Pte 38028 Daniel Joseph Cannon

• Age: 27
• From: Ramsey IOM
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 30th August 1916
• Commemorated at: Gorre Brit Cem, Beuvry
  Panel Ref: II.D.22

Daniel Joseph Cannon was born on 27th May 1889 and was the son of Daniel Joseph Cannon and Sarah Jane (nee Corkill). He was baptised on the 31st of May in Maughold.

Daniel had older siblings Catherine Jane, William Alfred, and Thomas, and younger siblings Henry (Harry), James, Sarah (Cissy), Mary, and Gertrude.

The 1891 census shows the family at 21 Church Street, Maughold, with four children; Daniel is one year old. His father has no occupation listed. Also in the household is brother in law William Henry Quiggin, a 22-year old mariner.

By 1901 they have moved to Collins Lane, Maughold, and now have eight children; Daniel is 11.  Both parents are 40, his father (birthplace given as Douglas) is employed as a general labourer.  William Quiggin, 30, an ordinary seaman, is described as a half-brother.

The 1911 Census shows Daniel living with his family at  6 Queen’s Street, Ramsey, (a four-room tenement). His father, Daniel, is aged 55, born on the Isle of Man in 1856 and is a railway labourer, his mother, Sarah  is aged 55, born on the Isle of Man in 1856 as were their children. They have been married for 26 years and have had ten children of which one died. Their children resident at the home address are; Thomas aged 23, born 1888 and Daniel aged 21, born 1890 are both general carters, Henry aged 19, born 1892 is a barber, James aged 16, born 1895 is a baker, Sarah aged 14, born 1897 no occupation listed, Mary aged 10, born 1901 is at school and Gertrude aged 8, born 1903.

He married Marion Jean (surname unknown) in 1913 in Ramsey and a daughter Dorothy Ann was born on 23rd February 1914. 

Two months after his death, on 31st October 1916, another daughter, Margaret Mary, was born.

Daniel enlisted in Douglas, Isle of Man and originally joined the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. Following a transfer, he was serving in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 38028 when he was killed in action on the 30th August 1916, aged 27, during the Somme offensive.

He now lies in Gorre British Cemetery, Beuvry, France.

The chateau at Gorre was occupied early in the war by troops serving with the British Expeditionary Force and the Indian Corps, and the cemeteries, located in the south-east corner of original the chateau grounds, were begun in the autumn of 1914. The Indian section of the cemetery was closed in October 1915, shortly before the Indian infantry divisions left France for redeployment to the Middle East.

Many of those who now lie in plots V and VI of the British section of the cemetery were killed during the Battle of Estaires in April 1918. There are now over 930 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated here. The cemetery, which was designed by Charles Holden, also contains nine war graves of other nationalities, most of them German.

Gorre Chateau during the First World War

For much of the war, the chateau stood approximately four kilometres behind a section of the British front-line that ran northward along the Aubers Ridge from Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée to Festubert. From the end of the Battle of Festubert in May 1915 until the spring of 1918, this was considered a relatively ‘quiet’ sector. The village of Gorre was occasionally bombarded by German artillery during this period, but the chateau remained intact and its rooms were used as an officer’s mess and headquarters for British units stationed in the area. The grounds of the chateau were also the site of several artillery emplacements, a rifle range and an improvised parade ground and football pitch. Throughout 1916 and ’17 British troops could be seen drilling in the fields next to the chateau or unloading supplies from barges on the La Bassée Canal, which runs just south of the village.

The British section of the cemetery was used by infantry and artillery units stationed in the area until April 1918, when the relative quiet of the sector was shattered by the German Spring Offensive and Gorre became a support post close behind the front line during the Battle of Estaire. This battle was one of two massive German assaults on the Commonwealth positions from Ypres to Festubert that became known as the Battle of the Lys. When the battle erupted on 9 April, the 55th (West Lancashire) Division occupied the front-line trenches running north from Givenchy to Richebourg L’Avoué. The Allied positions to their left, around the village of Le Touret, were held by Portuguese units.

