Arthur born in early 1898 (Ancestry trees show 11th March) in St. Helens, Lancashire, the son of John Shacklady and Margaret Ellen (née Sutton). John, born in Rainford, and Margaret, from Birkenhead, married in St. Thomas, Eccleston, in 1893 and had 7 children. Arthur had older brothers John Herbert and Francis Albert, and younger siblings William Eric, Dorothy Irene (who died in infancy), Harold, and Doris.
Arthur was baptised on 16th March 1898, his parents’ residence White House, Denton’s Green, and his father’s occupation carter.
In 1901 the family is living in Rainford Road, Windle, with three sons. His father is a foundry carter, Arthur is 3.
The 1911 census finds them at Windle Grange Cottages, Rainford, near St. Helens. His father is 40, a carter in an engineering works, his mother is 41, John, 17, is a farm labourer, Frances, 15, is a grinding shed labourer, Arthur, 13, and William, 9, are at school, Harold is 4 and Doris 2.
His father died not long after the census, aged 40. After he left school, Arthur worked for the St. Helens Tramways (according to a later newspaper article).
An attestation paper shows that Arthur enlisted in St. Helens on 11th September 1914 as Private 21073 in 11th South Lancashire Regiment (St. Helens Pals), giving his age as 16 years and six months, and his occupation as grocer’s assistant. He is described as being five feet and half an inch tall, weighing 87 lbs, with a 30 and a half inch chest. He gives his mother, at 127 Duke Street, St. Helens, as his next of kin. His papers show that he served as a bugler. Arthur was discharged 44 days later, on 24th October as “not likely to become an efficient soldier owing to poor physique”.
Wishing to serve like his older brothers, Arthur enlisted again, this time in Prescot in the 17th (Pals) Bn., King’s (Liverpool) Regiment, as Private 27577. Unfortunately, his record has not survived so the details are not known. A local newspaper article in June 1917:
“Private Shacklady is 19 years of age and joined the ‘St Helens Pals’ when he was 16, afterwards being transferred to the signalling section of the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment. In pre-war days he was employed on the St Helens tramways. His mother, who resides at 24 Brook Street, has received the following letter from Pte B. Rowlands, her son’s companion.
‘Mrs Shacklady, you will no doubt think it very funny me taking the liberty of writing to you without ever being introduced to you. But I think we can get over these things, during the present time.
“I am your son Arthur’s pal Bert Rowlands, who has been in France with him...I am writing to inform you that he has been mentioned in dispatches for good work in the battlefield and I am sure that you will be greatly pleased to hear it, as I know my people would. He has always been one of the best, a decent lad, I will never be sorry I met him, and made him a friend. We have been through a great many rough times together and we have come through alright and we are at the moment enjoying a rest together, the more so as we have shared our troubles. We are having beautiful weather and we are getting quite brown.’”
(The writer is possibly Pte. 26054 Albert E Rowland, 17th Bn, later served in 8th KLR, and survived the war.)
Arthur was awarded the Military Medal in 1917 (Gazetted 9th July 1917).
The 17th Bn returned to England at the end of June 1918 for rest, reinforcement, and training for the Russian Campaign. It is not known if Arthur returned to England, but at some point he was transferred. His medal roll and SDGW show that Arthur was transferred to the 1st Bn K.L.R.; however, other records, such as CWGC, the pension card and Soldiers’ Effects, show 1/7th Bn K.L.R. We do know that he served as a signaller.
Arthur died on 9th December 1918 of injuries sustained in an accident and now lies in Spa Communal Cemetery, southeast of Liège, Belgium. Arthur is one of only four Commonwealth soldiers in this cemetery, all of whom died after the Armistice.
In attempting to ascertain which battalion Arthur served with, the War Diaries for the 1st and 1/7th K.L.R. were searched for clues. The 1/7th shows absolutely no activity for the month of December, and the previous month mentions ORs wounded, but no accidents, and the battalion during December was over 100 miles away from Spa.
The 1st K.L.R. War Diary records an accident on 6th December whilst marching from Huy to Warzee, outside Seny (about 25 miles west of Spa): “A horse, harnessed into a country cart, standing in a yard alongside a house, suddenly darted into the road as the Band struck up. The maddened horse scattered the Band and the leading Coy and by the most wonderful good luck only three men were injured. We reformed and resumed the march, leaving the doctor and Cpl Stamson(?) + 2 stretcher bearers of the Aid Post Staff to look after the injured men. They were badly bruised but nothing more and were evacuated by field ambulance.” (The battalion marched through Spa on 9th December.)
It is not known if Arthur was involved in this accident, but he tragically died, at the age of 20, one month after the Armistice had been signed.
His death appeared in the Weekly Casualty List on 21st January 1919: Shacklady 27577 Sig. A. (St. Helens).
His mother Margaret, at 24 Brook Street, St. Helens, received his Army effects of 1s-1d. A War Gratuity, unusually, is not shown in Soldiers’ Effects, so the amount is unknown. His mother died in 1931.
His older brothers John and Francis both served on the Western Front with the Royal Field Artillery, and survived the war.
Arthur is commemorated on the St. Helens Roll of Honour
Grateful thanks are extended to the St Helens Roll of Honour website who have allowed us to use the photograph of Arthur on this site.
We currently have no further information on Arthur Shacklady, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
