Charles Shelmerdine was born circa 1921 and was baptised at St. Mark’s Church on the 30th January 1921 the son of George Greatorix & Annie Frances Shelmerdine (nee Roberts), who were married in St. Deniol’s Church, Hawarden on the 29th December 1907. George Greatorix was 24, a Labourer and had lived in Connah’s Quay, his father George was deceased but his occupation had been as a Sailor. Annie Francis, 24 was a Domestic Servant, and her home had been in Higher Shotton, her father was Millington Griffiths Roberts, Labourer.
I do not know about Charles’s early life, I believe that he may have had 5 siblings, but as there is no later census yet published, it is only guess work.
There is an Royal Artillery Attestation Register, but doesn’t give a proper date when he joined the Royal Artillery, except – 1938.
So it was no wonder that I couldn’t find him on the 1939 National Register which was taken on the 29th September 1939, but his parents George Greatorix and Annie Frances with brother George Millington Shelmerdine were recorded on this document. They were living at 14, Eaton Avenue, and George was a Road Construction Labourer while Annie Frances was doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties,” George Millington was a Butcher’s Assistant.
Casualty List (No.4) (Corrections) tells us that he “Died” on the 20th September 1942 and they altered his rank from A/Sjt to W-S/Bdr.
Casualty List 976 (Page 29) (Corrections) also tells us that on Casualty List 948 his rank should read W.S./Bdr.
A Casualty Card tells us that his place of birth and residence was Connah’s Quay, and his place of death was – Unknown, but he died of Thrombosis. He was so young.
Chester Chronicle 3rd October 1942 Page 7 Col 3.
SOLDIER’S DEATH
The news was received on Tuesday that Sergt. Chas. SHELMERDINE died after a five week’s illness on Sept. 20th, aged 21. The sergeant was in the Middle East. He was the son of Mr. And Mrs. G. SHELMERDINE, Eaton-Avenue, Wepre-drive. Another brother, Cyril, has been a prisoner of war in Germany for two years.
