CALLINAN, Stanhope John

Stan, the son of Francis and Mary Callinan was born at Stanborough near Inverell in 1891. He was a twenty three year old Farm Labourer when he enlisted at Inverell in December 1915. As one of the First Contingent of The Kurrajongs, he left the town on 12 January 1916 and went into camp at Narrabri. Shortly afterwards the men were moved to Armidale Camp where Stan became a member of the 33rd Battalion, C Company. He sailed from Australia in May 1916 on HMAT A74 Marathon.

After arriving in England, further training was undertaken at Salisbury Plain until the men were sent to France in November. Stan appears to have survived the war without being wounded and returned to Australia in June 1919. With his friend and fellow Kurrajong Gordon Turner as best man, he married Ada Fowler at Inverell. The men were in Army uniform whilst the bride carried a bouquet with streamers of their Battalion colours. Stan and his wife lived on a farm and he volunteered again during the Second World War when he did Garrison duty in Australia. Later in his life he moved into Inverell and Stan worked for the Municipal Council. He died at Inverell in 1966.

His brother Francis also served during WW1.

Private Stanhope Callinan has his name inscribed on the Inverell Honor Roll and the Ross Hill Public School Honor Roll.

Image: private collection