Of Tragedy and Valor
Laurence Frederick Shannon

Laurence (Laurie) Frederick Shannon was born at Encounter Bay in 1891. As a young man he was a member of the crew of the fishing boat Rambler, which was owned by the Rumbelow family. He became one of the best-known personalities in the SA fishing industry. 

Mr. Shannon Later he joined the Engineer-in-Chief's Department and was subsequently transferred to the SA Harbors Board for survey work. Mr. Shannon was engaged in this work for many years. 

He enlisted in the AIF for World War I, and was a Sergeant. On returning to Australia he joined the Fisheries Department in 1921. 

For 12 years he was in charge of the River Murray patrol boat and spent another 12 years at Port Pirie in charge of the Spencer Gulf patrol boat. He was later transferred to Adelaide. 

At the time of his death he was an inspector of the Fisheries and Game Department. 

Lawrence Frederick SHANNON - 3122 (second enlistment) Corporal

• Service number: 3122

• Rank: Corporal

• Unit: 43rd Australian Infantry Battalion

• Conflict/Operation: First World War, 1914-1918

• Enlistment Date: 1916-10-19

• Fate: Returned to Australia

• Fate Date: 23 September 1919

Lawrence (Laurie) Frederick Shannon was born in Encounter Bay on 4 May 1891, the sixth child in the family. He was educated at Victor Harbor Public School. 

He was working as a surveyor’s assistant when he enlisted in the AIF on 7 February 1916. He was posted to ‘D’ Company, 2nd Depot Battalion at Mitcham Camp. In February and March, Laurie received inoculations and a vaccination, and on 23 May 1916, he was examined by a medical officer and certified as fit for service. However, on 8 June 1916, he was re-examined by a Medical Board and ordered to be discharged. His medical record reveals Laurie had an appendectomy in September 1915 and there were post-operative adhesions which prevented him from marching and doing physical exercise.

Undeterred, the 25 year old Laurie enlisted again on 19 October 1916. On completion of training at Mitcham Camp, he sailed with the 7th Group of Reinforcements for the 43rd Infantry Battalion, from Adelaide on 23 June 1917, on board HMAT A30 Borda. Private Lloyd Shepard Prouse, formerly of Inman Valley, and Private Alfred John Charles, of Victor Harbor, were also members of the 7th Reinforcements. Private Charles would later die on 6 April 1918, from wounds sustained at Le Bizet.

Arriving at Plymouth, England, on 25 August 1917, Laurie proceeded through the 11th Training Battalion at Larkhill before leaving from Southampton on 8 January 1918 for France.

Lawrence joined the 43rd Battalion at Locre, France, on Sunday, 13 January 1918 where it spent the remainder of the month training.

Laurie’s first experience in the front line began at Le Touquet on the 5 February 1918. Only three men were wounded during the eight days of fighting. The Battalion returned to the same front on 21 February for a further eight days.

On 27 March 1918, in response to the German Spring Offensive advance, the Battalion established defensive positions along the sunken Mericourt–L’Abbe Road. This was the beginning of as a frequently wet, lengthy 35-day period at the front, or in close support. At midday on 30 March, the 43th Battalion with its sister 42nd Battalion repulsed a strong enemy attack. Later, on 1 April, the unit somewhat appropriately captured an enemy soldier and bicycle.

On 5 April, as the Battalion bivouacked on the Vaux-Sur-Somme Valley escarpment it was shelled wounding eight men, including Laurie.

Wounded in the wrist and left knee by shrapnel, he was evacuated to hospital at Etaples, then discharged on 28 April. This was the same bombardment where Victor lad Private Alfred Charles was wounded, and would subsequently succumb to his wounds the next day.

After a month at the Australian Base Depot, Laurie re-joined his Battalion on 25 May in the line at the Villers–Bretonneux. Much of June was occupied with training and providing working parties.

The pivotal Allied offensive begun on 8 August 1918 continued to force the Germans back.

Attacking at Allaines over 1 and 2 September, the Battalion captured 50 machine guns and 340 prisoners. It then applied pressure on the Germans over the next week as they retreated to their Hindenburg defence Line.

Given a short rest and some training, the now much reduced Battalion could only field 200 men on the morning of 29 September. The Australian 11th Brigade, including the 43rd Battalion, were to pass through the American 27th Division’s linesseveral hours after its 5.50am assault on the Hindenburg Line, near Templeux le Geurand. As the inexperienced Americans overlooked some German machine gun posts as they passed, the following Australians had to overcome those posts before they could reach the American front and then begin their own attack against Bony. During this “mopping up”, Laurie was wounded in the leg and thigh by machine gun fire. Evacuated to Britain, he was admitted to the Queen Mary Military Hospital, at Whalley, Lancashire, on 2 October.

Laurie was discharged from hospital on 25 October 1918, he was given furlough until just two days before the Armistice ended the fighting. He remained in England for a further 13 months during which he was promoted to Corporal. He returned to Australia on the SS Marathon, arriving at Port Adelaide on 24 December 1919. Lawrence was discharged from the AIF on 6 February 1920. 

He was later awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Post-war, Laurie was a Fisheries and Game Inspector. 

On 18 March 1933, Laurence married Mary Irene Armfield of Goolwa in the Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide.

Laurie. died on 3 May 1950, age 58. He is interred in Centennial Park.

With thanks to Ian MILNES, History Research Team, Victor Harbor RSL Sub-Branch