The death of Hughie Callan
When news comes to hand that men like Bruce Sloss, and now Hughie Callan, both sportsmen of a high calibre, have been killed in action, it follows that regret is widespread. Besides those who knew Callan well and who had opportunities of knowing his full worth, there are regions, not only in South Melbourne, where his popularity was unbounded, but in all the metropolitan districts who knew him as a footballer, and knew by his conduct on the field that he was a man of men.
Sergeant Hughie Callan,who was 35 years of age, opened hiscareer as a senior footballer with theEssendon club, and joined South Melbourne in 1907. He played in the three succeeding years, including the year when South last won the premiership,and few will be prepared to controvert the assertion that he was one of the finest footballers who ever donned the guernsey to play the Australian game. That he played the ‘greatergame’ with equal skill, courage, andresource is beyond doubt. What entitles him, in memory, to still greater esteem as a footballer is the fact that he always played as an amateur. He could have made heavy demands had he chosen, but he declined to accept even a tram ticket. He was killed inaction somewhere in France on February 5.
Educated at St. Patrick's College, Melbourne, the late Hughie Callan early gave promise of developing into a great player—a promise which was amply fulfilled. On the field he was quick, clever, and daring;a trifle reckless at times, yet always an opponent from whom danger was to be expected, as he was capable of doing exceptional things. These qualities, given the larger scope of thebattlefield, should, and no doubt didmake of him an ideal soldier.
He was a nephew of the late Sir John Gavan Duffy, and married, after his retirement from active sport, a sister of Mr W. Williams, the well-known barrister and solicitor, and ex M.L.A for St. Kilda. His brother Jack has lately been appointed by the Federal authorities, Controller of Hotels for the Northern Territory. Much sympathy will be felt for Hughie Callan's wife, who is well known locally, and his relatives.
Under the heading of ‘Great Footballer Killed’, the Sydney Referee says: Onlooker writes from Melbourne: “It will be learnt with deep regret by the sporting public of Victoria generally and football lovers particularly, that Hughie Callan, the South Melbourne follower, has been killed in action. In the passing of his blythe, happy spirit, a truly gallant young gentleman has joined the thousands who have gone forth to die for the Empire as cheerfully as ever they pulled on a guernsey in the mimic battle of football. The dreadful phases of the war are tragically illuminated by these killings, and when one has known these dead heroes from boyhood—as it was my privilege to know Hughie Callan—and watched with admiration not only his wonderful skill, agility, and courage on the football field, but the high integrity of his career in private life, the shock is great indeed.”
Roll of Honour - Hugh Callan
Service Number: 5652
Rank: Private
Unit: 14th Australian Infantry Battalion
Service: Australian Army
Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918
Date of death: 05 February 1917
Place of death: France
Cause of death: Killed in action
Place of association: St Kilda, Australia
Cemetery or memorial details: Bancourt British Cemetery, Picardie, France
Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army
Footnotes
Title: Killed in action. Popular footballer Hughie Callan gives his life for empire
Author: Record Staff Writer
Publisher: Record (Emerald Hill, Vic: 1881-1918)
Date: Saturday, 10 March 1917, p.2 (Article)
Link: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75013506
AWM: http://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1676453/?query...
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