Arthur’s father George Ernest Shackleton and his mother Alice Adelaide M Killip, had married in North Bierley, (The district N.Bierley is an alternative name for North Bierley and it is in the county of West Riding of Yorkshire) in 1908. (N. Bierley Vol. 9b Page 299).
Arthur Shackleton, according to the Commonwealth War Graves, was age 29 when he died in 1942, making him born circa 1913. I have no definitive date of birth for him as the 1911 census was too early for Arthur and although I find his parents and some siblings, he doesn’t appear on public records that I can find until he and his brothers Ernest and Wilfred are recorded in School Registers: –
Custom House Lane School Registers
3017 Admitted 30th August 1920 SHACKLETON, Ernest 21st November 1908 7, Wepre View, C.Q.
3018 Admitted 30th August 1920 SHACKLETON, Arthur 21stOctober 1911 7, Wepre View, C.Q.
3019 Admitted 30th August 1920 SHACKLETON, Wilfred 16th June 1913 7, Wepre View, C.Q.
This then tells us that he was born on the 21st of August 1911, so there is a discrepancy. I must take the view that the school would be right.
This is not exactly confirmed in George Ernest’s Attestation Papers, (which I have and will send if you would like them) as when he was in WW1, these papers show the marriage taking place in Bradford, Yorkshire on the 12th of February 1908, but the information, supplied by the recruit, states – Not verified by Certificate. So perhaps George Ernest had no Marriage Certificate to prove it and they took his word. The children were listed as: – Hope Killip, born 19th December 1904 (Paternity acknowledged), Ada Shackleton, born 1st of February 1905 at Todmorden. Ernest Shackleton born October 1908 in Burnley, Arthur Shackleton, November 1911, and Wilfred born the 6th of June 1913 both born in Liverpool. The writing on the Attestation Papers were not very clear. There are two copies of George’s Attestation Papers and the dates of the marriage differ, the other date is the 17th of February 1907.
These papers tell us that George Ernest Shackleton was not discharged until the 15th of April 1920, and he did no Overseas Service, he had served with his Home Service and “A” Reserve 3 years and 305 days. Disability was written on the form. His home address was quoted as being: – C/o Mrs. Michell, 3, Church View, Pentre, Queensferry, Near Chester.
There is also a record of George having a Disability Award for a short time, with Bronchitis and bad teeth from the 16th of April 1920 to the 19th of October 1920. Also, another marriage date – the 12th of December 1908.
By the 1921 census George Ernest was home, living at 7, Wepre View, Shotton, Flintshire. George Ernest Shackleton was now 40 years and 8 months old, born in Manchester, Lancashire, and an Insurance Agent for the Salvation Army Ass. Society, 107, Queen Vic. Street, London. Alice A.A. Shackleton was now 41 years and 6 months old, and she had been born in Rotherham, Yorkshire and was doing “Home Duties.” Hope Killip Shackleton was 16 years and 6 months old and had been born in Hackney, London and was a Sealer at the Shell Spirit Works, Chester. Ada Shackleton was 15 years and 5 months old and had been born in Todmorden, Yorkshire, and was unemployed. Ernest Shackleton was 12 years and 7 months old, born in Burnley, Lancashire and at school. Arthur Shackleton was 9 years and 8 months old, and Wilfred Shackleton was 8 years old, they were at school and the latter two had both been born in Liverpool, Lancashire.
The next time I see Arthur is when he married Priscilla Annie Higgins in a Civil Ceremony at Holywell in 1934, his father is recorded as George Ernest Shackleton, an Assurance Agent. (Flintshire (Mold)HOL/55/121)
I find George Ernest and Alice on the 1939 Register, taken on the 29th of September 1939, living at Salfone (Salfonl?), Aston Hall Lane, Hawarden, this source gives us the dates of birth. George E. Shackleton had been born on the 16th of October 1880 and was an Assurance Agent. Alice A.A. Shackleton had been born on the 7th of December 1879 and was doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties.” Ernest Shackleton had been born on the 21st of November 1908 and was a Crane Driver at the Steel Works. There were two redacted or closed records, but I do not know who they are.
On the 1939 National Register, however, I cannot find Arthur, but I found Priscilla, who was living with her parents at 9b, Woodland Street, Shotton. Her father, John Higgins was head of the household and had been born on the 18th of July 1880 and was a Labourer. C.S. Shackleton (Catherine Sarah Shackleton) had been born on the 23rd of April 1881 and was doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties.” Priscilla A. Shackleton had been born on the 19th of November 1911 and was doing “Paid Domestic Duties.” Of course, Arthur could already be in the Army as war was declared on the 3rd of September 1939 and Priscilla went to her parent’s home.
