RICHARD SHANNON

Private 5434287

Richard Shannon was born on 15 November 1911, the son of Richard and Fanny Shannon who farmed at Newton Farm, Cottage Green. His brother George had the local milk round. He attended the local school (Roll No. 665) from 10 May 1921 to 20 February 1925. The School Register shows Richard, Effie, Violet and George Shannon all joining the school in May or June 1921, having previously been resident in “Ballydehob, Ireland”.

In 1940 Richard Shannon was serving in the 2^nd Battalion, the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry as part of the British Expeditionary Force in France. As the German Blitzkrieg swept through the Low Countries, 2^nd DCLI, as part of 4^th Division, advanced into Belgium in May. With the rest of the BEF the battalion fell back towards Dunkirk, and fought a heroic delaying battle on the River Escaut (a battle honour for the DCLI). On 1 June 1940, the day that Richard Shannon died aged 28, 2^nd DCLI were evacuated by sea from the jetty in Dunkirk – whether he was killed in action on the day or died of wounds is not known.

Richard Shannon is remembered with honour in Dunkirk Town Cemetery (Plot 2 Row 14 Grave 29).

DUNKIRK

JUNE 1940

The heroic stand of 2^nd Battalion

DCLI at River Escaut was one of

Several vital delaying actions which bought time for the evacuation to be completed.