Personal Details

Born: 27 December 1875 in Halifax, Yorkshire.

Family: He was the youngest of three children born to William  Shackleton, a bricklayer, and his wife Ada, nee Clay. He married Annie Grice in 1912 at the Wesleyan Chapel, Whitchurch, Shropshire. The couple had two children, Ernest W, born 1913 and Herbert J, born 1915.

Residence: In 1881 his family were living at 3 Gray Street, Northowram, Halifax. Ten years later they had moved to Shropshire and their address was 17 Spring Cottages, Spring Gardens, Shrewsbury. By 1911 John was a boarder at 34 Bargates, Whitchurch.  An address of 8 Worthington Street, Whitchurch was given for him on his Attestation documents, this was also the one given for him on the 1919 Absent Voters` List for Whitchurch. By 1939 he was living at 7 Alkington Gardens, Whitchurch and continued to do so until his death in 1947.

Employment: In 1891 he was a tobacconist’s labourer but his occupation in 1898, when he joined The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, was a gas fitter. Having left the army in 1919 he became a postman and remained one until he retired.

Died: In 1947 in the Public Assistance Institution, Whitchurch, Shropshire, aged 72. He was buried 28 May the same year in Whitchurch cemetery.

Military Details

Regiment: Royal Engineers

Rank: Sapper

Service Number:  WR/504389 (previously 222663)

Date of Enlistment: 10 December 1915

Date of Discharge: 15 February 1919

Reason for Discharge: Demobilisation

Other Information: John joined the King’ Shropshire Light Infantry (service number 5680), 4 August 1898, serving in South Africa during the Boer War. He was discharged 3 August 1910.