain assistance. It was while returning with the assistance that he had procured that your son was killed, death being instantaneous. Unfortunately, his body was not buried by his comrades, but would be buried by the enemy who had surrounded in large numbers the place where he fell. The name of the place where your son was killed HANGARD WOOD near VILLERS-BRETTONEUX [Villers-Bretonneux]. I have since heard that the officer (Lieut Coolahan) was severely wounded and is now a prisoner of war in Germany."
Callaghan’s medals were issued to his father, but his effects were lost with the sinking of the Barunga on its way to Australia. No grave for Callaghan was found after the war, therefore his name was inscribed on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.
Hugh Callaghan is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal
- 1914-20 Victory Medal
