Hannibal Sloan
Lieutenant-Colonel Adjutant to Chatswood Rifle Club in 1915
1914/15 Star. CAPTAIN H. SLOAN. 30 BN. A.I.F.
British War Medal. MAJOR H. SLOAN A.I.F.
Victory Medal. MAJOR H. SLOAN A.I.F.
Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas. WAR.OFF. H. SLOAN INST STAFF.
Meritorious Service Medal. Q. M. & HON MAJ. H. SLOAN
His signature on a page of the 30th Battalion War Diary in April 1916.
After the war, he published a book, “The Purple and Gold: a history of the 30th Battalion, compiled by H. Sloan”.
Revolver presented to Lieutenant & Adjutant Hannibal Sloan, 30th Battalion A.I.F. From Chatswood Rifle Club 2nd September 1915. Courtesy of Graeme Cleary collection.
Hannibal Sloan was the first born of John Hannibal Sloan and Isabel Whyte, born on 11th May 1871 in Kilmore, Victoria. Kilmore has a claim as Victoria’s oldest inland settled town. John had been born in Greenock Scotland in 1841 and Isabel had been born in 1850. John had come to Australia with his family in 1859. They had married in Albury, New South Wales on 28th March 1870. Hannibal was the first of seven children to them. Next born was Katie in 1873, then Emily in 1876, John James in 1878 in Molesworth Victoria, Agnes in 1881 in Yea, Isabel in 1883 and James Sloan in 1888 in Alexandra, Victoria.
Hannibal married Martha Jane O’Donnell in Newtown, New South Wales in 1900. Martha had been born in 1871 in Yass. They had a girl, Edith Isabel Sloan in 1902 in Sydney. The Evening News (Sydney) of Friday 30th March 1900, on page 8 under “MILITARY MATTERS. General French has approved the appointment of Mr. Hannibal Sloan to the Permanent Staff, as third-class colour-sergeant instructor, on probation, with pay at the rate of 6s 8d per diem, and the usual lodging allowance of his rank. C.S. Sloan will be attached from this date to the Seventh Regiment (St. George’s Rifles).” Hannibal was involved in a court case in 1910 involving a person named Piggott, to do with a shooting competition in New Zealand. The newspaper stated “Hannibal Sloan, sergeant-major and instructor to St. George’s Rifles, stated that on the day following the last stage of the King’s match Piggott received £100 in notes at the pay window. Afterwards the £100 was returned and he was led to believe it came from Piggott.” More evidence was given, but the case was extended for a week and the verdict was not noted. In the 1913 electoral roll, they were living at Hampden Road and he was an instructor. Military Order 566 of 1913 is a seniority roll of Instructional Staff (Warrant and Non-Commissioned Officers) and shows that Staff Regimental Sergeant-Major H Sloan at Victoria Barracks, Sydney
in the 2nd Military District had Corps Seniority which was to date from 1st May 1913.
On 12th August 1915, Hannibal enlisted as a Lieutenant in the 30th Battalion (as part of the 8th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division). It was raised in Liverpool on 5th August 1915. His term of service was for the war and 4 months. Hannibal reported for duty as Adjutant on 19th August 1915 with the rank of Lieutenant, moving back to camp Moore Park on the 2nd of September, and being promoted to Captain on 18th October 1915. He embarked on HMAT Beltana A72 with the 30th Battalion as Captain Adjutant at Sydney on 9th November 1915. While being Adjutant, he was responsible for writing the War Diary of the Battalion. Before going overseas, the diary was typed up and it was signed H W Sloan, for some reason. No middle name is documented for him. He was listed as a 44-year-old soldier who was married. His next of kin was his wife, Jane Sloan, and their address was “Archray”, Hampden Road Artarmon, NSW. His religion was Presbyterian and his rate of pay per day was 22 shillings and 6 pence. In his records, his Attestation Paper was missing, and a file was put in stating that. It also had on it Major Hannibal Sloan 30th battalion, with next of kin as Jane Sloan “Archray” “Handen” Road Artarmon NSW. His