After a preliminary artillery bombardment that began on the evening of 7 April the German Sixth Army, spearheaded by storm troops, attacked in force early on the morning of the 9th. Heavy mist enabled the attackers to get very close to the Allied lines before they were observed and Portuguese units suffered heavy casualties and began to retire. Further south, the various formations of the 55th Division were hard pressed from the outset and the front line trenches around Givenchy were the scene of fierce fighting between British and German troops. The divisional brigade holding the northern section of the British line was forced to pull back, but well-organised counter-attacks and determined defence elsewhere enabled the 55th Division to hold its ground for the rest of the battle and prevent a major German breakthrough. Fighting continued in the trenches east of Gorre until 17 April when the German forces finally broke off the attack. In just over a week of fighting almost 3,000 officers and men of the Division had been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner, but the territory over which they had fought remained in Allied hands.

His death was reported in the Ramsey Courier on 15th September 1916

PRIVATE DANIEL CANNON.

News came to hand on Saturday night to the effect that Private Daniel Cannon(26). King's Liverpool's was killed in action in France on August 30th. Private Cannon, who is the third son of Mr and Mrs D. Cannon, of Cannells Lane, Ramsey, enlisted in December. 1915, and has been in France six weeks. He was married, and leaves a young widow and a little girl two years old. Prior to joining the colours, Private Cannon was employed by Misses Rudd, of Riversdale, and was for many years with Mr R. Gawne, of Milntown. The Cannon family is well represented with the forces. In addition to this brave fellow, who has just fallen , there is Gunner T -Cannon, R.G.A.; Driver Jas. Cannon, M.G. Corps, and Private Hy. Cannon, R.A.M.C. So that four sons of the family have joined up. Tho dead soldier was popular in a large circle of friends in Ramsey, and amongst other things was a member of the Wesleyan Mission Choir. The following letter from his Company Commander to his wife describes how he met his death:— B.E.F., 31st August, 1916.

Dear Madam, —It is with great regret that I have to inform you that your husband, Private D. Cannon, was killed in action on 30th August. Your husband was shot through the head with a rifle bullet while on patrol, and died immediately. He suffered no pain. His effects have been sent to the base, and will be sent to you through the official channel. Please accept my deepest sympathy in your sad loss. Your husband had only been with this regiment for a short time, but he had the making of a very fine soldier. His grave will be looked after by this regiment.

Yours truly,

G. LLOYD, Lieut. Commanding No. 3 Coy., K.L.R. 

Daniel was  a married man and his wife and family placed notices in the Ramsey Courier on 31st August 1917, close to his first anniversary

CANNON - In memory of my dead husband, Private Daniel Cannon, who was killed in action in France, August 30th, 1916.

Duty called him, he was there,

To do his bit, and take his share;

His heart was good, his spirit was brave,

His resting place, in a soldier's grave.

- From his Mother, Father, Sisters and Brothers. 

CANNON - In memory of Private Daniel Cannon (King's Liverpool's), killed in action in France on August 30th 1916.

"We shall meet beyond the river".

- Sadly missed by his Wife and Children. 

CANNON - In loving memory of Private Daniel Cannon( King's Liverpool's), killed in action in France on August 30th 1916.

We often sit, and think of him,

When we are all alone;

For memory is the only friend,

That grief can call its own.

- From Aunt (Warrington).

Soldiers Effects including a War Gratuity of £3 to his widow Marion Jean and pension of £1-2s-11d for herself and children Dorothy Ann and Margaret Mary. The pension card shows her address as Cannells Lane, Ramsey, and later Shore House, Queen’s Prom, Ramsey.

His mother died in 1924 in her 67th year, and his father in 1934 aged 77.

Daniel is also remembered on the following Memorials

Churchtown, Lezayre

Ramsey War Memorial, Isle of Man.

We currently have no further information on Daniel Joseph Cannon, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.