GULLAN, Robert McLaren (1873-1944)Robert Gullan was born on 6 June 1873, the sixth of nine children of Martin Kennedy Gullan and Margaret, nee Stirling, of Winchelsea. He was enrolled at Geelong College with his brother on 10 February 1885. He was in both the 1st Football XVIII and the 1st Rowing XI for five years from 1888-92.
In 1915, he married Lily, daughter of George and Rachael Humphreys and worked as an Engine Driver, before he enlisted (No. 591) as a Private in the AIF on 3 February 1916, aged 42. He embarked from Melbourne on
HMAT A34 Persic on 3 June 1916 for France with 37 Battalion (B Company), transferring to 10th Light Trench Mortar Battery on 5 August. He served in France until November 1917. He returned to Australia on
HMT Durham Castle, embarking on 10 February 1918, and was discharged due to a rheumatic problem, and also on account of his age, on 19 June 1918.
He died in Geelong on 18 September 1944.
His brother,
James Stirling Gullan (1870-1934), was also educated at Geelong College. He served in the the Anglo-South African War.
Sources: 'Geelong Collegians at the Great War' compiled by J. Affleck. p.203 (citing Pegasus; National Archives of Australia).