Application for a Commission in the AIEF form showed his educational qualifications were Superior Public School, and his military qualifications were 3 years in the Victoria Mounted Rifles, 3 years 3 months in Permanent Artillery (R.A.G.A.) and 15 years 3 months in Instructional Staff. His present civil employment was S.R.S.M. (Warrant Officer) Instructional Staff, C.M. Forces. He was a British Subject and was married. He dated it 24th July 1915. The medical certificate stated he was 6 foot tall, had a chest measurement of 351⁄2 to 40 inches, weighed 13 stone 2 pounds and had good eyes. He was initially recommended to be a Lieutenant, but that was crossed out with Captain and Adjutant written. Arrived at Suez, disembarking on 11th December 1915, and to camp Heliopolis, Egypt, then to Canal Defences, Ismalia on the 17th December 1915. On the 6th of February 1916 he moved to Tel El Kebir. On 16th June 1916, he embarked at Alexandria to join the B.E.F., disembarking at Marseilles on 23rd June from HMAT Horatia, and then train to Northern France near Morbeque. The 30th Battalion headed for the Western Front at Bois Grenier on the 8th of July and Fleurbaix on the 16th of July 1916, moving to Fromelles on 19th July 1916 with a major allied attack on the 21st of July 1916. Initially tasked with carrying parties for supplies and ammunition, the Battalion was soon drawn into the battle and was involved in vicious fighting. After that battle, the Battalion was rotated in and out of the front line, but was not involved in any major offensives for the rest of the year.
On 4th October 1916, he was promoted to Major and relinquished his appointment of Adjutant, and the following day on the 5th of October was appointed Officer Commanding C Company, 30th Infantry Battalion. To the Somme on the 17th October and periods in the Front at Flers followed by periods in and out of the trenches near Le Transloy. A note about allotments was sent by District Paymaster in Sydney on 29th November 1916 from Staff Paymaster, which said “Herewith I forward for necessary action allotments as follows: – Major, H. SLOAN, 30 th Btn, 20/- p.d. from 4/10/16 in favour of (Wife)Mrs. J Sloan, “Achray”, Hampden Road, Artarmon N.S.W. This cancels previous allotment of 17/- p.d. in favour of the same allottee.” Hannibal was admitted to the New Zealand Stationary Hospital, Ameins with bronchitis on 23rd December 1916, re-joining the 30th Battalion on 10th January 1917. On 9th January 1917, Base Records sent Mrs M J Sloan at Archray, Hampden Road Artarmon NSW a letter stating that “Major H.Sloan, was admitted to the New Zealand Stationary Hospital 25/12/16 suffering from Bronchitis Mild.” A postal address was given as “SICK … Major H.Sloan 30th Australian Infantry in New Zealand Stationary Hospital. C/o A. I. F. Headquarters, 130 Horseferry Road, Westminster, LONDON. S.W.” Also a note saying that “SICK” should be written in red to “ensure speedy delivery”. He was seconded for duty with 8th Infantry Training Battalion, Tidworth in England on 1st February 1917. On 25th February 1917, he was admitted to Fovant Hospital at Hurdcott, being sick. He was marched in to the 8th Training Battalion at Hurdcott on 17th March 1917. The District Paymaster at Victoria Barracks in Sydney on 23rd August 1917 sent Base Records a note confirming their telegram previously which said “AdminAust cables telegraph dates rates allotment paid after embarkation Major S Sloan no trace here please advise”. The reply from Base Records on 24th August, stated “With reference to your telegram, E.47778, of the 23rd instant, the nearest on records is Major Hannibal Sloan, (late 30th Battalion), who joined the Australian Imperial Force at Sydney on 12/8/15, and embarked from the same
District on 9/11/15, attached to Head Quarters, 30th Battalion.”
On 8th December 1917, Jane signed for his Commission Form on a form from base Records which noted Captain H Sloan 8th Infantry Training Battalion (30th Battalion).
