PETER tells us the book about the St Helens Pals is due to go to the printers shortly and he is keen to hear from Pals’ relatives who have not been in touch, in particular the Shacklady family.

He says in 1911 they lived in Windle Grange Cottages. There were five sons John Herbert, Frances Albert, Arthur, William Eric and Harold. One daughter called Doris aged two at that time.

Peter said: “All of the men were in the army and we are particularly interested in Arthur because he enlisted with the St Helens Pals. We know that he died of wounds but he did win the Military Medal after he had enlisted again with the Kings Liverpool Regiment.

“Present day family members may not know Arthur was originally in the Pals as a boy bugler. We would like them to contact us to tell the family story. They must have a dozen medals between them including that MM.

“In June 1917 a newspaper article stated: ‘Two more Military Medals have come St Helens’ way. The soldiers to whom they have been awarded are Private Arthur Shacklady of the Kings Liverpool Regiment and Private J Maguire of the Royal Army Medical Corps, attached to the 64th Field Ambulance, and both have been awarded for conspicuous conduct in the field.

“Private Shacklady is 19 years of age and joined the ‘St Helens Pals’ when he was 16, afterwards being transferred to the signalling section of the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment. In pre-war days he was employed on the St Helens tramways. His mother, who resides at 24 Brook Street, has received the following letter from Pte B. Rowlands, her son’s companion.

“Mrs Shacklady, you will no doubt think it very funny me taking the liberty of writing to you without ever being introduced to you. But I think we can get over these things, during the present time.

“I am your son Arthur’s pal Bert Rowlands, who has been in France with him...I am writing to inform you that he has been mentioned in dispatches for good work in the battlefield and I am sure that you will be greatly pleased to hear it, as I know my people would. He has always been one of the best, a decent lad, I will never be sorry I met him, and made him a friend. We have been through a great many rough times together and we have come through alright and we are at the moment enjoying a rest together, the more so as we have shared our troubles. We are having beautiful weather and we are getting quite brown.”