William Shannon was born in North Brighton, Victoria, was single and working as a motor and driver mechanic in Ballarat when he enlisted in the 8th Light Horse Regiment, 7th Reinforcement on 5 July 1915 at the age of 23. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A57 Malakuta on 23 September 1915. He received a temporary promotion to Acting Corporal on 7 August 1917, becoming a full Corporal in December of that year. According to a medical report, he complained of weakness in the legs and lower back combined with headaches on/about 19 October 1918, but reported feeling better the next day. The official diagnosis was marked as influenza. He embarked for Australia aboard the Oxfordshire on 18 July 1919, disembarking at Melbourne in August and receiving his final discharge on 12 October 1919.
Tree No. 792