When serving as a stretcher bearer for the 29th Batalion in a confrontation with the Germans at Morlancourt on the Somme in France he was killed in action on July 29, 1918.

The book "Black and Gold" , which encompasses the entire WWI war history of the 29th Battalion, in its coverage of that night's battle stated ...'when one of the Battalion Sergeants fell wounded three attempts were made to rescue the wounded NCO but on each occasion the rescuers became casualties'. It was the day of his 29th birthday. Allied casualties from that conflict were later buried in the Mericourt L'Abbe Communal Cemetery Extension where they remain today. This cemetery is seven kilometres from Corbie.

Private Hogan had made several previous attempts to enlist but on each occasion was rejected due to having hammer toes and even his successful medical certificate references these hammer toes. It was due to the intervention of Mr. S. Carlisle (Birchip) who gave him a letter to forward to a Col Summers that ensured his acceptance for active service.

This letter from S. Carlisle cited his football prowess with Narraport, where he was recognised as the club's best all-round player, and also with South Bendigo to where he was cleared in May 1915.)-as reported in the Bendigo Independent newspaper dated May 5, 1915, under the heading "Bendigo League Meeting: Clearance to South Bendigo: Roger Hogan, Narraport".

Indeed, the book "Black and Gold", as mentioned above, has only one personal reference to Roger Hogan when it listed him among the eight representatives of the 29th Battalion in – the very successful 8th Brigade football team.

The Carlisle letter also listed his long list of successful achievements as a professional athlete throughout country Victoria including successes at Stawell In 1913/14/15 over the 440 yard hurdles and flat events, in an era where his contemporaries nick-named him "One lap Hogan", such was hls dominance.

Private Hogan kept a diary from the day he sailed from Melbourne until his departure for the Western Front on October 12, 1917. Ironically this diary, which was entrusted to an AIF Serviceman returning to Australia in that year, arrived in his mother's hands about the same time as the official Army notification of his death.

Excerpts from this dairy, which has had many copies made over the years, include his January 1, 1917 underlined entry whilst aboard the "Medic" sailing to England..."What oh! Maryborough!" which indicates his enjoyment of competing in past Maryborough New Year's Day athletics carnivals.

READ MORE: Your guide to Anzac Day in Bendigo and central Victoria 

On April 25, 1917 his entry commences..."Anzac Day" and then continues..."Easy morning. Nice day. Won Open Hcp (100 yds), kicking the football (place kick), 200 yds, hitting the wicket, second in the High Jump and the Spud race. Lieut. Col. Abbott told me later he saw me jump 5'11" at Echuca. (His army recorded height was 5'91/2) Brennan a NSW chap won the High Jump. A very pretty jumper and a nice fellow too".

And then a near final diary entry written on September 9 on the train taking the troops back to Salisbury, near the Hurdcott AIF army barracks, after an important Army athletics meet in Southhampton..."In train going back to Salisbury. I ran 2nd in the 400 yds Hurdles. At least I was placed second. I reckon I won it. He is the 1/4 mile Hurdles champion of the Army. I got a lovely cigarette case from Lady Emma Crichton at the end of the race".

His only other recorded athletic results were in France conducted over two days on December 30, 31, 1917 when he won the 220 yards, 440 yards, long jump, 800 yards, the mile and the mile walk. He was then chosen to represent both the 29th Battalion and the 8th Brigade in an athletics carnival back in England over the Easter 1918 period. However, due to huge advances by the Germans early in the New Year, the 29th Battalion was called into front line action for most if not all of the following months.

Had he survived, Private Hogan was to have been the best man for the wedding of a fellow AIF friend, Bill Ross, who hailed from the nearby Nullawil farming district, at war's end, but this was not to be. Subsequently when Bill Ross and his bride, an English nurse, married, their first born son was named Roger Hogan Ross.

Roger Hogan left a fiancee, Annie Quinn, a widowed mother and twelve siblings to mourn his death. Alike himself many of his siblings were gifted sportspeople, including brothers Austin (CHB) and Con (HBF) who were Fitzroy team-mates of the future triple Brownlow Medalist, Haydn Bunton, when Bunton made his debut, (HFF) against Melbourne on the MCG May 2, 1931.

Austin also had the honour of playing in three premierships in the one season, viz., Birchip in a Wednesday League, Nullawil in a Saturday League and then with South Ballarat on permit on the following Saturday. Three of his Bendigo nephews, Martin, Trevor and Laurie Hogan figured prominently in Bendigo amateur and professional levels especially in the 1950's and early 1960's. 

On Anzac Day, as part of the White Hills Bowls Club annual Anzac Day tournament prior to play, and after the completion of the club's traditional Anzac Day Service, bowling nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and other family members will honour the late Roger Hogan by laying a wreath at the club's flagpole. At the completion of play, the wreath will be taken by Birchip participants to its final resting place at "Tara" the Hogan family farm at Karyrle, Birchip from whence 4548 Private Roger Hogan left to commence his AIF service for our country.

Lest We Forget.