Private John Shannon

Private John Shannon, 2nd Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action, aged 26, in France on the 3rd September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. He was born in Dumfriesshire in 1889 and was the son of the late Julian Shannon of Ecclefechan and William Shannon. He was the husband of Catherine Shannon of 7 Dunsdale Cottages, Selkirk and he is buried in Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France. Before enlisting he had been employed in the milling house of the Wholesale Co-op Society’s Ettrick Tweed Mill, Selkirk. He fell in the attack on the German positions in Falfeont Farm. A French bombardment and supporting attack had been promised. Both failed to materialise and the K.O.S.B. attacked in isolation against untouched defences with predictable results. ( The Regimental history remains tight lipped on the French failures) No ground was gained and casualties were heavy. 8 Officers and 146 Other Ranks were killed and 3 Officers and 135 Other Ranks were wounded. ( A measure of revenge came on the 25th September when the Battalion finally captured Falfemont farm capturing nearly 700 prisoners and 5 machine guns ). The photos show Scots troops on the Somme and the colour image shows a peaceful Somme landscape today.