Allan Gollan

Ancestors

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Kevin Sweet [send private message] and Paul Clipsham [send private message]

Biography

George Allan Gollan was a farmer in northern Victoria and the Riverina who served with the RAAF in World War II, married, raised four children, and died young as a passenger on a bus. He was a devoted protestant christian, enjoyed cricket, puzzles and being outdoors.

Early Life

Allan was born 21st December 1920, the second son to George and Myrtle Gollan on a farm at Tamleugh North, south-east of Shepparton. According to his military service record ^[1] he was born at Numurkah which is nearly 60km from their farm.

By 1925 his family had moved to a better farm nearby at Tamleugh West.

World War II

At age 21 Allan enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at the No. 1 Recruiting Centre, R.A.A.F., Melbourne on 31st January 1942. His medical examination as a Reservist in August 1941 recorded the following characteristics:-

• Age: 21 years - months. (presumably anticipating his enlistment the following January)
• Height: 5 feet 10¾ inches. (180cm)
• Weight: 156 lbs. (70.75kg)
• Chest Measurement: 32-36 inches.
• Complexion: Fresh
• Eyes: Green Grey
• Hair: Med
• Religious Denomination: Baptist
• Wounds: Scars both knees, Scar R shin

Service History

He steadily progressed through the ranks, gained experience with numerous postings. Here's his service history:-

• 31 Jan 1942 Enlistment at Melbourne, Vic
• 29 Apr 1942 to No. 2 Wireless Air Gunners School at Parkes, NSW
• 18 Oct 1942 to No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School (No. 2 BAGS) at Port Pirie, SA
• 22 Nov 1942 to No. 1 Engineering School (E.S) at Ascot Vale, Vic
• 11 Dec 1942 to No. 1 Reserve Personnel Pool (1RPP)
• 11 Mar 1943 to No. 1 Operational Training Unit (No. 1 OTU) at Bairnsdale, Vic
• 9 May 1944 to 71 Squadron, a maritime patrol unit. (Interestingly, he spent 6 days in Coffs Harbour Hospital, from 5-10 Jun 1944, but his records don't explain the purpose or problem.)
• 24 Aug 1944 to No. 1 Operational Training Unit (No. 1 OTU) at East Sale, Vic
• 22 May 1945 to No. 2 Reserve Personnel Pool (2RPP)
• 3 Jun 1945 to No. 13 Squadron. His records state that he "Proceeded on duty beyond the mainland of Australia" with the 13th Squadron from the 25th Sep 1945
• 10 Nov 1945 to No. 2 P.D.
• 4 Jan 1946 to No. 1 P.D.
• 16 Jan 1946 Discharged from RAAF

His rank progressed as well:-

• Air Crew Lev. 2 at enlistment
• Leading Air Crew (LAC) from 18 Oct 1942
• Sergeant (Sgt) from 4 Mar 1943 (maybe 44?)
• Flight Sergeant (F/Sgt) from 1 May 1944
• Warrant Officer (W/O) from 3 Aug 1944

He received the following medals and awards:-

• Wireless Badge (14 Oct 1942)
• Air Gunner's Badge (12 Nov 1942)
• 1939-43 Star Ribbon (with the Operational Training Unit 201/44)
• Pacific Star Ribbon (with the 13th Squadron 32/45)
• 1939-45 Star Ribbon (with the 13th Squadron 33/45)

Combat

It's not detailed as to how much combat action Allan encountered during the war, but it wasn't a lot. On 16th January 1946 he wrote a statutory declaration:-

• That I embarked at Townsville for New Guinea on 29/12/42 and returned by air 5/3/43. Also that I left Australia by air from Gove N.T. 24/9/45 to serve in Labuan, returning to Sydney for disembarkation 10/11/45."

His "Record of Operational Tour with No. 13 Squadron in N-W Area" states that the:-

• Tour commenced 31/5/45 and finished 30/9/45
• Number of operational sorties: Six, with one involving strikes and attacks
• Number of operational hours flown: 33 hrs 05 mins daytime, and 4 hrs 10 mins at night
• Approximate date of first operational sortie: 14/6/45
• Approximate date of last operational sortie: 24/9/45

Personality Report

There was an interesting evaluation in November 1944 that describes Allan as a middle-of-the-road, pretty good guy, but not leadership material:-

• Appearance and Bearing: Passable, the average ordinary-looking individual
• Temperance: Consistently temperate
• Mental Alertness: Catches on easily without too much explanation
• Power of Expression: Usually gets his ideas across
• Self-Confidence: Wholesomely self-confident and decisive
• Initiative: Resourceful in solving problems or overcoming difficulties
• Emotional Stability: Fairly well balanced, cool-headed
• Energy: Industrious and vigorous, shows willingness to do more than average amount of work
• Dependability: Completely dependable for the performance of all ordinary duties
• Co-operation: Keen to co-operate
• Leadership: Quite content to be a follower and let others take the lead
• Proficiency in duties upon which engaged: Superior - knows his work and does it well
• Administrative Ability: Moderately capable in routine manner
• Service knowledge: Moderately well informed and steadily qualifying for greater responsibility

Wedding Parties

Allan had a habit of being best man at weddings during the war:-

• 11 Nov 1943 - for his elder brother Athol in Shepparton, Vic
• 14 Mar 1944 - groomsman for F/Sgt Len Daines in Parkes, NSW, and just a month later,
• 15 Apr 1944 - for LAC Eric Turland in Sale, Vic

The culmination of these weddings was his own marriage on 12 May 1945 to Catherine Hope Clipsham in Parkes, NSW ^[2]

Post-War Family and Farming

After demobilisation in early 1946, Allan and Hope bought a dairy farm at Wyuna, ^[3] between Kyabram and Echuca.

About 1952 they bought a mixed farm, including a large poultry flock, at Invergordon,^[4] between Shepparton and Yarrawonga.

In 1960 they bought a larger (600+ acres) mixed farm at The Retreat, between Finley and Deniliquin, in southern NSW.

Death

Allan died on 27th April 1965, aged 44, leaving his widow and four children aged from 6 to 18. He was a passenger on a minibus that crashed on the Hume Highway near Broadford. He is buried in Shepparton Cemetery.

References

^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Australia, World War II Military Service Records, 1939-1945 (Ancestry.com)
2. ↑ NSW Marriage Registration 10852/1945
3. ↑ Ancestry.com. Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980 [database on-line].
4. ↑ Australian Electoral Commission. [1954 Electoral roll].
5. ↑ Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries Name: George Allan Gollan Birth Year: 1920 Age: 44 Death Place: Broadford, Victoria Father's name: George Mother's name: Myrtle Ann Pottinger Registration Year: 1965 Registration Place: Victoria Registration Number: 17995

• https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search?1
• National Archives of Australia extract for Gollan George Allan. Item details for Series number: A9301, Control symbol: 410654, Barcode: 5524086, Number of pages: 42.