Private Thomas Shannon. 

5805 2nd East Lancashire Regiment.

Killed in Action 9th May 1915, aged 30.

 

 

Thomas was born in the Sept quarter of 1884 in Wigan, The son of John Shannon and Charlotte Atherton. 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.

Thomas married Ellen Tuhey in the Sep quarter of 1913 in Burnley.

 

From the Burnley News dated 19 May 1915: BURNLEY WRESTLER KILLED. A PATRIOTIC FAMILY.

Information has been received by Mrs Shannon who resides in Cross Street Burnley, to the effect that her husband private Thomas Shannon, 2nd Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, has been killed in action. deceased, Who had previously served for a number of years in the Militia, enlisted shortly after war was declared, and was drafted out to the front in November. He was the son of private John Shannon, who has completed 11 years’ service with the Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. Deceased brother William is also at the front, and four other relatives are serving with the colours. Private Tom Shannon who was 30 years of age, was well known in Burnley as a wrestler, and had won numerous cups and medals. He formerly worked as an outporter. He leaves a widow but no children.

 

 From The Express and Advertiser dated 26th May 1915: CONCERNING BURNLEY WRESTLER.

 Jack Smith, Greenheys, writes as follows concerning Tom Shannon the Burnley wrestler who has been killed at the front.

Shannon was a typical Lancashire wrestler, and whilst being one of the rough vigorous type had more science in his work than many outside his own particular District were aware of. Shannon was what one could describe as a real sound performer, and one whose ability would have had more chances had he been located in a District where backers are more plentiful than they are in North East Lancs. He took part in fully a couple of dozen matches but, unfortunately for him, he lost his most important match after what was admitted to be the hardest .... imaginable. It was in the spring of 1911, when he opposed the then suddenly rising wrestler, Arthur Sumner, of Chorley, at Westwood ground Wigan.

 Sumner’s victories the same year over such men as Alf Hardy and Jimmy Daniels give some indication of the class he had reached, though never in any of his matches was the powerful Chorley lad handled saw unceremoniously as he was on the occasion of his match with Shannon, for the Burnley lad absolutely performed with Sumner and created one of the surprises of the period by the manner in which he handled his man. Shannon was about as far ahead on points as it was possible to get when he lost the fall in 23 minutes through a sleep, and thus with the time flying and a fall against him the whole complexion of things was changed, as in the absence of further falls Sumner would win on his one for all. After this Sumner set himself with an idea of wasting time, while Shannon did the only thing possible and took all the chances in his endeavour to get a head. He was several times within an ace of equalising, but look was dead against him, and he was again defeated, though the bare result of the bout, gives not the slightest indication of the merit of the loser.

 

 From The Express and Advertiser dated 2nd Jun 1915: LOCAL WAR ITEMS.

Mrs Shannon, who resides in Cross Street, yesterday received official news that her husband Private Thomas Shannon 5805, had been killed in action. We published a photograph of Shannon on May 19th.

 

From The Express and Advertiser dated 2nd Jun 1915: ROLL OF HONOUR.

SHANNON. Killed in action with the East Lancashire Regiment in France, Private Thomas Shannon of Cross Street Burnley. From his wife.

 

From The Express and Advertiser dated 17 July 1915:  BURNLEY “DIE-HARDS.” THRILLING APPEAL FROM THE FRONT. HOW TWO BURNLEY LADS DIED.

A thrilling appeal for more men has been sent to our office "from the boys of the good old 59th", by Private A Whalley, of the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment. Private Whalley writes: "If you will kindly give me space in your paper I will be very thankful. I get the paper sent out to me every week. I just want to say a few words to the young men of Burnley who have not yet enlisted. I am sure that if they could only be with the boys of the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment, and see what a fine part they are playing in the Great War, they would only be too glad to come and help them in this great struggle for freedom. Think of the time when all your friends are coming home (Heroes everyone). But what will they say to you? Where will you go? What will you do? God Only Knows, for if you have any manhood left in you, you will join up at once, England wants men, and don't let them say that Lancashire was the last to answer their call.  I for one was one of the first to come out here, and I am only too pleased to say I am doing my bit. I have been hit in 4 places, but I have had nothing to say against my country. I have been out here 7 months and I am still going strong, and I hope to keep so. We have left those we love at home, those we love so dearly, to lay down our lives for our country, and there is not a lad in the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment that would not do the same. When we went in the last charge, we went to the trenches singing all the way, and cheering one another up, for we had to charge the Germans next morning, but we did it like good old Lancashire lads, and the name that the General gave us for it was the "Die-Hards." we saw our chums die alongside of us but that only made as the Keener to get at them. One of my chums died beside me, a well-known Burnley lad, Tom Shannon was his name, and before he died he did not creep into safety, he kept on till he could no longer go and then he died. He had played his part for our country. This is a terrible war, and we want every man that we can get. Look at Tom Burns, of Lincoln Street Burnley. The work that he did was ground, and no doubt if he had lived he would have been rewarded for his bravery.Those are the boys that we are proud of today, and they are Lancashire Boys too. I hope our appeal will bring some of the young men who are still at home and who have not joined up to their senses and say to themselves, "I am going out there as I have a big account to make right with the Germans," and no doubt the boys of the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment will give you a good cheer when you land out here. From the boys of the good "old 59th."

 

From The Express and Advertiser dated 14 August 1915: THE DEATH ROLL. THOROUGHLY DESERVED. COMRADES TRIBUTE TO BURNLEY SOLDIER.

 

...................................... (last para of article re death of F Clarke) Mrs Clarke is a Burnley young woman and is left with two little children, a boy aged 3 years and 4 months and a girl aged one year and 3 months. Her brother, private Thomas Shannon, of the East Lancashire Regiment, was killed in action in France, in May. Her father is in the King's Own royal Lancaster Regiment, and her younger brother private William Shannon, is serving with the ASC..................

 

Lived at 30 Hatton Street, Formerly 12 Cross Street.

Thomas left his effects to his widow Ellen (Bayliff).

Thomas is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium: Panels 5 & 6.