Private John Shannon.
38350 2nd Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Died 9th November 1917, aged 50.
(John had two sons who were killed in the Great War Thomas and William)
John was born in the Sept quarter of 1863 in Wigan the son of Patrick Shannon and Annie McQue. In the 1871 census the family were living at 11 Watmoughs Yard, Wigan. Patrick 70 Labourer, Annie 50 both born in Ireland. John 8, Bridget Leigh nee Shannon 45 and her son Robert 8.
John married Charlotte Atherton on the 5th March 1883 in St Catherine’s Church Wigan.
In the 1891 census his family were living at 33 Lime St Wigan, John 36 a miner, Charlotte 30, Agnes 9, Thomas 7, Nancy 5, Lizzie 3, Martha 2 months. All the children were born in Wigan.
In the 1901 census the family was lodging at a commercial lodging house in Union St Wigan. John 43, Charlotte 40, Thomas 16, Martha 11, Elizabeth 8 and William 5.
The family lived at 9 Croft St by the time of the 1911 census. John 46, Charlotte 50, Thomas 27, William 15, Elizabeth 17, Mary 5, and Martha 20. John and Charlotte had been married 29 years and had had 13 children 8 of whom had died.
John enlisted in the Royal Welsh Fussiliers at the outbreak of the war on the 31st Aug 1914. He was discharged 6th July 1916.
From the Burnley Express and Advertiser dated 14 November 1917: WRESTLER’S DEATH.
The death took place on Saturday from pneumonia of John Shannon of Croft Street who was well-known as a wrestler. He had served with the Welsh Fusiliers, and was sent back from Egypt incapacitated. He was a member of the committee of the Discharged Soldiers and Sailors Association. He lost one son in the war, and another is serving abroad.
From the Burnley News dated 7 November 1917: DISCHARGED SOLDIERS AND SAILORS. THE WORK OF THE BURNLEY AND DISTRICT ASSOCIATION.
The Burnley and district branch of the Discharged Soldiers and Sailors Association was formed by the local Trades Council calling a meeting of all discharged soldiers and sailors in the Mechanics Institute on November 3rd 1916. The President, Secretary and Financial Secretary of the Trades Council addressed the meeting, and appealed to all the men assembled to band themselves together for the mutual welfare and protection of their interests. The result was the formation of an Association bearing the above title. The chief aim is to fight for those who may have been unjustly dealt with and to this end the committee, with the co-operation of discharged soldiers and sailors, widows and dependants, the committee appeal to every discharged man to become a member, and thereby assist the cause in general. The objects are: (1) an Association open to all discharged soldiers and sailors, for the purpose of protecting their interests and or social fellowship; (2) to inquire into all cases of hardship resulting from inadequate pension allowance, and to secure redress by bringing such cases before the proper authority for reconsideration; (3) to educate public opinion to the belief that the maintenance and welfare of disabled soldiers and sailors is the direct duty of the State, and should be it’s first consideration, and they should in no way be dependent upon charity for their livelihood; (4) to secure more adequate recompense for all who have suffered in the services of their country .
The committee set out with zeal to attain the above objects, and so far have met with every success. Their membership register today contains the names of about 400 discharged men who have served during the present campaign. They have also become affiliated to the National Federation of Discharged Soldiers and Sailors Association, which has 97 branches and represents 99,000 discharged from His Majesty's Forces. The committee are not only catering for those men, who have at present returned to civil life, but are bearing in mind the more unfortunate ones who will return to us after the hostilities have terminated. The Association is being built up not for the duration of the war only, but to carry on it's good work afterwards. Though the Burnley branch is still in its infancy, it has dealt with 175 cases during the last 2 months, and received recompense to the amount of well over £1,000 for its members, widows, and dependents, a record which speaks well for the energy of its officials. The Association is democratic, non-political and non-sectarian. The Committee state: “ our desire is to work not in a spirit of antagonism with the existing pension authorities, but rather with the spirit of help, by clearing away any misunderstanding, and securing for our heroes, the proper treatment they deserve." Recently the committee opened a social club, to provide recreation and comfort for members, at 75 Lindsay Street, where they will be pleased to welcome any discharged man. The committee heartily thank the Burnley public for their generous assistance in the cause.
From the Burnley News dated 14 November 1917: DEATH OF MR JOHN SHANNON.
The death occurred on Friday night of Mr John Shannon of Croft Street, a member of the committee of the Burnley Discharged Soldiers and Sailors Association, and whose photo was included in the group we published last Wednesday. The deceased, who was 50 years of age was an old soldier, having served in the army for 25 years. He re-entered on the outbreak of war, and had served with the King's Own for two years in Egypt, where he suffered from sand fever and rheumatism. His son, Thomas, who was well known as a wrestler in this District, was killed early on in the war, and another son is now on Active Service. Mr Shannon attended a meeting of the DSSA on Sunday week, but appears to have caught a chill and his death was the result of an attack of pneumonia.
Lived at 26 Croft Street.
John was buried in Burnley Cemetery, Burnley, England: Grave Ref; Screen wall. A17478. Husband of Charlotte Shannon, of 26, Croft St., Burnley.