A Medical Board at Tidworth on 15th October 1917 found he had asthma and declared him permanently unfit for general service and unfit for home service for 6 months. He was to be invalided to Australia, and was sent to Weymouth on the 19th of October 1917, embarking from England on the Transport Ship Ormonde on the 25th of November 1917, he arrived at Kentilworth Castle, Cape Town on the 28th of December 1917. In the Sydney Morning Herald NSW of Saturday 29th December 1917 on page 12, had under the heading: “RETURNING SOLDIERS. The following invalided New South Wales soldiers have been listed for return to Australia, and are actually on route from abroad – Col. Reginald Spencer Browne, Lieut. Hy. Jas. Cox, Major Hannibal Sloan, Pte John Alfred Hy. Annetts, Cpl Geo Fredk. Bidgood, Ptes Phillip Brown….” Embarking from Durban on the HMAT Medic on the 3rd of January 1918, he disembarked in Melbourne on the 22nd of January 1918 and then took a train to Sydney. On 16th April 1918, he was found unfit for further service at Sydney. He was discharged on the 20th of April 1918.
The Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was awarded to Warrant Officer H Sloan, Staff RSM, Instructional Staff 2MD and recorded on Commonwealth Gazette (CG) Number 99, dated 28th August 1915. Along with the Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal, Hannibal Sloan was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal 1914-1919. Hannibal was awarded the Meritorious Service medal as Quarter Master & Honourable Major H Sloan, Australian Instructional Corps (AIC) 2MD on CG Number 38, dated 4th May 1922.
An application for war service leave gratuity was processed on 14th March 1919.
A short list of his appointments and promotions was produced by Base Records on 10th May 1921, which was issued to I.G.’s Department. His particulars to his AIF service were recorded by Base Records on 10th March 1924 and again on 23rd August 1924. The second one was a shorter description of his service.
In 1925, they must have visited England, as Major H Sloan, Mrs F Sloan and Miss E Sloan boarded the Orient steamship Ormonde at London on 17th October 1925, bound for Australia. He was a soldier aged 53, his wife aged 52 and daughter
23 (both home duties). They were heading for Sydney. Their address in England was listed as Australia House, Strand.
Hannibal wrote an article in Reveille in September 1935, an obituary for Sergeant Robert Barnes, who had served with the Lancers in the Zulu War and was with the First Field Ambulance on Lemnos during WW1. At some stage after the
war, Hannibal Sloan was the President of the 30th Battalion Association.
In the 1928 New South Wales directory and 1933, 1936 and 1937 electoral rolls, they were living at 192 Hampden Road Artarmon and he was a Drill Instructor, probably with School Cadets. His service records were listed in 1928. Edith was still living with them and was a stenographer. No other records are known for Edith. Martha passed away in 1941 in
Chatswood, New South Wales. They were still living there and he had the same occupations in the 1943 roll.
“Reveille” of 1st June 1933 had an article on ““YOUNG” ROWLEY: 30th BN MOUNT. On the march of the 30th Bn. from Morbecque to Estaires in 1916 a halt was not called for many weary miles owing to the column being longer than the distance between estaminets. “Young” Rowley having dipped his feet in the ditch to ease swollen feet, was unable to get his boots back on again and continued on the march with these strung around his neck. In compassion, Major Sloan lent his horse to “Young” Rowley, and so the battalion was let into Estaires by two horsemen – Colonel Clark, most immaculate; and “Young” Rowley, in bare feet with boots around his neck. Colonel H. Sloan, ex-major-adjutant, affectionately known as “Ted”, and Mr. R. E. Lording, Baksheesh sig. corporal, then 16 years old and known as “Young” Rowley recently met again (after seventeen years).” 81 Private Rowland Lording embarked with the 30th Battalion on 9th November 1915 on HMAT Beltana A72 as well. He was an 18-year-old bookkeeper from Burwood. In 1917, he was wounded and dangerously ill. He returned to Australia, leaving England on 22nd February 1917. The wounds were so grave, that he endured 53 operations, as a newspaper article in his medical file recorded. He died in October 1944 of pneumonia, after suffering with hysteria and delusions for a period of time. Alcohol and morphine played a role in his
demise. He left a wife and three children.
Hannibal passed away on 10th August 1945 in Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards. The Sydney Morning Herald of 13th August 1945 had “SLOAN. – August 10 1945, at Royal North Shore Hospital, Hannibal, of 194 Hampden Road, Artarmon, dearly loved father of Edith, aged 74 (late 1st 30th Battalion, A.I.F.). Privately cremated.”