SCANLON

CONSTABLE MICHAEL SCANLON

Michael Scanlon (sometimes spelled Scanlan) was born in Ireland in
1842. After arriving in Australia in 1863 he managed a store. In 1865
he became a mounted constable and became known for his excellent bush
skills.

Scanlon was one of the men chosen by Sgt. Michael Kennedy to search
for the Kellys in October of 1878. The others in the ill-fated party
were Constables Thomas Lonigan and Thomas McIntyre. Scanlon was based
in Mooroopna at the time and he must have had some premonition (as did
Lonigan) as to the outcome, as it was reported that he told a friend
at the Mooroopna hospital that he could have his dog if he did not
make it back.

On the Saturday morning, October 26, 1878 while camping by a creek
called Stringybark, Scanlon and Kennedy went out on patrol leaving
Lonigan and McIntyre in camp.
Upon their arrival back at camp, McIntyre informed them that they
better surrender as they were surrounded. Thinking it was a joke,
Kennedy smiled and put his hand on his revolver. Then Ned Kelly said
bail up, and a warning shot was fired. They had no idea at the time
that Lonigan already lay dead nearby. Unfortunately, soon they were to
join him.

Kennedy jumped off his horse (which was soon appropriated by McIntyre,
who fled on it) and returned fire and Scanlon still on horseback,
fired off a shot, but hit no one. He was hit by return fire and fell
off the horse onto his knees. While on the ground he tried to unsling
his rifle and to rise, but he fell on his hands and knees and he was
shot again. He did not rise again.

His ring was taken from his dead body by Joe Byrne, who wore it for
the rest of his life, which was not long.

Scanlon was buried in the Mansfield Cemetery and the Police Memorial
at Mansfield, unveiled in April of 1880, has his name as well as those
of Kennedy and Lonigan.

He was 36 years old at the time of his death.

Michael Scanlon was unmarried and had no relatives in Australia, thus,
his possessions were not claimed at the Depot.

In a letter received by Thomas McIntyre, another trooper just returned
to the Depot from the ranges said: "...I have to sleep in the store
room on an old gun case. My pillow is made up of a kerosene tin and a
bundle of unclaimed clothes. Poor old Scanlon all his things are in
here.."

(Written by Sharon Hollingsworth)