SHANNON, Ernest Herbert
| Service Number: | 40 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 20th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Woollongong, New South Wales, Australia , 11 December 1877 |
| Home Town: | Randwick, Randwick, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tramway Lineman's Labourer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 10 February 1917, aged 39 years |
| Cemetery: |
Boulogne Eastern Cemetery VIII B 193 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 40, 20th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 40, 20th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Sydney | |
| 1 Sep 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 20th Infantry Battalion, Promoted in the field at Gallipoli. | |
| 5 Jan 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 40, 20th Infantry Battalion, Shrapnel wounds to shoulder and neck. Admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance. Relocated to Boulogne on 7th February. Died of wounds the 3rd Canadian General Hospital. | |
| 10 Feb 1917: | Involvement Corporal, 40, 20th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 40 awm_unit: 20 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-02-10 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Ernest Herbert SHANNON (Service Number 40) was born on 11th December 1877 in Wollongong. He commenced a career in the Sydney Tramways on 23rd July 1902 as a lineman’s labourer at Ultimo Depot. He worked there for almost 13 years before he was released from duty to join the Expeditionary Forces on 12th April 1915. He embarked at Sydney on HMAT A35 ‘Berrima’ on 26th June 1915.
On 16 August 1915, he proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces at Gallipoli. Not too long later, on 1st September 1915, he was promoted to Pioneer Sergeant.
Following the end of the Gallipoli Campaign and his arrival in Alexandria on 9th January 1916, he was found guilty of being Absent Without Leave from 10pm on 21st January 1916 to 9pm on 26th January 1916. For this offence, he received no further punishment than reprimanding. On 18th March 1916, he embarked at Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Forces. He disembarked at Marseilles on 25th March.
After seven months in the field with the British Expeditionary Forces, he was admitted to the Field Ambulance in Belgium on 6th October 1916 with neurasthenia. Two days later, he was admitted for Influenza. Nine days later, on 17th October, he was sent back to duty. It was not long before he re-joined his Battalion.
After another two months in the field, on 14th December 1916, he was found guilty of being Absent Without Leave again (at the end of November). He was reduced to the rank of Corporal and was made to forfeit two days’ pay.
He was in France during the start of 1917. On 5th February, he was wounded in action. He was admitted to the 5th Australian Field Ambulance with shrapnel wounds to his shoulder and neck. After being relocated on 7th February to Boulogne, he died of these wounds on 10th February at the 3rd Canadian General Hospital. By the time of death, the shrapnel wounds in his left arm, chest, and neck, as well as fractured ribs, had been compounded with gas gangrene, and haemothorax. He was buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France.
Following his death, his wife was sent some of his personal items, including a devotional book, a pipe lighter, and a packet of card dominoes. She also received the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal to commemorate her husband’s service.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
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