Arthur Army Career started in 1923 according to the Royal Artillery attestations 1883-1942 Transcription. His Attestation Registers for the Royal Artillery doesn’t give much in formation, in fact very little is written except his name and number, the only other thing that is written is- “Died 2/3/42 H.A.A/S.” I did try to find out from the WW2 Talk Forum, but they couldn’t pin it down, after going to a lot of trouble to find out, so I am grateful to them. WW2 Talk Attestation date http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/attestation-date.72683/
There are Casualty Lists and a Casualty card that states that Arthur died at sea, but the lists seem to suggest he was on land. Page No 233 states “Not Thailand,” so they had tried to find him there. Another 198? Shows how the Army had tried to find out what had happened to these men, with notes explaining their fate – states by his name – Nothing Known. Page 793 (9) shows list of man who were missing on the 15th of February 1942. List (14) shows “Previously Posted Missing 15.2.1942 – Malaya now Presumed Killed in Action.”
As I said previously in my efforts to tell his story I asked for help from WW2 Talk Forum http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/3-h-a-a-regt-royal-artillery.73557/#post-789898 and their wonderful members replied, and below is a compilation of their replies and I will be forever grateful for their expertise.
Tim – “Don’t get confused with the place of death being Malaya. This refers to Malaya Command, which encompasses the Far East Theatre of War, and doesn’t necessarily mean Malaya, as in the country. There must be some information out there to establish why the Casualty Card is marked ‘at Sea’ finding it is another matter. The Missing Personnel files show the length to which the authorities went to establish what happened to missing people and these files can be very large. For the future you may care to take a note of Royal Artillery 1939-45 this shows all the RA Regiments in WW2 and shows how careful you have to be with the Regiment’s title. You will see that as well as the 3rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment there were many other 3rd Regiments – Field Artillery, Medium Artillery, Heavy Artillery, Super Heavy Artillery and Light Anti-Aircraft Artillery.
If he was in Java and died there, as so many did, there was so much confusion at the time that records in many cases were compiled shortly after and this may explain the date of death not being accurately known, hence the 2/3 Mar 1942.
It seems that he was in Singapore when it fell on 15 Feb 42. If the dying at sea is correct, it may be that he had escaped from Singapore to Sumatra and was on an evacuation ship from somewhere like Padang, many of which were sunk. Having said that the Royal Artillery list from Singapore lists him with the Notation OVL? (Overland?), if he had escaped, I would have expected it to say M (Missing). The answer may lie in the files WO 361/247* and 361/249** (3rd HAA Missing personnel) but unfortunately, I don’t have copies.
* https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=WO+361%2F247+&_sd=&_ed=&_hb=
** https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=WO+361%2F249
Pat WALKER – Dear Mavis, following on from your post addressed to me. You seem to have a lot of info but mixed up and confusing the search. 3 AA Div was UK based. It would seem he may have been in 11 Bty of 3 HAA.
My book was about 6th HAA Regt who had three Batteries numbered 3,12 and 15 and he did not feature in my book or research on this unit. There are quite a lot of units starting with the number 3 from main units to attach such as signals or searchlights. You have to be very sure which he was in if you wish to follow up his career. Noting his date of death seems to suggest he was in Java and may have been killed there.
I think the records show he died in Malaya Command area and the ‘at sea’ bit has been corrected later. Malaya command encompassed the whole of Sumatra, Java etc not just the country of Malaya.
Your best bet is to try and acquire his service records from Historical Disclosures in Scotland. Though there is no guarantee they will show very much they may reveal a little more of his service travels.
If he was in Java and died there, as so many did, there was so much confusion at the time that records in many cases were compiled shortly after and this may explain the date of death not being accurately known, hence the 2/3 Mar 1942”.
Enigma
In the 6 HAA Regimental File, it appears his location or whereabouts are totally unknown, as it states “? Not Thai” (Photo in File)
Sadly, Arthur’s story of what happened and how he suffered will probably never be told, but his story is one of hundreds of thousands that suffered for us all and we must make sure their stories are told.
Another Connah’s Quay Soldier, Thomas William Rabone was also captured in the Fall of Singapore on the 15th of February 1942 and is also commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, but his death was in 1944. He has even more Casualty Lists, please click on his name to read his story.
Arthur’s family made sure that he would be remembered as he was well loved, and we must all remember them for their sacrifice for us all.
