Monthly Archives: June 2017

Ernest Henry KING

Posted on June 19, 2017 | Leave a comment

Ernest Henry KING

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4821), Ernest Henry King was born at Bathurst, N.S.W.[1]  He gave his age as 29 years and 1 month, his marital status as single, and his occupation as blacksmith.  His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination form was height 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a medium complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair.  His religious denomination was Church of England.  He claimed to have had 3 years military service in B Company of the 3rd Infantry Regiment at Bathurst.

Captain A. C. Eade stated that ‘Private King joined the Coo-ees at Wallerawang’ in a farewell given for him and another soldier at the Soldiers’ Monument in Bathurst on 6th January 1916.[2] The ‘Date of joining’ on the HMAT Star of England A15 embarkation roll for Private Ernest Henry King was recorded as 31st October 1915.[3]  On this date the Coo-ees had a rest day at Wallerawang, after having held a recruiting meeting there the night before.

He completed his medical examination, and was attested by Captain Eade, at Lithgow, on 2nd November 1915.

After completing the Co-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

The Lithgow Mercury reported that ‘Ern King’, along with fellow Coo-ee George Davidson, who had both joined the Coo-ees from Cullen Bullen, ‘were farewelled at a smoke concert in the Cullen Hall’ in early January 1916, and Private King was presented with ‘a silver cigarette case, holder, and pouch’.[4]

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was 98 Russell Street, Bathurst, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his mother, Mrs. M. A. [Mary Ann] King, at the same address.

On 8th March 1916 Private King, along with many of the other Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, with the 15th reinforcements for the 13th Battalion.  He arrived in Egypt on 11th April 1916.

On 16th April 1916 Private King on was transferred to the 4th Pioneer Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt.

On 19th April 1916 Private King was sent to the 13th Australian Field Ambulance at Serapaum, Egypt, suffering from Mumps. On 25th April 1916 he was transferred to the 54th Casualty Clearing Station at Serapaum. He was discharged on 4th May 1916 and re-joined the 4th Pioneer Battalion.

On 4th June 1916 Private King left Alexandria aboard the Transport Scotian bound for France.  He arrived at Marseilles on 11th June 1916.

On 9th August 1917 Private King went on leave in France until 19th August 1917.

On 8th September 1917 Private King was detached to the 14th Australian Army Service Company to paint wagons. He returned to the 4th Pioneer Battalion on 17th September 1917.

On 1st December 1917 Private King was promoted to Lance Corporal.

On 27th September 1918 Lance Corporal King was appointed Driver, and went on leave to England. He returned to the 4th Pioneer Battalion on 13th October 1918.

On the 7th of April 1919 Lance Corporal King departed Le Harve, France, bound for England. He arrived at Southampton, England on 9th April 1919.

On 12th May 1919 Lance Corporal King departed England on the HT Port Napier bound for Australia.

He arrived in Australia on 5th July 1919.  He was discharged Termination of Period of Enlistment on 27th August 1919.

[1] NAA: B2455, KING E H

[2] ‘Privates Jack Rigby and E. King’, National Advocate, 7 January 1916, p. 5. Retrieved June 18, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158051490

[3] Australia War Memorial. ‘First World War Embarkation Rolls, Ernest Henry King’, HMAT Star of England A15, https://oldsite.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1830975/

[4] ‘Cullen Bullen Recruiting’, Lithgow Mercury, 7 January 1916, p. 3. Retrieved June 18, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218730509

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George DAVIDSON

Posted on June 19, 2017 | Leave a comment

George DAVIDSON

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4760), George Davidson was born at Morpeth, Northumberland, England.[1]  He gave his age as 44 years and 2 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as miner.  His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination form was height 5 feet 5 inches tall, with a medium complexion, blue eyes, and grey brown hair.  His religious denomination was Church of England.  He claimed that he had no previous military experience.

He completed his medical examination, and was attested by Captain A. C. Eade, at Lithgow, on 2nd November 1915.

