Lest we forget

As Armistice Day approaches I want to remember my Great Uncle William Haswell Shelton who was killed in action on the 25th April 1915 at Gallipoli.

He is one of 3,200 Australians who died at Gallipoli and was only 22 years old. Several young men from the same area in rural Queensland signed up together to fight for our country and our freedom.

There’s a memorial for William at Gallipoli in Turkey which his family did not know about until 1938 when his brother, Clifford, wrote to the authorities to ask. Clifford also fought in WWI but was one of the lucky ones to return home.

My grandfather was William’s much younger brother, and he fought in WWII in both Europe and Papua New Guinea (PNG). Before his death one of my cousins interviewed him about his war experience and it makes for very engaging reading. I like to share it every year at this time. Memories of World War II: and interview with my grandfather. He saw some harrowing action in PNG.

My Nana also supported the war effort and was an orderly in a hospital at Charters Towers and Cairns in Queensland which is where she and Pa first met.