Caulfield Racecourse
Although the above service record states there are no honours to display, Arthur Shannon was in fact honoured with Mention In Despatches for his work in the seige of Tobruk.
Arthur's Mother was listed as his Next of Kin when he enlisted. The name Sarah, was used. However she was known by the family as Carrie.
Mrs Shannon is shown on the front porch of the family home in Heatherbrae Ave., GlenHuntley. With her is Billy the cat. |
Caulfield Racecourse played an important role in the establishment of Australian Army Forces early in World War Two.
The Army moved onto the racecourse in March, 1940, and established a recruiting depot and barracks.
Arthur Shannon was among thousands of men who had their first taste of Army life there. He entered the racecourse camp on 30 July 1940, and then slept in the old grandstand for several weeks before being allotted to his unit.
The press clippings (above left and below) from the Argus in 1940 shows civilian authorities were far too optimistic regarding the length of time the Army would need the facility.
The Army moved onto the racecourse in March, 1940, and established a recruiting depot and barracks.
Arthur Shannon was among thousands of men who had their first taste of Army life there. He entered the racecourse camp on 30 July 1940, and then slept in the old grandstand for several weeks before being allotted to his unit.
The press clippings (above left and below) from the Argus in 1940 shows civilian authorities were far too optimistic regarding the length of time the Army would need the facility.
Melbourne Argus Fri 26 July 1940
Immediately on moving in, the Army enclosed the whole area with a 3km-long corrugated iron security fence, with serrated top edges and barbed wire to secure its new base.
The main entrance to Caulfield Racecourse has changed little from the time the Army occupied it in WW2.
Photo ( above) is from Google Maps.
Photo ( above) is from Google Maps.
When handing back the Caulfield Racecourse to the racing clubs in 1944, the Army left its fence in place. Despite continual calls over the years by community groups, local councils and the state government for the fence to be removed it remained in place. The clubs used a legal loophole to contend they had not built it, but were merely maintaining an existing fence. The stand-off continued until 2012 when an agreement was reached to remove the Army's fence, and so allow unfettered access to the public reserve. This had not happened at the time this website was published.
Above photo is from Google Maps. |
New Army recruits photographed at the Caulfield Racecourse in 1940. Although not members of the Brigade to which Arthur Shannon was attached, the photo shows the large grandstand which was his "home" for several weeks.
|