Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Geoffery was the elder of two sons of Lilian and Ernest Shannon, continuing the tradition of carrying his father’s family name ‘Wallace’ as his middle name. He was born on the 31st of October, 1914 at Narma on South Terrace in Adelaide, as was his younger brother Hartley Ellis in 1916. Geoff’s family moved to Victor Harbor in 1927 where his parents ran a guest house named ‘Pipinki’. His father was known as a gambler which was challenging for the family, especially during the depression years. From his early youth, Geoff followed his parents’ height stature, already growing to over 6 feet tall by the age of 15 years. At the start of 1930, his local paper even featured him as a teenager with a younger child who was half his height. By the time he enlisted 10 years later, he had reached 6 feet 9 inches in height, easily recognised in photos.
As a youngster, Geoff was a particularly capable academic student. In his first year at High School he was second in his class (scoring a maximum 703 points out of a possible 1,000) being third in his class’ Intermediate studies and topping both his French and English classes. Unusually for that time, his Victor Harbor school boasted a staff where each teacher held a degree. Only five other South Australian schools were similarly staffed. Inter-school competitions between Victor Harbor, Strathalbyn and, in later years, Murray Bridge took place during the 1930’s. In his final year Geoff was in a mixed class of 43 (typical class numbers for that time) and an elected Prefect from 1931 to 1933 when he was Head Prefect. This latter role entailed Geoff submitting the Annual Report at the school’s Speech Night, which was also a banquet. It was the custom at these events to have numerous toasts and a presentation of prizes by the Mayor of Victor Harbor.
The High School Parents and Friends' Association organised this social in the local institute hall on May 14, 1933. Games and competitions were interspersed with musical items, typically followed by supper. As well as assisting with the musical programme, as he had done in the previous years, Geoff was also a competition winner. The headmaster (Mr. R. W Cole), expressly thanked council and parents for their deep interest and practical support of the school, mentioning that of the 63 pupils enrolled at the beginning of the year, 61 remained at the end of the first term, the other two having left the district, which spoke volumes for the staunch support given to the school. The social was brought to a close by the traditional singing of the National Anthem.
The Headmaster’s report emphasized the school’s aim for students completing a two or three years' course, was that they subsequently developed minds to intelligently turn to whatever occupation was attempted. The ultimate aim was to ‘give young people a mental structure to exhibit true common sense and intelligence.’ This certainly was the case with Geoff during his war years and in his illustrious career post war.
In his final school years, Geoff also featured at a number of social events, including 21st celebrations for Laurel Williams at the Masonic Hall. Music dancing and items were all de rigeur as was the traditional autographed gilded key signed by all those present. As a recognised leader, Geoff was the obvious choice to make this presentation. Similarly in that year another friend, Harold Jeffrey also celebrated his 21st. Games, competitions and dancing were indulged in, with the guest of honor rendering an elocutionary number. Interestingly, this even took place in the Hospital Laundry! Geoff and another guest won a competition based on the surnames of Victor Harbour residents before the evening was concluded with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.
In Darwin, his younger brother, Hartley enlisted on the 28th of April 1938, then Geoff followed suit on the 26th of December 1940 at Wayville in South Australia (SX10774).
Geoff became a country-based teacher until his enlistment. Like many others he decided to enlist at the commencement of 1941. A farewell social was held for him at the Nunjikompita Hall School (near Streaky Bay) where the local school children formed a guard of honour as he accompanied the Principal, Mr Lang as they entered the hall. Several speakers highly praised Geoff, who fittingly responded, thanking the community for their support. He was presented with gifts from both the school committee and the children he taught. Local newspapers recorded his leave and new rank in March of 1944, when Sergeant Geoff Shannon visited Swan Reach where the Harvest festival was being conducted. By the time he was discharged almost 5 years after enlisting, in October of 1945 he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant.
Post War, in 1947 Geoff’s parents, who had a two roomed flat on Magill Road in Adelaide (opposite the Maid and Magpie) during the war, decided to return to Darwin, NT. With accommodation exceptionally scarce, Geoff generously negotiated for this flat to be transferred to my newly wed Bryan Holmes (SX8133) and his wife, Eva (nee Cummings). Geoff also returned to employment in Darwin where he was an active secretary in the Choral Society, and the United Church. In October of that year, the Church gave a send-off to Geoff who then left Darwin for Canberra to take up an appointment with the Department of External Affairs. Geoff was presented with a wallet of notes. Similarly, the Truck-owners of which Geoff was secretary, also made a presentation to Geoff at their meeting.
This marked the commencement of Geoff’s extensive contributions to the Department of External Affairs over the next decades. In December 1951 Geoff, the newly appointed Australian Vice Consul General took up duties in New York. Prior to this appointment, Geoff was private secretary to Mr. Percy Spender, Ambasador in Washington, when Mr. Spender was Minister for External Affairs.
There, Geoff made visitors welcome to Australia House, including Mercy Griffin, a young Queensland teacher in 1954, who was attending classes at the New York Institute for the Blind. Geoff met her at La Guardia airport in New York, inviting her on behalf of General and Mrs. Smart, to a reception of 150 guests at Australia House on Australia Day.
Geoff’s generosity of spirit was constantly evident. In 1954 whilst in the Vice-Consulate role, like many New Yorkers who lived in Maine, Geoff did not own a car, and instead relied on the extensive public transport system. June Burdon in her book Quality of Life, recalled asking how she would recognise Geoff when they first met, to be told it would be easy as he was six feet nine tall! Being a brother to one of Geoff’s South Australian friends, Geoff kindly also offered to take his holidays when Errol and June visited so they could use his apartment as a base to explore Manhattan. The apartment was close to the Australian Consulate, Rochester Centre and the United Nations – ideal for exploring. The apartment itself was extremely compact with a small kitchen, bathroom and living room which doubled as a bedroom when the bed was pulled out from the wall.
This generosity was similarly evident as I recall as a youngster Geoff would visit my family when he was back on holiday from his post in Djakarta. To my recollection, the two War friends Dad and Geoff, never reminisced about their war years together in the 9th Division. Invariably each visit, Geoff would produce an envelope, labelled in his spidery hand with each of our names and containing a very generous monetary gift of five pounds, ($10) which was an enormous amount. Frugally most of mine was banked but occasionally a book was purchased.
Geoff also took up a post in London in the 1960s where he lived at Southgate, again providing a perfect base for overseas visitors. From London he then became Consul in Portuguese Timor based in Deli from 20th January 1970 – 14th Jan 1971. The Consulate closed on the 31st August 71.
With both Geoff and Dad (Bryan) retired, they met in London in 1980 and holidayed with my parents on the canal system. This must have been an experience for both tall men who were also meticulous with their driving and navigating!
Aged 90, Geoff died at Narrabeen, NSW in 2004.