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1107350
Gunner
Horace Peter Shellard
1909/04/28 - Born Leicester
Son of Jenny Shellard
Occupation Painter and Decorator
1934 - Married to Irene Lille Shellard (born 1916/07/16, nee Lenton) of Leicester
Sadly their youngest son died October 1941 in Leicester. He was drowned in a tragic accident. Horace was allowed to travel back for the funeral and this was the last time his elder son saw him.
1st Leicester Regiment then transferred to the Royal Artillery
Next of kin:- Wife: Irene L, 16 Swann Street, Leicester
Royal Artillery
85 Anti-Tank Regiment
18th Division
Service
1941/09/23 - The 85th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery was formed.
Four batteries were detached from other regiments and joined the 85th Regiment on the dates mentioned below:-
1941/09/23 - 270th Battery
1941/09/27 - 251st Battery
1941/09/27 - 281st Battery
1941/09/29 - 45th Battery
After training in Essex, the 85th and their equipment were loaded on to the SS Narkunda, a ship in Convoy William Sail 12Z.
1941/11/12 - Sailed from Liverpool and the Clyde.
1941/11/13 - The convoy formed off Oversay as below:
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11L
ADRASTUS
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21L
MATAROA
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31C
NARKUNDA
(Commodore)
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41L
ORDUNA
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51C
DEUCALION
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12L
EMPIRE STAR
Â
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22L
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
(Vice Commodore)
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32C
AORANGI
32C
EMPRESS OF JAPAN
(same position number)
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42L
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
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52C
ABBEKERK
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13L
SUSSEX
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23L
EMPRESS OF ASIA
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43L
CAPETOWN CASTLE
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53C
RIMUTAKA
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34C
ARUNDEL CASTLE
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When the convoy departed the docks, the 85th were heading for the Middle East via the Cape of Good Hope. The 85th equipment was painted in desert camouflage. The convoy sailed south to Durban, South Africa.
1941/12/08 - The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour and invaded the Philippines.
The 85th were diverted from their original desert destination to Singapore in Convoy DM 1 (Durban Military):-
AORANGI
MOUNT VERNON
NARKUNDA
SUSSEX
They became part of the 53rd Battalion. as reinforcements of the Singapore Garrison.
Escorted by EMERALD, a rendezvous was made at the fuelling stop at Addu Atoll from where the escort was reinforced by the cruisers Durban and Exeter.
1942/01/09 - Sloop Jumna joined convoy
1942/01/10 - The Dutch cruiser De Ruyter was present for the next three days. The destroyers Encounter, Jupiter and Vampire joined the convoy until the convoy reached Singapore.
1942/01/13 - Convoy DM 1 arrived Singapore
1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to the Japanese
1942/04/24 - WO 417/42, Casualty List No 806. Reoported ‘Missing’.
1943/06/24 - WO 417/62, Casualty List No 1169. Previously reported on Casualty List No 806 as Missing. Now reported a ‘Prisoner of War’.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
PoW No. IV 3414
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/10/11 - Transported overland to Thailand
Group 4 10 (C) Work Battalion
Commander Major MacKinlay, 85 A/T Regiment, RA
New PoW No. IV 14415
Camp in Thailand:-
Tonchan Central
1942/12/24 - Died of Dysentery and Malaria at Tonchan Central
Buried Tonchan Central Cemetery, Grave 23
After the war Horace was re-entered at a Commonwealth Cemetery
Notification of Horace death
1946/01/08 - WO417/100, Casualty List No. 1954. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1169 as Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya. Reported ‘Died’.
1946/07/02 - WO417/102, Correction to entry on Casualty List No. 1954/10. The date of casualty was incorrectly reported and occurred on 24/12/1942.
Died
Age 32
1942/12/24
Loved Ones
Husband of Irene Lille Shellard (formerly Lenton) of Leicester
Memorial
8. C. 33.
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
Thailand
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Pacific Star
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War Medal
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1939-1945 Star
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Information
Wayne Smith
Andrew Snow - Thailand Burma Railway Centre
Japanese Transports
Thailand-Burma Railway
Thailand Railway Roll
Commonwealth War Grave Commission
KEW Files:- WO 361/2172, WO 361/1520, WO 392/26, WO 345/46, WO 361/1987, WO 361/1623, WO 361/1623, WO 361/2169, WO 361/2235,
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