After completing the Co-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

The Lithgow Mercury reported that ‘Geordie Davidson’ along with fellow Coo-ee ‘Ern King’, who had both joined the Coo-ees from Cullen Bullen, ‘were farewelled at a smoke concert in the Cullen Hall’ in early January 1916, and Private Davidson was ‘presented with a pipe and tobacco pouch’.[2]

Private G. Davidson was also given a send off ‘by his many friends’ at ‘the house of Mr. F. Maddy’ in Bathurst [who was listed as his next of kin on his Attestation Paper] in early January 1916, where he was ‘presented with a wristlet watch and also a pocket bible from his friends’.[3]

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Cullen Bullen, Mudgee Line, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his friend, F. [Fred] Muddy [i.e. Maddy], 265 Russell Street, Bathurst, N.S.W.

The ‘Date of joining’ on the HMAT Star of England A15 embarkation roll for both Private George Davidson and Private Ernest Henry King was recorded as 31st October 1915.[4]  The Coo-ees arrived at Wallerawang and held a recruiting meeting there on 30th October 1915.  According to Mr H. T. Blacket who accompanied the Coo-ees in his motor car, seven men presented themselves to join the Coo-ees that evening.[5]  The Coo-ees had a rest day at Wallerawang on 31st October 1915, before marching on to Lithgow on 1st November 1915.  Both George Davidson and Ernest Henry King completed their medical examinations, and were attested by Captain Eade, at Lithgow on 2nd November 1915.  Captain Eade stated that ‘Private King joined the Coo-ees at Wallerawang’ in an article published in the National Advocate on 7th January 1916.  So it appears possible that George Davidson may also have been present at the recruiting meeting held at Wallerawang on the evening of 30th October 1915.[6]

On 8th March 1916 Private Davidson, along with many of the other Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, with the 15th reinforcements for the 13th Battalion.  He arrived in Egypt on 11th April 1916.

On 16th April 1916 Private Davidson was transferred to the 4th Pioneer Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt.

On 4th June 1916 Private Davidson left Alexandria aboard the Transport Scotian bound for France.  He arrived at Marseilles on 11th June 1916.

On 29th August 1916 the 4th Pioneer Battalion was conducting maintenance on trenches in the vicinity of Mouquet Farm, France, when Private Davidson was struck by a the blast of a high explosive shell in the left arm.

On 31st August 1916 Private Davidson was admitted to the 3rd Canadian Field Ambulance with a fracture of left scapula [shoulder blade].

His movements for the next year while he recovered from his wounds are not clear on his service record.

On 27th August 1917 he was transferred to England from the 4th Australian Division Base Depot at Le Havre, France.

He arrived at Weymouth, England, on 29th August 1917, where he marched into the No. 2 Command Depot, with classification “C1” [fit for home service only].

On 26th September 1917 Private Davidson departed England bound for Australia aboard the HMAT Borda for medical discharge, with a deformity to the left elbow.

Private Davidson arrived at Sydney on 25th November 1917.  He was discharged medically unfit on 27th December 1917.

 

[1] NAA: B2455, DAVIDSON G

[2] ‘Cullen Bullen Recruiting’, Lithgow Mercury, 7 January 1916, p. 3. Retrieved June 18, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218730509

[3] ‘Personal’, National Advocate, 7 January 1916, p. 5. Retrieved June 18, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158051548

[4] Australia War Memorial. ‘First World War Embarkation Rolls, George Davidson’, HMAT Star of England A15, https://oldsite.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1834299/

[5] ‘The Great Route March … Yetholme to Wallerawang’, The Farmer and Settler, 2 November 1915, p. 3. Retrieved June 19, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116674770

[6] ‘Privates Jack Rigby and E. King’, National Advocate, 7 January 1916, p. 5. Retrieved June 18, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158051490

 

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George SEAMAN

Posted on June 12, 2017 | Leave a comment

George SEAMAN

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4929), George Seaman was born at Bathurst, N.S.W.[1]  He gave his age as 28 years and 8 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as bootmaker.  His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was 5 feet 5 inches tall, weight 9 stone, with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and fair hair.  His religious denomination was Church of England.  He claimed to have He claimed that he had no previous military service. He stated that he had been rejected by the A.I.F. previously for being too short.

He was attested by Captain A. C. Eade at Bathurst on 28th October 1915.  He joined the Coo-ees at Bathurst.[2]  He did not complete his medical examination until 13th November 1915 at Liverpool.

