Guardsman John Shiells

Guardsman John Shiells, 3rd ( Tank) Battalion, Scots Guards. He was killed in action on the 21st November 1944  at Sevenum, Province of Limburg, Holland, aged 21. He was the son of John and Mary Shiells of Wark, Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland and is buried in Mook War Cemetery, Limburg, Holland.  He was a member of the Reconaissance Troop who used the Churchill tank and on that date was sent on to explore the village of Vorst to check the German defences. The tank of which he was the driver and under the command of Sergeant Brown hit a mine and he was killed instantly. His headstone is inscribed ” He died that we might live”. He was originally buried near where he fell and his grave was tended by a local widow, Mrs Pauwels until he was reburied at Mook in 1947. Guardsman Shiells had been educated at Kelso High School and on leaving he had been employed by Messrs John Hogarth Ltd., Kelso Mills. Since joining the Army he had played both football and rugby for Army teams. His Regiment was part of the 15th Scottish Division.

Commentary

In the photograph of two Guardsman John is the one on the right

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