Gerald George Hogan

HOGAN, Gerald George- – – – SPC 1893-1894

DoB:– – 18 April, 1886, Beechworth, VIC

Father:- – James Hogan

Mother:- – Caroline, nee King

Gerald George Hogan was a -‘Foundation’ student at St Patrick’s College.

Service No/Reference Number: – -Major

Rank:– – 2nd Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Captain, later Major

Unit:– – 3rd Field Ammunition Brigade

Gerald Hogan applied for a Commission in the AIF on 19 March 1915. At the time he was 28 years and 11 months old, a single man, whose occupation was solicitor. He listed his previous military experience as 2nd Lieutenant AFA Victoria, No 6 Battery in 1910, 1911, 1912.

He received his Commission and was appointed 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade (FAB). He embarked from Australia from Brisbane on 16 April 1915, aboard the Kyarra, proceeding to Gallipoli where he joined the 3rd FAB on 1 September. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 8 December, and transferred to the 1st Divisional Ammunition Column (DAC) after his arrival at Serapeum in Egypt.

In March 1916, Lieutenant Hogan left Alexandria for Marseilles, where he disembarked on 28 March. He attained the rank of Captain while in France, on 21 January 1917, and was further promoted on 1 July to the rank of Major while commanding the 1st DAC.

In April 1919, he proceeded to England prior to his return to Australia. He was Mentioned In Despatches in October 1919 as follows:

-‘-¦ I have much pleasure in forwarding hereunder copy of extract from Eighth Supplement, No 31448 to the London Gazette, dated 11th July 1919, relating to the conspicuous services rendered by yourself whilst serving with the Australian Imperial Force.

MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES

The following is a continuation of Sir D Haig’s despatch of 16th March, 1919, submitting names deserving of special mention: –

Captain (temporary Major) G G HOGAN

The above has been promulgated in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No 124 dated 30th October, 1919.’

He returned to Australia aboard the Suffolk, disembarking at Melbourne on 8 June 1919. His appointment was terminated on 4 August.

Back in Australia, Gerald Hogan resumed his career as a solicitor. He had married Stella Davis who was from NSW, while they were in London on 2 March 1917.

In 1920 he worked in the Court at Darwin, Northern Territory followed by a position in New Guinea from about 1922 as Crown Law Officer with the title ‘The Honorable  Gerald George Hogan MC. MLC’. Gerald Hogan lived in Atarr St, Rabaul, New Britain, New Guinea when the Japanese attacked Rabaul in January 1942, he was captured at Kokopo 29 kilometers from Rabaul and interned as a prisoner of war (POW) on board the Montevideo Maru a Japanese auxiliary ship. The Montevideo Maru was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of the Philippines on 01 July 1942 by American submarine USS Sturgeon who were unaware that it was carrying Allied prisoners of war and civilians.

He died aged 56 along with more than 1,000 men aboard the Montevideo Maru. The sinking is considered the worst maritime disaster in Australian history.