James Harold Cannan CB CMG DSO (1882 - 1976)

Born 29 Aug 1882 in Townsville, Queensland (Australia)

Ancestors

Husband of Eileen Clair (Ranken) Cannan — married 12 Dec 1911 in Queensland, Australia

Died 23 May 1976 at age 93 in Spring Hill, Queensland, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kenneth Evans [send private message]

Biography

Jim Cannan CB CMG DSO is Notable.

Major General James Cannan CB CMG DSO VD was an Australian Army Brigadier General in The Great War and the Quartermaster General during the Second World War. Of Cannan, historian David Horner wrote, "his contribution to the defence of Australia was immense; his responsibility for supply, transport and works, a giant-sized burden; his acknowledgement—nil".^[1] May this small WikiTree recognition help undo the injustice done to this true Aussie notable.

Formative years

James Harold Cannan was born on 29th August 1882 at Townsville, Queensland (Australia). He was the sixth child of John Cannan, a bank manager, and his Isle of Man-born wife Elizabeth Hodgson.^[2] James was a great great grandson of Edward Powell and Elizabeth "Betty" Fish who married a week after they both arrived amongst the first free settlers in the infant penal colony of New South Wales in 1793 aboard the Bellona.

Cannan was first employed by a firm of hardware merchants. He then moved into the insurance / assurance industry. He worked for seven years for New Zealand Insurance.

He married Eileen Clair Ranken on 12th December 1911 in Queensland.^[3] They had no children.

Military service

Jim Cannan CB CMG DSO is an Anzac who served in World War One.

Cannan was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the 1st Queensland (Moreton) Regiment on 27th March 1903. He transferred to the 9th Infantry Regiment in July. He was promoted to Captain in 1907 and Major in 1911. He took command of the 8th Infantry (Oxley) Battalion and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 9th May 1914.

Cannan assumed command of the 15th Australian Infantry Battalion upon transfer to the Australian Imperial Force and landed with it at Gallipoli on the evening of Anzac Day, 25th April 1915. For "distinguished service in the field during operations in the Dardanelles", Cannan was Mentioned in Despatches and appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). His brother, Major Douglas Cannon, was killed in action at Gallipoli. Later, Cannan led his battalion into action again on the Western Front at the Battle of Pozières and Battle of Mouquet Farm. He commanded the 11th Infantry Brigade at the Battle of Messines, the Battle of Broodseinde, and during the Hundred Days Offensive. For his leadership in these battles, Cannan was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG). Later, he was appointed Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre, and Mentioned in Despatches another five times.

After the war, Cannon remained active in the Militia until he was placed on the unattached list in 1925. He was elected president of the Queensland branch of the Returned Soldiers' and Sailors' Imperial League of Australia from 1920 to 1921, and became the first president of the Brisbane branch of Legacy Australia in 1928.

Jim Cannan CB CMG DSO is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Army 1940-1946
Quartermaster General

During the Second World War, Cannan was recalled to duty in 1940, first as Inspector General of Administration, and then on promotion to Major General as Quartermaster General. As Quartermaster General, he was responsible for the Australian Army's supply, transport and engineering services throughout Australia and the South West Pacific Area. It was the most important logistical command in Australian history. In carrying it out, he clashed repeatedly with the Department of Defence Coordination in its attempt to maintain peacetime financial controls. Cannan had to work long hours and use all of his skills both as a soldier and a businessman. He had to attempt to keep ahead of the plans at General Headquarters in order to ensure that the required logistical support would be there on time. During the course of the war he visited operational areas to prepare and plan the logistical support of operations. As well as supporting the Australian Army, Cannan was responsible for providing a broad range of goods and services to the Americans.

Despite his immense responsibility and achievements, he received little recognition; he received no honours for the Second World War. Blamey nominated him for Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in September 1943, but it was refused, it not being the Labor government's policy to award knighthoods. Cannan retired from the Army in 1946 as a Major General.

Business world

From 1910, at just 28 years of age, Cannan was the Queensland state manager of the Insurance Office of Australia. Following The Great War, he studied insurance practice in London under the Army Education Scheme for two months before embarking for Australia on HMAT Ancises, arriving back in Australia in October 1919. Upon termination of his AIF appointment, he returned to the Insurance Office of Australia, becoming the manager of its Sydney office in 1932. He presided over the Insurance Institute of New South Wales from 1936 to 1937.

After the second war, Cannan was invited onto the boards of several companies.

Humanitarian

After the second war, Cannan's abilities as an administrator were very much in demand. But he fulfilled that demand in a very different manner. Moved by the plight of European refugees, he called on the government to act promptly to both provide the best aid and to obtain the best migrants available. Cannan was director of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in the South West Pacific from 1946 to 1947, and of the Queensland division of the Australian Red Cross from 1950 to 1951.

He was director of the Services Canteens Trust from 1948 to 1957.^[4]

Final parade

Cannan passed away on 23rd May 1976 at his Wickham Terrace apartment, Spring Hill, Queensland, and was cremated with full military honours.^[5] He was survived by his wife of 64 years.

Prior to his death, James Cannan was the last surviving Australian general of The Great War.

Sources

1. ↑ Horner, David. Crisis of Command: Australian Generalship and the Japanese Threat 1941–1943. Australian National University Press, ISBN 0-7081-1345-1. Canberra, 1978.
2. ↑ Queensland Birth Index #C6588/1882
3. ↑ Queensland Marriage Index #C2552/1911
4. ↑ United Services Club notable members: James Cannan
5. ↑ Queensland Death Index #B68742/1976

See also

• Hill, A J. Cannan, James Harold (1882–1976), Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 1993, accessed online 22 May 2018.
• Wikipedia: James Cannan; accessed 22 May 2018.