Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Reginald Edward McShane, was born 3rd January, 1922, at home at McShane Street, Campbelltown, he was the youngest of Charles Nicholas and Ethel Maude (nee Sadler) McShane's three children.

Reg's paternal heritage were Irish pioneering original settlers, who took up market gardening land in McShane and Hill Streets, Campbelltown.

Reg enlisted in the R.A.N., 24/02/1942, aged 20 years, Rank, LDG SY ASST., and was discharged on 25/06/1946, aged 24 years. He served on H.M.A.S. Murka.

His elder brother Bruce Charles McShane, was a member of 2/48th A.I.F., a "Rat of Tobruk".
His sister, Gwenneth Alma, was married to George Thoms Rothney, R.A.N., a survivor of the sinking of the H.M.A.S. Canberra at Guadacanal, Battle of Savo. Reg's cousin Frank McShane was assigned to the tanks, A.I.F., and his cousin Edward Doyle, R.A.N. was lost at sea following the sinking of the H.M.A.S. Sydney.

Reg married Marion Robey in Sydney, they had three sons, Robert, Phillip and Andrew. Reg attended Adelaide University and graduated as a Chartered Accountant.

During his war service he contracted "black water fever", and died prematurely in his forties, from kidney failure, leaving Marion to raise his three sons.

Marion never remarried, she lived in Sydney, raised her boys, re-entered the workforce and remained actively involved with the War Widows Association.

Reg is buried in Sydney. He did not return to his home state after relocating to N.S.W. for work
purposes.

Reg was not a man of the land nor a horseman like his father. He was a member of the East Torrens Cricket Club, prior to his war service, playing cricket with "Slinger" Nitschke, and Donald Bradman. Reg retained a keen interest in cricket during his lifetime.

He was interested in academic pursuits, enjoyed square dancing, when it was first introduced in the 50's to South Australia, and enjoyed American Western History. He and Marion travelled to Japan, U.S.A., and Mexico. He found the Grand Canyon and Zane Grey's cabin memorable tourist sites.

Reg's post war life was cut short due to chronic kidney disease. Marion is now in her nineties living in an aged care nursing home near the Blue Mountains. His middle son Phillip lives in Toronto Canada. Phillip's two daughters are doctors, his son is a teacher, and Robert and Andrew both work and live in Sydney.

History provided by his niece Georgene Rothney, B.S.W., Ass. Dip. App. Scie., U.S.A.