Private John Joseph Shanley.
5170 6th East Lancashire Regiment.
Died at sea on SS Cameronia 15th April 1917, aged 24.
John was born in the June quarter of 1893 in Burnley. The son of Thomas Shanley and Mary Nairey. In the 1901 census the family lived at 44 Moseley St, Burnley. Thomas 50 a stone mason, born in Manchester, Mary 40 born in Ireland, Kate 20 weaver, Anne 18 weaver, Mary 16 weaver, Cornelius 14 creeler, Thomas 12, Luke 10, John 8, James 5 and Agnes 3. All the children were born in Burnley.
In the 1911 census the family were still at Moseley St. Thomas 56, Mary Ann 50, Thomas 22, John 18 and Agnes. His parents had been married 32 years and had had 11 children 3 of whom had died.
From The Express and Advertiser dated 23 September 1914: FOUR BROTHERS AT THE FRONT.
Mrs Shanley of Robert Street, Burnley, has four members of the family at the front serving in different regiments, and all are so far well. Another, Lance Corporal P Shanley, 79th RHA (Royal Horse Artillery), was killed at Tweefontein in South Africa on Christmas day, 1901. The men out with the present Expeditionary Forces are:
Driver Colin Shanley (reserve) A.S.C (Army Service Corps).
Driver Thomas Shanley (reserve) A.S.C (Army Service Corps).
Corporal Luke Shanley 1st K(ings) Dragoons India.
To have both sent the stock army postcard to say they are quite well, one on September 5th and 2nd on September 8th.
In the case of Driver Thomas, he writes: "I have come through alright so far thank God. It is burning hot over here. The fruit grows on the roadside. I want you to send me some Woodbines. I have not heard from Colin lately. Excuse me for not writing anymore, it is dark."
Driver Conn Shanley Writes home the letter being "passed by censor," as follows: "I hope these few lines will find you in the best of health, as it leaves me at present. We are not allowed to say where we are, and we are not allowed to put any more news in. I cannot complain so much so far. We are doing very well for food. The heat is terrible through the day. I have not seen Tom for 3 weeks, I would like to know where he is. I have seen John Clarke and Martin O'Hara over here........ It's a lovely place, this. We are tired of eating fruit, it grows everywhere. I would like some Woodbines if you could manage some. I would like to be watching Good Old Burnley."
From The Express and Advertiser dated 2nd June 1917: OUR FALLEN HEROES. THREE LOSSES IN TWO WARS.- BURNLEY FAMILY’S SACRIFICE.
On February 24th this year we published the information of the death in France, of Trooper Luke Stanley of the Kings Dragoon Guards, a victim of heart failure coma after 2 years’ service, and now his parents who reside at 44 Moseley street, Bankhouse street Burnley have to mourn the loss of another lad, Private John Joseph Shanley. He is one of the victims of a torpedo ship on April 15th, whether the Cameronia or not is not stated.
All four sons of this family have been at the war since the beginning, and two have given their lives, John Joseph was the youngest son, and 23 years of age, he would have been 24 on the 27th of April had he lived.
He was in the East Lancs Special Reserve when war broke out and immediately joined up and went out to France in November 1914. He served two years in France exactly to the day, when he was wounded in the Somme battles, and previous to that had been in many big engagements, such as Loos, La Bassee, Neuve Chappelle, Ginchy, etc., without receiving a scratch.
When he was wounded last November the bullet only missed his heart by an inch, he having a miraculous escape, and after being in St Bartholomew's Hospital London, he was at Prescot sometime before re-joining the East Lancs is at Plymouth. John was at home at Christmas. When he re-joined he was transferred to another Battalion, and was proceeding East with a draft, but he had for two-and-a-half years been number 5170, of the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment. He was a very well-known young man, having before joining up being the boots at The Thorn hotel, where he was exceedingly popular, and there's a splendid character for his good work and cheerful disposition. He was connected with St Mary's Day and Sunday schools.
The remaining two brothers are Drivers Conn and Thomas Shanley of the ASC, and both of them are at present in Salonika. The eldest brother, Bombardier Peter Shanley, of the 79th RFA, was killed on Christmas day, 1901 in the South African War. A brother-in-law, Private R Iveson, who has served with the Burnley Territorials since the first mobilisation, fought at the Dardanelles.
From The Express and Advertiser dated 2nd June 1917: ROLL OF HONOUR.
Shanley. - Drowned at sea, April 15th whilst proceeding to the East. Private John Joseph Shanley (5170) East Lancashire Regiment, aged 23 years. R.I.P.
When alone in our sorrow the bitter tears flow.
There still a dream of sweet long ago.
Unknown to the world he stands by outside.
And Whispers these words: "Death cannot divide".
His pleasant face and kindly ways.
Are pleasant to recall.
He had a kindly word for each.
And died beloved by all.
From father mother sisters and brothers in Salonika.
From The Express and Advertiser dated 10th November 1917: OUR FALLEN HEROES. ON TORPEDOED SHIP.
On June 2nd last we published a photo of private J J Shanley, East Lancashires, whose parents reside at 44 Mosley Street, off Bankhouse Street Burnley who was supposed to have been amongst the victims in a torpedoed ship. Official news has now been received that his death took place on April 4th. He is the second son to lose his life in this war and another brother was killed in the Boer War.
Lived at 44 Moseley Street, Formerly Roberts Street .
John left his effects to his mother Mary.
John is commemorated at the Alexandria (Chatby) Memorial Cemetery, Egypt: Son of Thomas and Mary Ann Shanley, of 44, Moseley St., Burnley.
CAMERONIA SS was a British Steam Passenger/Cargo Vessel of 10,963 tons built in 1911 by D & W Henderson Ltd Glasgow, Yard No 472 for the Anchor Line, Glasgow. She was powered by a steam - twin screw - triple expansion 15,600 Bhp - capable of around 19 knots. Her Maiden voyage was from Glasgow to Moville and New York on 13th September 1911. She acted as troopship from 1917. On the 15th April 1917 she was torpedoed and sank in 40 minutes when about 150 miles E of Malta. Around 200 lives lost out of approximately 2,700. Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?31992