b. 30/10/1892 Liverpool. d. 20/06/1965 Wallasey, Cheshire.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 05/12/1916 Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.
Eric A Shacklady AM
Eric Arnold Shacklady was born in St Michael’s, Liverpool on 30th October 1892, the son of James Shacklady. He was educated at Liverpool Institute and subsequently took up employment with the Royal Exchange Insurance Company, Royal Exchange Chambers, Liverpool where he rose to the position of Assistant Manager in the Accident Department.
The Great War was declared on the 4th August 1914 and 13 days later Eric enlisted, as (2248) into ‘C’ Company, 1/5th Battalion King’s (Liverpool) Regiment. At this time his family was living at ‘Idlesse’, Lindhurst Rd, Wallasey. He trained at Canterbury before being drafted to France with his Battalion on 21st February 1915. He was not long in France when he returned to England on the 12th April 1915 to train for a commission having completed the forms for a commission on 12th January 1915 prior to going abroad. So keen was he to be commissioned that he attended evening lectures to learn about map reading, sketching, surveying and other military matters probably while he was stationed in Canterbury.
Eric was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, dated from 14th April 1915, into the Manchester Regiment and returned to the front once more on the 28th August, 1915 to serve with the 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment. Suffering from rheumatic fever, acute neuralgia and neurasthenia he was evacuated to England on the 11 December 1915 on board the Hospital Ship ‘St Andrew’. For many months he suffered from debility, sleeplessness, headaches and a general lack of self-confidence. He was not to return to France but was employed as a Bombing Instructor to the Regiment, a position which would nevertheless result in him being seriously wounded and awarded the Albert Medal for gallantry. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 1st February 1916.
Lt Shacklady was admitted to Grimsby Military Hospital suffering from the effects of the bomb explosion. His right hand was practically destroyed and had to be amputated. He also had a compound fracture of his right tibia 3 inches above the ankle bone. In addition he had sustained a wound to his left eyeball and scattered wounds over the right foot and leg.
Lt Eric Arnold Shacklady was invested with the Albert Medal 2nd Class in Buckingham Palace at 11.30am on 16 January 1918 in recognition of his gallant conduct. In World War II he served in the Home Guard.
AM CITATION:
During bombing practice at C’leethorpes on the 5th December, 1916, a live grenade which was thrown by one of the men under instruction failed to clear the parapet. The bomb was picked up and thrown a second time, but again failed to clear the parapet. By this time the fuse had burnt nearly to the end, but Lieutenant Shacklady ran forward, picked up the grenade, and was about to throw it away when it exploded and blew off his hand. By this gallant action, in which he risked his life, Lieutenant Shacklady undoubtedly saved the life of the man who had thrown the grenade.
BURIAL LOCATION: LANDICAN CREMATORIUM, BIRKENHEAD, CHESHIRE.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: KING’S REGIMENT OFFICER’S MESS, LIVERPOOL.
