Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

2nd Lieutenant Robert Mortimer Shannon:

Robert Mortimer Shannon was born in 1899 at Yartara (Yalara?), near Stockwell, in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. He was the only son of Robert and Amy Shannon with a sister Jean Shannon. Attending Queen’s School (later Queens College, which merged with Pulteney Grammar in 1949) in North Adelaide, Robert Shannon completed the first part of his schooling, proving that he was a very intelligent young man with much promise. While studying in Adelaide he often attended the Anglican Christ Church located on Jeffcott Street and was a well known member. For high school he boarded in Geelong, Victoria and studied at Geelong Grammar School until he had graduated in late 1916. Whilst at Geelong Grammar School he was noted cricketer and a member of schools cadets having the rank of Lieutenant. He was awarded a place at Melbourne University to study law but decided to delay this and join the Great War.    

Leaving straight for England in February, 1917 he arrived in Britain before enlisting on 10 April, 1917 in the British Army. Robert Mortimer Shannon then took up study at the Royal Artillery College in London, graduating on the 31st of August, 1917 with commissioning rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Proceeding to France he was allocated to the 50th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery in the 9th Scottish Division before he was attached to Major Gower’s Battery in the Royal Horse Artillery.

On the 21st of March, 1918, the first day of the German Spring Offensive, while serving on the Western Front, Robert Shannon carried out a reconnaissance mission under heavy fire and as a result was able to provide information on the enemy’s position. For this action he was recommended and awarded the Military Cross. Four days later, Shannon again carried a similar reconnaissance mission while again under heavy fire and was recommended a bar to his Military Cross, however this was not awarded to him owing to his death soon after.

The citation to his first recommendation for the Military Cross read:

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in carrying out reconnaissance under heavy shell and machine-gun fire, and giving accurate and valuable information. “Later, in superintending the withdrawal of the battery under intense and enfilading fire, when his battery commander had been wounded. It was due to his calmness that the guns were successfully got away in an orderly manner.”

On the 29th of April, 1918 Shannon was again on a reconnaissance mission when he was wounded by a shell. Taken to a nearby dressing station he later died the same day and was buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium. He was 19 years old.

Robert Mortimer Shannon was remembered as a young and capable officer and a memorial service was held for him at Geelong Grammar School.

Nathan Rohrlach, 2013.