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HANNON Dennis Francis ED MB BS DGO

1919 – 2001

Dennis Francis Hannon was born, on 11th May 1919, in Adelaide. He was the son of Thomas Francis Hannon, a police inspector, and Mary Florence Hannon.  Hannon’s father died when he was 12 years old when the family were living in Rose Park, SA.  He had two brothers, Thomas and James and two sisters Mary and Claire.  While Hannon’s father was educated at Christian Brother’s College, it appears the Hannon was probably educated at Rostrevor College. He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS in 1942. He completed his residency at the RAH, in 1943.

Hannon joined the AAMC as a captain on 17th February 1943 and was placed on the Reserve of Officers. He had previously served for 18 months, in 3 FdAmb, as a medical student in the CMF, in 1939. He enlisted in the 2/AIF on 1st February 1944, initially naming his mother as his next of kin and changing to his wife, Sheila, after his marriage in 1945. He was sent as MO to 2 AAMC Trg Bn in Victoria, until April 1944, when he was then allotted for duty as RMO to 13th Fd Regt, Jungle Division. According to his military records, he did not appear to have served overseas but was with 13th Fd Regt until May 1945.  13th Fd Regt had served in Egypt and then in PNG until October 1943, when it was withdrawn back to Australia. During the time Hannon was with the unit it was undergoing training in the Atherton Tablelands and remained in Australia until the end of the war. Hannon also spent some time at Camp Pell, a large transit camp in Melbourne, initially known as Royal Park but renamed to Camp Pell in honour of Major Floyd Pell of the 33rd Pursuit Squadron, United States Army. Pell was killed leading a squadron of Kittyhawks during the defence of Darwin, in February 1942.   Hannon remained with 13th Fd Regt until 8th January 1946, when he was transferred back to South Australia and posted to 34 ACH.  Hannon married Sheila Patricia Kelly, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Francis Kelly, of Marryatville, on the 14th November 1945, at St Ignatius Church, Norwood.  He was granted ninety days discharge leave in December 1946 and his appointment with 2/AIF was terminated on 21st March 1947.  Hannon remained in the CMF and later attained the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Following the war, Hannon went into general practice in Gawler, SA, later moving to Adelaide, where he had a practice in Victoria Square, Adelaide.  He travelled to Ireland and gained a Diploma of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Trinity College, Dublin, in 1962. He was a member of the AMA.  Dennis Francis Hannon died on 22nd August 2001, and is buried at West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears III: Medical Practitioners South Australia, who Served in World War 2. 

Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2019. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD