Gilbert Patrick O'SHANNASSY

Regimental number45308
Date of birth10 October 1884
Place of birthKilmore, Victoria, Australia
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationTeacher
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation32
Height5' 10"
Weight182 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs M O'Shannassy, 8 Park Avenue, Auckland
Previous military serviceServed in the Territorial Force; still serving at time of NZEF enlistment..
Enlistment date8 January 1917
Rank on embarkationCaptain
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 28th Reinforcements (First Draft), F Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT 89 Waitemata on 14 July 1917
Final rankCaptain
Final unit1st Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 1 October 1919
Discharge date29 October 1919
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 14 September 1917; disembarked Plymouth, England, 24 September 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 15 November 1917; joined 1st Bn, NZ Rifle Brigade, 5 December 1917; appointed to command B Company, 24 February 1918.

Wounded in action, 12 September 1918 (gun shot wound, neck: severe); admitted to No 2 Red Cross Hospital, 13 September 1918; transferred to England, and admitted to No 1 NZ General Hospital, Brockenhurst, 17 September 1918; discharged from hospital, 23 October 1918.

Proceeded overseas to France, 25 October 1918; rejoined unit, in the field, 28 October 1918.

File contains some correspondence relating to an incident in the action of September 28: O'Shannassy was accused of drunkenness during the period in which his Company was detailed for an attack. He was sent back to France under escort pending a Court Martial. There is nothing further on the file to determine whether he was court-martialled.

Admitted to No 3 NZ Field Ambulance, 27 December 1918 (scabies); transferred to 44th Casualty Clearing Station, 28 December 1918; discharged to duty, and rejoined unit, 9 January 1919.Marched out to England for return to New Zealand, 25 February 1919.

Commenced return to New Zealand on board HT 'Cordoba', 18 July 1919.

War service: 3 years 4 days (of which 2 years 80 days were abroad)

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death13 December 1961 Auckland
Age at death77
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 3: Roll 69, p. 11
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 24185859