Alfred Aghan

Alfred Aghan
Portrait of Alfred Aghan
NicknameAlf
Born19 July 1890
Victoria, Australia
Died14 October 1961 (age 71)
Allegiance New Zealand Australia
Branch
Army
Service years
1916–1918
Service numberWWI 13300
UnitNew Zealand Mounted Rifles
Conflicts
1914–1916 Egypt
AwardsBritish War Medal (1914–1920)
RelationsDavid Aghan

Alfred John Aghan (19 Jul 1890 – 14 Oct 1961), also known as Alfred or Alf Ah Gan, was an Australian Chinese soldier who fought in the New Zealand Army during World War I.

Life and First World War

Aghan was born in Victoria, Australia on 19 July 1890, to mother Elizabeth Southgate and father William Ah Gan and was one of eleven children.[1] In 1904, the 'Ah Gan' family anglicised their name to Aghan during the White Australia policy.[2] Despite being Australian-born with Chinese heritage, the brothers were unable to enlist for service in Australia. The Defence Act in place during WWI meant that some Australians with Chinese ancestry were able to overcome barriers of discrimination that were put in place to deter Chinese and other minority groups from the war effort.[3][2]

At age 25, Aghan left his job in Melbourne as a French polisher and, with his brother David, moved to New Zealand.[4][failed verification] Alfred and David joined their brother and sister, who already lived in Hastings, and stayed at that address before enlistment. The brothers socialised as Australians and not Chinese, in order to successfully enlist, as they were members of the British Empire by virtue of being Australian citizens.[5]

Aghan left New Zealand on the HMNZT Willochra on 17 April 1915.[6][failed verification] Alfred and his brother David served with the Auckland Mounted Rifles from 1916 to 1918 in Egypt and Palestine. As part of the 13 Squadron and 13th Mounted Rifles, where Aghan held the title of Private and Trooper. He also did a brief transfer to the Veterinary Corps.[1]

Personal life & collections

Aghan married Violet Catherine Reardon in 1921.

In 1935, he was president of the New Zealand branch of the Returned Soldiers' League.[7]

In 2016, a descent of Aghan, Brett Aghan, gifted Auckland War Memorial Museum a selection of artefacts belonging to Albert Aghan to add to their collections.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Alfred Aghan –Online Cenotaph". Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Object • Affection [物 • 情]". Object • Affection 物 · 情. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Aghan Brothers". Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  4. ^ Chinese Museum (December 2022). "Chinese Anzacs Fast Facts".
  5. ^ History Teachers’ Association of Victoria and the Chinese Museum (2015). "Chinese Anzacs Education Resource" (PDF).
  6. ^ torpedobay (16 September 2012). "Troopships departed NZ WW1". National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Personal". The Argus. 5 October 1935. p. 24. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
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