Arthur Shackleton

SSgt Arthur Shackleton GPR

It is with great sadness I inform the wider Army Aviation family of the recent death of SSgt Arthur Shackleton on the 28^th December 2014,

a veteran of the Glider Pilot Regiment.

Arthur Shackleton joined The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in 1939, before transferring to work on farms as a labourer to help with the harvest. He was then ordered to join The Royal Horse Artillery where he became a dispatch rider. Keen to see action he volunteered for the Glider Pilot regiment in October 1942. On the 17 September 1944 Arthur’s glider was the first of ‘B’ Squadron to take off for Operation Market Garden. He landed the glider landed without incident and proceeded to fight his way into Arnhem with the South Staffordshire Regiment. During the withdrawal of Arnhem during the 25/26 September 1944 Arthur received a bullet wound to his shoulder. Whilst being evacuated across the river in a small boat it was destroyed by a mortar round. After being plucked from the river, Arthur was passed through various medical staging posts, to have the bullet and various pieces of shrapnel removed from his body, until he found himself in Hospital in Birmingham. After being declared fit Arthur rejoined his unit and took part in Operation Varsity – The Rhine Crossing on 24 March 1945.

Arthur demobbed in 1946 and settled down to family life in Bournemouth with his wife Nell and they raised three children. Nell died shortly after their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Arthur later remarried and lived with his second wife Margaret close to Dorchester. Arthur and Margaret have been committed supporters of the Glider Pilot Regiment Association in particular the Wessex Branch. They were the driving force behind the AGM and Dinner held in Bournemouth.

The funeral for SSgt Arthur Shackleton will take place on Friday 9^th January 2015 at 14; 00hrs at St Michaels Parish Church, Church Lane, Owermoigne DT2 8HS. (Owermoigne is a few miles East of Dorchester, Dorset, off the Wareham road/A352). There is limited parking available so please park respectfully. The family have requested that flowers are not given; instead donations should be made to the Joseph Weld Hospice who looked after Arthur in his last few days. Donations can be made at the Parish Church. After the church service at the request of the family no one is to follow the hearse to the crematorium; please proceed directly to the reception.

Margaret has requested that all veterans attending dress in bright clothing, not the usual black mourning attire.

Afterwards there will be a Reception held at the Frampton Arms, Moreton, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8BB. Frampton Arms is located next to Moreton Railway Station on the B3390. All veterans are welcome to join Margaret and the family.

All veterans attending the funeral and reception please inform myself by CoP Wednesday 7^th January 2015 on the following email or telephone number:  AACHQ-RHQ-AssRegtSec@mod.uk  Tel: 01264 784514.

If any additional information is required please do not hesitate to contact myself.

Our thoughts are with the family at this time.