Shellabear,+Tom

Private, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) "D" Coy. 2nd Bn. Service Number: 10206 Age: 20 Date of Death: 24/08/1914 Son of Nancy Carradue (formerly Shellabear), of 7, Bengal St., Keighley, Yorks, and the late John William Shellabear. Grave/Memorial Reference: II. D. 8. HAUTRAGE MILITARY CEMETERY
 * Thomas Shellabear**

In loving memory of a dear mother Nancy Shellabear, who died May 6th 1937, aged 76 years. Also Thomas Shellabear Killed in Action 1914, aged 21 years. Also Robert Langstaff Son in Law of the above.
 * Family memorial in Utley cemetery, Keighley** reads:

Born: Barnoldswick Enlisted: Keighley Died of Wounds: France & Flanders
 * Soldiers Died in the Great War** has:

Private Shellabear is very likely to have been the first, or at least one of the first, casualties from the Duke of Wellington's Regiment in the Great War. There is a discrepancy between the official date of death and the war diary entry by his Colonel who was next to him when he was killed, apparently on the 23rd August. The official date given is the 24th August.




 * Extract from the 2nd Battalion West Riding Regimental (13th Brigade, 5th Division) war diary, 23rd August 1914:**

//"It was now about 1 pm and oppressively hot.// //I went to where "B" Company was in fairly good cover behind some banks just beyond the sheds (D) and from which we could get a fairly good view with glasses. Occasional glimpses of Germans creeping along hedge rows at from 400 to possibly 700 yards, were now to be had, but Carter had warned his men not to fire till a really good target offered// //itself, so as not to give their position away. When they did begin, I think it fairly staggered the enemy who went to ground at once. Shrapnel was soon opened on the buildings along the Canal, but luckily without any serious effects to our men, and then ceased. The hopelessness of having no guns to reply with me was most galling, but I can't help thinking it puzzled the Bosche, and certainly as far as our part of the line went, they had evidently made up their minds to wait until dark before making any further advance, although Rifle fire was kept up pretty regularly. Carter got a bullet through the calf of his leg necessitating his removal to the dressing station at the town hospital. Private Shellabear was killed close to me, about 3 p.m., and was I believe the first man killed in the Regiment."//

Lieutenant-Colonel Gibson