100 Days of Heroes: Fallen soldier Jack Cannon walked in the footsteps of his veteran grandfather

A CENTURY before Tasmanian soldier Joseph Cannon met his Waterloo in World War I, his grandfather and namesake was fighting the French in the famous battle of the same name in 1815.

Sapper Jim Cannon, left, with his older brother Jack Cannon who is remembered at tree 174 on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue.

A CENTURY before one Tasmanian soldier met his Waterloo in World War I, his grandfather was fighting the French in the famous battle of the same name in 1815.

In fact veteran settler Joseph Cannon had two grandsons serving side-by-side on the Western Front in 1916.

When he died at Fingal in 1873, aged 92, he had lived in the colony for 49 years and was described as universally respected.

Arriving in Van Diemens Land in 1824, Joseph married Margaret Marshall (or Marchel/Murchell) at Campbell Town in 1837. He was described as a gardener when his son Charles was born in 1851.

Charles, a miner, married Mary Jane Fallon at Launceston in 1882, and they were living at Alberton in the northeast when Joseph John Marshall Cannon was born in 1886, named for his grandfather and grandmother.

MORE 100 DAYS OF HEROES

TREACHERY IN THE TRENCHES KILLS WILLIAM PFAU

HUTCHINS SPORTS MASTER “MARGO” MARGETTS

Sapper Joseph (Jack) Cannon.

Young Joseph, better known as Jack, was employed as a bridge-builder with the Public Works Department and was working near Waddamana when he decided to enlist for World War I.

He joined up on the same day as his younger brother James (Jim), at Ross, in January 1916, and they had consecutive regimental numbers.

Jack was 29 and is believed to have joined up to keep watch over Jim, who was six months shy of his 18th birthday.

Both were designated as sappers and attached to the 8th and later 15th Field Company Engineers.

The brothers spent time in camp in New South Wales before sailing on the troopship HMAT Orsova. They arrived at Alexandria in April 1916 and were there for two months until transferring to France aboard the British vessel HMT Ionian.

They were reportedly in the same frontline dugout in December 1916, when Jack received a dangerous gunshot wound to his face.

He was transferred to the 11th General Hospital at Rouen, where he died of his wounds on December 12.

Jack was buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery and his personal effects were returned to his mother living in Aspinall’s Buildings, Hampden Rd, Battery Point.

After his brother’s death, Jim had several brushes with authority and was punished for being absent without leave and giving a false name. He was wounded in action in 1918 but returned safely home to Tasmania in 1919.

Sapper Joseph John Cannon, born at Alberton in the state’s northeast, is remembered at tree 174 on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue and on the honour boards at the Hobart Town Hall.

[e-mail]

Jack Cannon’s plaque on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue.