The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Shackleton
- First Name:
- Ellis
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX7330
- Company:
- ‘D’ Company, 15 then 16 Platoon
- Enlisted:
- 6.08.1940
- DOB:
- 18.06.1914
- Place of Birth:
- Perth, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Ellis Shackleton
- Mothers's Name:
- Alice Maud Shackleton (nee Brooks)
- Religion:
- Methodist
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Wood Machinist
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Singapore Memorial, Column 136, Age 27.
- Cause of Death:
- Missing in Action
- Place of Death:
- West coast of Singapore
- Date of Death:
- 11.02.1942
General Description
Ellis Shackleton married Irene (Jean) Fuller in Dec 1940.
Missing in Action West Coast of Singapore. Soldier was believed to have been killed or badly wounded. He was moved to the newly created ‘D’ Coy No. 16 Platoon under CO Ron Arbery. They came under intense Japanese artillery and were overrun.
Shackleton enlisted AIF Aug 1940, later joining 2/4th’s ‘D’ Company No. 15 Platoon under Commanding Officer Lt. Mieklkejohn. At Singapore a further machine gun platoon was created in an effort to bolster Australian defence of the north-west coast of Singapore (the largest number of defending army personnel were place on north-east coast – Allied leadership fell for the Japanese trick of creating the idea they would invade from the north-east when logically the north west coast provided the shortest distance from Malaysia to Singapore coastline). The northwest coast was run over by the vastly greater number of Japanese troops. The machine gunners suffered terribly, particularly ‘D’ Company.
Shackleton was believed killed or badly wounded when the retreating ‘D’ Force Platoons and the Australian forces who had been under constant heavy Japanese barrage for the previous 3 days and nights, were overrun by the Japanese.
Shackleton was 27 years of age.
Jean Shackleton remarried in 1949. She died in 1973.
Ellis Shackleton’s parents Ellis Shackleton (Snr) married 1913 Canning to Alice Maud Brooks. Ellis was the eldest of five children.
Alice Shackleton died 1936 and Ellis (Snr) died 1972 in Leederville.
His brother John William Shackleton,W232594 and WX27006 three years younger also enlisted