After completing the Coo-ee March he went into Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

On 14th January 1916 Private Seaman was charged with being absent without leave from the Liverpool Camp for six days. He was fined 30 shillings.

On 7th February 1916 he was charged with being absent without leave from the Liverpool Camp for one day. He was fined 5 shillings.

On his embarkation roll Private Seaman’s address at time of enrolment was Brilliant Road, South Bathurst, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his mother, Mrs. E. [Eliza] Ingram, at the same address.

On 8th March 1916 Private Seaman, along with many of the other Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, as15th reinforcements for the 13th Battalion.  He arrived in Egypt on 11th April 1916.

On 19th April 1916 Private Seaman was transferred to the 45th Battalion in Egypt.

On 2nd June 1916 Private Seaman left Alexandria aboard the transport Kinfauns Castle bound for France.  He arrived at Marseilles on 8th June 1916.

On 4th July 1916 the 45th Battalion was at Sailly-Sur-Lys preparing to move into the trenches for the first time, when Private Seaman was evacuated to the 12th Australian Field Ambulance suffering from Enteritis. On 7th July 1916 he was sent to the 4th Division Rest Station.  He rejoined the 45th Battalion on 9th July 1916.

A month later, on 8th August 1916 the 45th Battalion was in the front line trenches between Pozieres and Martinpuich, France, when Private Seaman was evacuated with shell shock. On 10th August 1916 he was transferred from the 44th Casualty Clearing Station by ambulance train to the 14th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, France.

The Bathurst Times reported that Private George Seaman ‘… took part in the battle of Pozieres and was buried by earth disturbed by a bomb … and he was taken to the casualty station and subsequently sent over the England …’[3]

On 12th September 1916 Private Seaman was placed aboard the Hospital Ship Newhaven for evacuation to England with debility after shell shock.  He was admitted to the War Hospital at Reading, England, on the same day.

On 16th October 1916 Private Seaman was discharged from hospital and granted leave in London until 31st October 1916 to report to the No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, England.

On 2nd November 1916 he marched into No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, with classification B1A [fit for light duty].

On 23rd March 1917 Private Seaman was transferred to the 61st Battalion at Wareham, England.

On 23rd April 1917 Private Seaman was transferred to the No. 4 Command Depot at Wareham, England.

On 2nd May 1917 he was transferred to the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England.

Private Seaman departed England on 22nd July 1917 for return to Australia aboard the H.M.A.T.  A71 Nestor with inguinal hernia.

He arrived in Australia on 25th September 1917.  He was discharged medically unfit on 23rd October 1917.

 

[1] NAA: B2455, SEAMAN GEORGE

[2] ‘The Coo-ees’, The Bathurst Times,  10 October 1916, p. 4. Retrieved June 9, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109934579

[3] ‘Soldiers return’, The Bathurst Times, 28 September 1917, p. 1. Retrieved June 9, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111567652

 

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Cecil George HAYES

Posted on June 10, 2017 | Leave a comment

Cecil George HAYES

Per his military service record (regimental no. 2465), Cecil George Hayes was born at Bathurst, N.S.W.[1]  He gave his age as 18 years, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 4 inches tall, weight 9 stone 6 inches, with a dark complexion, grey eyes, and black hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed that he had 3 months military service in the Senior Cadets. He completed his medical on the 5th November 1915 at Katoomba, and was attested at Katoomba by Lieutenant F. Middenway on the same day.

‘Cecil Hayes’ was named in The Blue Mountain Echo as one of the recruits who joined the Coo-ees at Katoomba.[2]  He was reported in The Blue Mountain Echo as ‘proudly bearing aloft the Katoomba flag’ when the Coo-ees marched out of Katoomba.[3]

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Menangle Park Camp as reinforcement for the 6th Light Horse Regiment.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Main Street, Katoomba, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his father, William Hayes, at the same address.

On 26th April 1916 Trooper Hayes departed Sydney on the HMAT Port Macquarie A39 with the 17th reinforcements for the 6th Light Horse Regiment (along with fellow Coo-ee Ronald Hector Perkins).

After arriving at Suez in Egypt, on 21st June 1916 Trooper Hayes was taken on strength with the 2nd Light Horse Training Regiment at Te-el-Kebir.

On 15th July 1916 he was taken on strength of the 12th Company of the Imperial Camel Corps.

