Reginald Arthur Shann

Lt. Reginald Arthur Shann of the 3rd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment fell in action at Hargicourt on the 21st March 1918. Born on the 6 June 1891 in Chenies, he was the son of the Rector at St Michael’s Church, Rev. Reginald Shann and his wife Elizabeth Shann. In the 1911 census he was aged 19 and a Student at Royal Agricultural College, boarding at Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

Having volunteered for active service soon after the outbreak of war, Reginald was initially enlisted in the 18th Royal Fusiliers (Public Schools Battalion) on 3 Sept 1914. He served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the 14 November 1915 where he was recommended for a commission, and on returning to England for training was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd East Lancashire Regiment on the 7 July 1916, and promoted to Lieutenant in January 1918. He joined the 1st Battalion in France on the 14 Nov 1916, was wounded at Arras on the 9 April 1917 and invalided home. On his recovery he was returned to France where he was attached to the 4th and later the 9th Battalion and was killed in action near Hargicourt on the 21 March, 1918.

Reginald was buried where he fell, and has no known grave, but is commemorated on POZIERES MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Panel 42 and 43.

Within St Michael’s Church, Chenies and displayed on the north wall of the Nave is a memorial to him that takes the form of a large tablet set on a backboard with a triangular pediment and pilasters either side, a latin cross is above and scrolled apron below. This was commissioned by Adeline Marie, Duchess of Bedford, widow of the 10th Duke, and reads as follows:

TO THE HONOURED MEMORY OF
LIEUT REGINALD ARTHUR SHANN EAST LANC REGT
YOUNGER SON OF REGINALD SHANN. FOR 33 YEARS
RECTOR OF THIS PARISH AND ELIZABETH HIS WIFE
SERVED FROM 1914-1918 IN THE GREAT WAR
FELL IN ACTION AT HARGICOURT MARCH 21ST 1918
A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST
THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY HIS FRIENDS AND FELLOW PARISHIONERS
ADELINE MARIE DUCHESS OF BEDFORD