SHELTON, George Tom
| Service Number: | WX7623 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 August 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | LONDON, ENGLAND, 23 October 1918 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Illness, Thailand, 7 September 1943, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery 1 L 71 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Busselton War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Private, SN WX7623, 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Aug 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, SN WX7623 |
WX76323
Shelton was born England 1918 to George Tom Emmanuel Shelton and Alice Hilda Carvey. He arrived Albany from England 4 June 1924 on board 'Demonthenes' with his family who took up land with Group Settlement 124 Forest, Sussex. The family later moved to Busselton.
He enlisted AIF 30 Oct 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB.
2/4th MGB was sent to Singapore, joining the ill-fated 8th Division. He was wounded in action 1800 hours 15 Feb just hours before surrender, admitted to 2/10th AGH with shrapnel wound to his left temple. Discharged to unit 22 Feb 1942. One week after fighting on 15 Feb 1942 every soldier was taken POW of Japan.
Shelton left Singapore rail station with 'H' Force Thailand to work on the Burma-Thai Railwayand several months later died of post pneumonia and beri beri at Malayan Hamlet Camp, aged 24 years.
Submitted 3 August 2021 by Cheryl Mellor
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