Colonel Edward C. Shannon Commission & Photos For the 111th Infantry

Colonel Edward C. Shannon Commission & Photos For the 111th Infantry. This lot has a number of photographs, commission, and newspapers relating to mostly the officer corps of the 111th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division in WWI.

The lot consists of:

The commission promoting Shannon to Colonel of the 4th Regiment of Infantry, dated 1915, and signed by Governor Martin Grove Brumbaugh, and Secretary of the Commonwealth, Wm. Hertzler (as deputy Sec.).  This is the rank that Shannon held when taking command of the 111th Intantry while with the A.E.F.   Size is 11 x 16 inches and mounted on heavy (period) board.

The photographs:

• Captain James A. Groff, signed in patched photo.  8.5 x 13 (trimmed) inches.
• Officers in group photo taken at Chadd’s Ford, Pa., Oct. 7, 1921 by photographer C.H. Thomas, Kennett Square, Pa. (name on back). 4.5 x 6.5 inches -image size.
• Group of officer’s and a civilian in front of an automobile  Circa WWI.  Gen. Shannon next to the civilian.  4 x 6.5 inches -photo.  Some staining on mat.
• WWI Signal Corps photo, which may be a period copy, of the major general of the 28th Division with a British officer.  4.5 x 6.5 inches – image.
• Identified French Officer, signed on the reverse, “To Brig. General E.C. Shannon, eu Souvenir” of 1918.  Jean de Pourtales. (a 9th French Infantry officer). A oval portrait applied to the mat, taken by H. Gotti, Paris.  Image size is 5.5 inches high.
• Portrait of an officer signed, wearing overcoat that looks like having a 4th Corps patch on it. Make out the Id.  Theodor ……  image is 5 x 7 inches.
• RPPC (Real Photo Post Card), officers, Anderson & Hendricks.
• RPPC, Signed by W. Dunlap, a major or LtCol. with photographer’s applied address, Paul Croissy, Nice.
• same, Id’d to Captain “Gill.”
• same, Id’d to Lieut. Davenport.
• same, two similar shots of three officers, the one with crop is Colonel Shannon. Most likely the regimental staff officers.
• same, doughboy pulling a cart.
• same, troops marching through a village.
• same, three mounted officers likely taken prior to going overseas- believe Col. Shannon is at center.
• same, troops in full gear somewhere in France.
• Small snap shot of two women, believe they are French women by the building architecture in the background, with ID of Shannon on the reverse.
• Two photos about post card size of men positioning a cannon.
• 4 Photogravure post cards of Maxey-sur- Vaise. No caption, but a small town in northeastern France.
• 3 newspapers. Great WWI content front headlines.  Typical condition, age toned, but can be handled.

Condition overall is very good – fine.

The 111th Infantry of the 28th Division,  was formed by combining units from the Pennsylvania National Guard, specifically the 6th and 18th Regiments. The unit sailed for France in May 1918 and spent some time in training with British and French advisors, and later the

• regiment’s first combat occurred on July 1, 1918, when elements of Companies A and B participated in a raid alongside French troops on Hill 204 near Chateau-Thierry.
• Key battles: The 111th Infantry was involved in several major battles, including

• Aisne-Marne
• Champagne-Marne
• Oise-Marne
• Meuse-Argonne Offensive
• Champagne 1918
• Lorraine 1918.

Edward Caswell Shannon (1870- 1946).  Born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.   His military career began in 1889, when he enlisted in Company “C,” 4th Infantry Regiment, PNG, advancing through noncommissioned officer ranks to attaining officer rank as a 2nd Lt. in 1893.  He was a captain during the war with Spain. He remained with the PNG, and by 1915 had been given the command of the 4th Infantry with the rank of colonel. Col. Shannon’s regiment was on the Mexican Border during the 1916 Pancho Villa Expedition.  During WWI, Colonel Shannon earned the nicknam, “Two Yards” (because of the reputation he developed for leading his men from the front), when commanding the 111th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and the Silver Star Medal.

After WWI Shannon was promoted to brigadier general, with command of the 1st Infantry Brigade, PNG, and later the 52nd Cavalry Brigade.  He held a few civil positions during his time in the Guard; one being the Lt.Governor of Pa. form 1930 to 1935. He was unsuccessful in his bid to be Governor on the Republican Ticket in 1934.

From 1933 to 1939 Shannon was promoted to major general with command of the 28th Infantry Division.