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
1915 Coo-ee March 