On 11th November 1916 Trooper Hayes was transferred to the 3rd ANZAC Battalion of the Imperial Camel Corps.

On 17th December 1916 Trooper Hayes was admitted to the New Zealand Field Ambulance sick with influenza. He was discharged and returned to his unit on 19th December 1916.

On 2nd January 1917 Trooper Hayes was charged with Neglect of Duty on 30th December 1916 whilst on line piquet. He was awarded 14 days field punishment no. 2.

On 8th January 1917 Trooper Hayes was charged with delay in obeying an order by an NCO. He was awarded 7 days field punishment no. 2.

On 5th July 1917 Trooper Hayes was admitted sick to hospital in Palestine. On 13th July 1917 he was admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital at El Arish with septic sores.  On 14th July 1917 he was transferred to the 36th Stationary Hospital at Mahemdia, Egypt.   He was discharged to ICC details at Australian Base Depot Company at Abbassia from hospital on 15th August 1917.

On 10th September 1917 he rejoined his Battalion in Palestine.

On 23rd February 1918 Trooper Hayes joined the Signal Training Unit at Moascar.

He wrote from Palestine in a letter home published in The Blue Mountain Echo on 22nd March 1918 “This life suits me down to the boots, and in spite of the hard work and poor tucker I’m packing on weight daily. My work as signaller is risky, but there are risks in anything nowadays, and whilst I’ve had three close calls I’m still as fit as every, I think a fellow’s fate is booked from the cradle, and nothing will change it. I have met some fine men in the Army, and like them greatly, but, at all times, I’m thinking of my old mate, [fellow Coo-e] Reg Duff, in France, and wondering if he is still going strong… I am into this till the end, dad, so buck up and I’ll pull through”.[4]

He rejoined his Battalion on 29th June 1918.

On 1st July 1918 Trooper Hays was transferred to the 15th Light Horse Regiment.

On 13th March 1919 Trooper Hayes was charged with drunkenness at Beirut on 8th March 1919. He was awarded 7 days field punishment no. 2 and fined 10 days pay.

On 25th May 1919 Trooper Hayes was charged with a number of offences including overstaying his leave from 1700 till 1830 on 24th May 1919. He was awarded 28 days field punishment no. 2.

On 5th July 1919 Trooper Hayes was charged with a number of offences including being absent from 1600 parade on 3rd July 1919, breaking camp, and causing a disturbance in town. He was awarded 28 days field punishment no. 2, and fined 30 days pay.

While still undergoing this punishment, on 24th July 1919 Trooper Hayes commenced his return to Australia aboard the H.T. Dongala.

He arrived in Australia on 25th August 1919, and was discharged termination of period of enlistment on 21st October 1919.

[1] NAA: B2455, HAYES C G 2465

[2] ‘March o’er the Mountains’, The Blue Mountain Echo, 12 November 1915, pp. 2-3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108042142

[3] ‘March o’er the Mountains’, The Blue Mountain Echo, 12 November 1915, p. 6, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108042142

[4] ‘Friday, March 22, 1918. Signaller Cecil Hayes’, The Blue Mountain Echo,  p. 2. Retrieved March 7, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108248103

 

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TIMELINE June 1917

Posted on June 5, 2017 | Leave a comment

TIMELINE June 1917

Friday, 1 June 1917

Private William John SHANNON (4th Pioneer Battalion) was promoted to Lance Corporal.

Monday, 4 June 1917

Corporal Maurice Bertram FREE (45th Battalion) was promoted to Sergeant.

Tuesday, 5 June 1917

Private Percy Frederick COOPER was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his neck and back.

Wednesday, 6 June 1917

Private Charles Henry HUNT (45th Battalion) was discharged medically unfit in Australia (pleurisy and rheumatism].

Private Sidney Stanley CANNON (4th Pioneer Battalion) was wounded in action in the vicinity of Messines, Belgium,  receiving a high explosive shell wound to the right temple, and was evacuated to the 77th Field Ambulance, and then back to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station, then the 1st Casualty Clearing Station, then admitted to the 1st New Zealand Stationary Hospital at Hazebrouk, France.

Thursday, 7 June 1917

Private Alan Chesher JOHNSON (Alan Cheshyre JANION) (45th Battalion) was killed in action in the vicinity of Messines Ridge, Belgium, during an attack on the German lines.

