Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Cornelius Gilshannon was born in 1862 at Newcastle, NSW. He enlisted in the NSW Artillery at Sydney and served as a Gunner based at North Head from about 1896 with 1st Garrison Division Artillery.

He attended the 1897 Jubilee Celebrations in London as part of the NSW Artillery Contingent, embarking on “Ballarat” in March 1897. His 1897 Jubilee Medal was presented to him by the Prince of Wales on 3 July 1897.  The contingent returned from London on 26 August 1897.

He embarked for South Africa with A Battery Royal Australian Artillery on “Warrigal” on 30 December 1899, arriving at Cape Town on 5 February 1900. The Battery took part in operations against the Boers near Kenhardt in northwestern Cape Colony. He also took part in later operations in the Transvaal against enemy commandos mainly in dispersed subunits near Bryburg, Prieska and Upington.

Cornelius was wounded in action at Shearpoort in September 1900.

He embarked from Cape Town for Albany on “Harlech Castle” on 12 August 1901, disembarking at Sydney on 15 September. Thereafter he was posted to the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery at Sydney Heads.

He was posted to 3rd Company in September 1902 and in 1905 was the subject of an inquiry into South African service pay. He was awarded 10 shillings for Direction and Range Finding skills in 1911. Cornelius married Minnie in 1912 and took 6 months furlough in 1913. They settled at Islington, NSW.

He did not serve overseas during WW1 but remained on local establishment. His Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was awarded in 1918 and his Meritorious Service Medal at the same time. He died in 1922. He is buried at Newcastle. His wife Minnie died in 1974.