SHANNON, Elliot Strachan (1882-1914) Elliott Strachan Shannon was born on 16 May 1882, the fifth of eight children born to College Council Chairman,
Charles Shannon (1841-1922) and Emily Agatha nee Strachan, of Fernshawe, Geelong.
He had entered the School in 1896. He died as a result of injuries suffered in a motor car accident at Terang on 14 May 1914.
The
Bendigonian newspaper described the circumstances of this tragedy:
'YOUNG BRIDEGROOM KILLED DURING HONEYMOON TRIP. Geelong, 14th May.
A shocking motor car fatality occurred this afternoon a few miles beyond Terang, when Mr. Eliot Shannon, fourth son of Mr. Charles Shannon, of the well-known wool firm of Geelong, met his death. The accident was more than ordinarily pathetic, because deceased was only married on Tuesday to Miss Blakely, daughter of Mr. A. B. Blakely, of St. Arnaud, and they were
spending their honeymoon on a Western district tour. Mr. Shannon drove his own car, in the handling of which he had had some years' experience.. When travelling at a fair rate of speed near the Presbyterian Church, the steering gear of the motor failed, and though Mr. Shannon applied the brakes, the front wheels of the car reached the edge of a steep embank ment. On its side the vehicle slid down speedily, crashing finally into a culvert.
Mrs. Shannon was thrown clear and escaped injury, but Mr. Shannon was pinned under the motor. When released, it was found that his chest was crushed in. Two doctors were soon in attendance, and they said death must have been instantaneous.' Later, in January 1919, in discussing the revival after the war of the Barwon Rowing Regatta the
Geelong Advertiser referred to a new rowing award:
'Mr. N. Belcher, on behalf of the Barwon Bowing Club, said that an amount of £50 had been collected for a perpetual trophy, in the form of a silver cup, to be presented for competition at the regatta, as a tribute to the memory of the late Mr. Eliot S Shannon The gift was accepted, and the trophy is to be known as the Eliot S. Shannon Cup, and awarded to the winners, of the Maiden Eights each Year.' The deceased gentleman was secretary of the Excelsior Woollen Mills, Geelong, and was a well-known oarsman.'
He served in the Anglo-Boer War with the South African Light Horse. On his return he joined the staff of Strachan, Murray and Shannon, Geelong, and later that of Godfrey Hirst & Co. In 1914 he married Agnes Maud May Blakeley, daughter of Alfred Burnard Blakely and Mrs Annie Blakeley, of St Arnaud.
His death greatly affected the Shannon family and was noted in Pegasus
and the Council Minutes.
His brothers, James Ford Shannon; Herbert Strachan Shannon (1880-1955) and Archibald Norman Shannon were all edcated at Geelong College.
Sources: Pegasus May 1914; The Bendigonian (Bendigo) 19 May 1914 p30; Geelong Advertiser 22 January 1919 p4; Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. pp (citing Alexander Henderson, Henderson’s Australian Families; The Pegasus; National Archives).''