A. C. Janion served as A. C. Johnson on 45th Battalion panel at the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium (Photograph: S. & H. Thompson 11/9/2012)

Company Quarter Master Sergeant Joseph Clark GILMOUR (2nd Anzac Cyclist Battalion) was wounded in action, with a gunshot wound to the right arm, in the vicinity of Messines, Belgium, and was evacuated to the 77th Field Ambulance, then to the 1st New Zealand Field Ambulance.

Private Thomas Henry TURVEY (45th Battalion) was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to the abdomen in an attack on Messines Ridge, Belgium.

Private T. H. Turvey, of Gilgandra “Coo-ees”, awarded Military Medal (Newspaper unknown, 1917)

Private George Elsie EWENS (45th Battalion) was wounded in action receiving a gunshot wound to his groin in the vicniity of Messines Belgium, and was evactuated to the 77th Field Ambulance.

Private Leslie Reginald ANLEZARK (45th Battalion) was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his right arm during an attack on Messines Ridge, and was evacuated to the 9th Casualty Clearing Station.

On the night of the 7/8th June 1917,  Lance Corporal Henry MOSS (45th Battalion) was wounded in action with gunshot wounds to his left arm and compound fracture to his humerus during an attack on Messines Ridge, and was evacuated to the 77th Field Ambulance, then moved back to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station.

Friday, 8 June 1917

Sergeant Maurice Bertram FREE (45th Battalion)  was wounded for a second time with a gunshot wound to his right hand in the Battle of Messines, and was evacuated to the 9th Australian Field Ambulance, then moved to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station  [check dates-then placed aboard the 19th Ambulance Train and admitted to 2nd Camp Hospital at Rouen].

Private George Elsie EWENS (45th Battalion) was moved back to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station.

Lance Corporal Henry MOSS (45th Battalion) was admitted to the 7th General Hospital at St Omer, France.

Private Percy Frederick COOPER (45th Battalion) was wounded in action during the Battle of Messines and received gunshot wounds to his neck and left knee, and was evacuated to the 9th Field Ambulance.

Saturday, 9 June 1917

Private Leslie Reginald ANLEZARK (45th Battalion) was admitted to the 9th General Hospital at Rouen [wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his right arm].

Private Percy Frederick COOPER (45th Battalion) was admitted to the 9th General Hospital at Rouen.

Private George Elsie EWENS (45th Battalion) was admitted to the 4th General Hospital , France.

Company Quarter Master Sergeant Joseph Clark GILMOUR (2nd Anzac Cyclist Battalion) was moved to the 11th Casualty Clearing Station, then admitted to the 4th Stationary Hospital, France.

Monday, 11 June 1917

Private Thomas Henry TURVEY (45th Battalion) was placed aboard the HS St Patrick and evacuated to a hospital in England.

Private Daniel LYNCH (13th Battalion) was discharged medically unfit in Australia [rheumatism].

Thursday, 14 June 1917

Private Leslie Reginald ANLEZARK (45th Battalion) was placed aboard the HS St George for evacuation to England.

Private Percy Frederick COOPER (45th Battalion) was placed aboard a hospital ship for evacuation to England.

Friday, 15 June 1917

Private Leslie Reginald ANLEZARK (45th Battalion) was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth.

Private Percy Frederick COOPER (45th Battalion) was admitted to the Tooting Military Hospital, England.

Company Quarter Master Sergeant Joseph Clark GILMOUR was discharge from hospital and returned to his unit.

Saturday, 16 June 1917

Private Thomas JACKSON (13th Battalion) was killed in action in the vicinity of Messines, Belgium, while manning support trenches.

T. Jackson’s name on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper, Belgium (Photograph: S. & H. Thompson 11/9/2012)

Monday, 18 June 1917

Private George Elsie EWENS (45th Battalion) was placed aboard the HS Newhaven at Calais for evacuation to England, and admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth.

Friday, 22 June 1917

Private Thomas Henry TURVEY (45th Battalion) was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield.

Saturday, 23 June 1917

Private James O’NEILL (18th Battalion) was admitted to the 5th Australian Field Ambulance with Scabies.

