"Though only eight days have elapsed since the 24th Reinforcements left Dunedin, the send-off of the 25th to-day was quite as hearty and enthusiastic. This would not be the case were the function merely a military spectacle. The public soon tire of anything' that is only show. In these farewellings there is a blood interest. The men going away are everybody's sons and brothers. Even the sonless feel the thrill. The boys of the 25th made as good an impression as any of their predecessors. They were a manly-looking lot of fellows, full of spirit, and as cheerful as possible, and cheers were constantly interchanged between them and the crowd." -Evening Star, 11/1/1917.
John James Shennan was a farmer from Berwick, and son of a farmer. He was called up, uniformed and sent off for training with the cheers of Dunedin citizens and the music of the Dunedin Highland Pipe Band in his ears, from the march between the Kensington Drill Hall and Dunedin Railway Station.
"We are here at this time to say farewell to another body of splendid men who are going forth to fight the battles of their country. Men, we are heartily sorry to say farewell to you. With your fathers and your mothers, we are filled with sorrow. Why? Because you men are our best and dearest. The men who have gone, out from our shores and tho men who are going out are the very flower of our country. We cannot afford to lose them. We also regret to have to say farewell on account of the occasion that is calling you away. We are sorry to think that any people calling themselves a Christian people should be engaged in such a tyrannical war against our loved land. We are sorry to think that any people should have fallen so low in the eyes of the nations of tho world as is the case with the Power we are fighting. There is one word I wish to say specially to you, especially in the present circumstances. I want you to remember that you are going out in a cause that is righteous. I want you to remember that yours is a cause that is just and right. According to the philosophy of the German nation might is right. As a matter of fact their one formula has been Might is right. God is going to show to these people that might is not right, but that right is might. I have been reading scriptures and I have been reading history for 40 years and I find that a great many of England's greatest soldiers were Christian men, and I believe that many of those I am addressing at the present moment are Christian men. Cromwell and his Ironsides, prior to engaging in battle, engaged in prayer and sang psalms. They never went into battle without going down on their knees, and they were never beaten. I tell you our Empire is going to win, and I want you to remember that the power belongeth unto God. Never forget that the power is in the hands of the Almighty. Now, lads, if you are. true to God, God will be true to you, and no man will stand in front of you. The best man is the man who trusts God, whether in civil or any other life, and that is the man who lives a life of prayer. I hope that before long we shall hear of a crushing victory and a lasting peace, and that we shall welcome you all home again. We are proud of you as New Zealanders, and just as proud of the men who have gone before you. Go forward, not in your own strength, but in the strength of your God " (Applause.) -Mr Jones then engaged in a short prayer. -Evening Star, 11/1/1917.
"We are here at this time to say farewell to another body of splendid men who are going forth to fight the battles of their country. Men, we are heartily sorry to say farewell to you. With your fathers and your mothers, we are filled with sorrow. Why? Because you men are our best and dearest. The men who have gone, out from our shores and tho men who are going out are the very flower of our country. We cannot afford to lose them. We also regret to have to say farewell on account of the occasion that is calling you away. We are sorry to think that any people calling themselves a Christian people should be engaged in such a tyrannical war against our loved land. We are sorry to think that any people should have fallen so low in the eyes of the nations of tho world as is the case with the Power we are fighting. There is one word I wish to say specially to you, especially in the present circumstances. I want you to remember that you are going out in a cause that is righteous. I want you to remember that yours is a cause that is just and right. According to the philosophy of the German nation might is right. As a matter of fact their one formula has been Might is right. God is going to show to these people that might is not right, but that right is might. I have been reading scriptures and I have been reading history for 40 years and I find that a great many of England's greatest soldiers were Christian men, and I believe that many of those I am addressing at the present moment are Christian men. Cromwell and his Ironsides, prior to engaging in battle, engaged in prayer and sang psalms. They never went into battle without going down on their knees, and they were never beaten. I tell you our Empire is going to win, and I want you to remember that the power belongeth unto God. Never forget that the power is in the hands of the Almighty. Now, lads, if you are. true to God, God will be true to you, and no man will stand in front of you. The best man is the man who trusts God, whether in civil or any other life, and that is the man who lives a life of prayer. I hope that before long we shall hear of a crushing victory and a lasting peace, and that we shall welcome you all home again. We are proud of you as New Zealanders, and just as proud of the men who have gone before you. Go forward, not in your own strength, but in the strength of your God " (Applause.) -Mr Jones then engaged in a short prayer. -Evening Star, 11/1/1917.
With training completed, John and others of the 25th Reinforcements left New Zealand for Europe on April 26, 1917.
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| West Taieri Cemetery, Outram. Allan Steel photo. |
James was wounded with a bullet in the stomach on March the 13th, 1918. The Rifle Brigade was still waiting for the anticipated German offensive on that day so he would not have been wounded in battle as such. I've found no further details in his army records. He might have been part of a trench raid, he might have been hit by a German sniper. He might have been shot by accident by a nervous or careless comrade. Wounded on the 13th and died on the 23rd means it would have been a long, painful death. He was in the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital at Doullens, France - I hope there was plenty of morphine on hand. He was 22 years old.
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