Newcastle Daily Chronicle 09/09/1915
Medal Index Card
Newcastle Journal Monday 30th August 1915
Newcastle Journal Friday 3rd September 1915
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Vincent Chesterton McShane was born at 5 Providence Place, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham in 1894, one of 9 children of whom only 8 survived he was the youngest of 4 sons and 4 daughters. His father James McShane and mother Mary Ann Chesterton were both born in Ireland in 1849 and 1861 respectively and brought to England by their parents as children. They were married at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1881 where their eldest son James Henry was born in 1884 however by 1886 they had moved to Felling. Vincent was educated at the St Johns Roman Catholic School at Felling. James McShane was employed as a chemical labourer at the newly formed United Alkali Company Limited. In 1911 he was at college studying to become a teacher, his sister Mary Anne (25) was already qualified and employed by the Urban District Co., John (24) although having studied to become a priest was a commercial traveller for the Cement Company, Francis (23) was employed at a fine art studio as a dealer, Norah (15) and Kathleen (9) also attended college, the family were living at 19, Oban Terrace, Felling.
Vincent McShane was a Cadet in the O.T.C., and a temporary 2nd Lieutenant from October 17th 1914. Promoted to a temporary Lieutenant December 29th 1914 he was commissioned into the 15th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers then attached to the 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers. He embarked August 3rd 1915 bound for Gallipoli and had barely arrived before being killed in action August 21st 1915.
His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 20,885 names inscribed on the Helles Memorial, an oblique over 30 metres high which stand on the headland of the Gallipoli peninsular visible to shipping passing through the Dardanelles, commemorating servicemen from the Commonwealth who died during the Gallipoli Campaign and who have no known grave. Lieutenant Vincent Chesterton McShane was 21 years old and single.
His mother Mary Anne McShane of 19 Oban Terrace, Felling had been nominated by him as his sole legitimate beneficiary. She received the sum of 51 pounds 16 shillings 6 pence and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His brother 2nd Lieutenant John Chesterton McShane was killed in France the following year, July 28th 1916, his brother Father Francis James McShane served as a chaplain.
Their mother Mary Anne McShane died in 1919 aged 58 years and James McShane aged 77 years in 1925, both deaths registered at Gateshead, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 18/08/1916 reports:
"Another Felling family has been severely hit by the war. Mr. and Mrs. James McShane of 19 Oban Terrace, Felling, have suffered the loss of a second son, Lieut. John McShane, who died in hospital after being twice wounded. A younger son, Lieut. Vincent McShane, was killed at Gallipoli last year. Another son, Fr. James McShane, is a chaplain in France for the past eighteen months."
Vincent Chesterton McShane is remembered in Felling on F32.06 and F32.24, in Newcastle on NUT063 and in the Roll of servedNUT263 and in the Durham University D47.151 Roll of Honour, page 64.