Monday, 25 June 1917

Private Leslie Reginald ANLEZARK (45th Battalion) was transferred to the Grove Military Hospital at Tooting, England.

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William John SHANNON

Posted on June 4, 2017 | Leave a comment

William John SHANNON

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4889), William John Shannon was born at Glasgow, Scotland.[1]  He gave his age as 24 years and 10 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as miner.  His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 4 1/8 inches tall, weight 8 stone 12 lbs., with a dark complexion, hazel eyes, and black hair.  His religious denomination was recorded as Presbyterian.  He claimed that he had 3 years previous military service in the Royal Field Artillery in Scotland.

William Shannon was listed in The Leader as one of the men who were recruited at Orange to join the Coo-ees’.[2]  He completed his medical examination on 24th October at Orange, and was attested by Captain T. Nicholas at Orange on 24th October 1915.

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

On 27th January 1915 Private Shannon was charged with being absent without leave from the Liverpool Camp for 11 days.  He was fined 11 days pay.

Private Shannon was involved in hearing at the Central Police Court on 25th January 1916, followed by a court case on 6th March 1916 at the Darlinghurst Quarter Sessions, in which another Coo-ee was charged with, and subsequently found guilty of, having assaulted fellow Coo-ee Daniel Lynch at Central Railway Station about midnight on January 16th 1916, and robbed him of two pounds.[3]  A witness testified that ‘Shannon, who was the worse for drink, took no part in the robbery’, and he was subsequently discharged.[4]

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was left blank, and his next of kin is listed as his father, S. [Samuel] Shannon, Lane Street, off Chloride Street, Broken Hill, N.S.W.

On 8th March 1916, Private Shannon, along with many of the other Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, with the 15th reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.  He arrived in Egypt on the 11th April 1916.

On 16th April 1916 Private Cannon was transferred to the 4th Pioneer Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt.

On 10th May 1916 Private Shannon was charged with being absent without leave from 1600 on 29th April 1916 until 0600 on 2nd May 1916.  He was awarded 96 hours Field Punishment Number 2 and fined 7 days pay.

On 4th June 1916 Private Shannon left Alexandria aboard the Transport Scotian bound for France.  He arrived at Marseilles on 11th June 1916.

On 25th August 1916 Private Shannon was charged with being absent without leave from 1400 until 2030 on 24th August 1916 and Disobedience of Orders.  He was awarded 21 days Field Punishment Number 2 and fined 22 days pay.

On 30th May 1917 Private Shannon was charged with being absent without leave from 2045 Parade and from 2100 Tattoo Roll Call until 2200 on 27th May 1917.  He was fined 2 days pay.

Two days later on 1st June 1917 Private Shannon was promoted to Lance Corporal.

On 29th July 1917 Lance Corporal Shannon was detached to the 2nd Army rest Camp.  He re-joined the 4th Pioneer Battalion on13th August 1917.

On 24th August 1917 Lance Corporal Shannon went on leave.  He re-joined the 4th Pioneer Battalion from leave on 7th September 1917.

On 4th December 1917 Lance Corporal Shannon was detached to the 4th Australian Division Base Depot at Le Harve, France, to go before a Medical Board.

On 10th December 1917 he went before the Medical Board and was classified as Permanent Base due to debility.

On 19th December 1917 Lance Corporal Shannon was transferred to England for permanent base duties.

On 20th December 1917 Lance Corporal Shannon marched into No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England.

On 10th January 1918 he marched into the 1st Training Brigade/Pioneer Training Battalion at Sutton Veny, England.

On 27th May 1918 Lance Corporal Shannon was sent to the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England.

On 7th June 1918 Lance Corporal Shannon departed England on H.M.A.T. Essex to return to Australia for medical discharge (Hallux Valgus) [Bunion].

He arrived in Australia on 1st August 1918, and was discharged medically unfit on 3rd September 1918.

 

[1] NAA: B2455, SHANNON WILLIAM JOHN

[2] ‘The Recruits’, Leader, 25 October 1915, p. 4. Retrieved November 26, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article117842599

[3] ‘Soldier Charged’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 26 January 1916, p. 6. Retrieved March 1, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28782852

[4] ‘Soldier Charged’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 26 January 1916, p. 6. Retrieved March 1, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28782852

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