Edith Shackleton
General Service
Edith Shackleton was the oldest of two children born on 2nd October 1892 to Sam Shackleton, a draper from Queensbury and Mary Shackleton nee Davey of Bradford. She was baptised at Holy Trinity Church in Lawkholme on 25th June 1893.
The baptism record of Edith Shackleton
In 1901 they lived at 52 High Utley. Edith was eight, her brother Fred was five. They lived next door to his father Isaac Shackleton, also from Queensbury, who was a draper's assistant.
The Shackleton families in 1901
In 1911 Edith was a visitor with a family called Greaves in Roundhay, Leeds. Her parents were at 52 Greenhead Lane (I assume this was the same house as in 1901).
Edith worked in general service from May 1916 and was still serving at the time of the VAD records' completion at Spencer Street Auxiliary Hospital, doing so without pay. Her brother Fred was serving as a Gunner with the Royal Field Artillery and thankfully survived the war.
She married Thomas Whitehead, a leather manufacturer of 45 Devonshire Street, on 21 December 1920 at Keighley Parish Church. Incidentally, Thomas' father Henry was a cousin of Agnes and Sarah Whitehead who were also VADs.
The marriage of Edith Shackleton and Thomas Whitehead
They had two sons, Thomas in 1921 and Henry in 1923.
The 1939 England and Wales Register shows the family living at Hawkhurst in Utley. Thomas was described as a tanner master, with their sons following in his footsteps - Thomas was an apprentice tanner and Henry an apprentice currier.
The 1939 England and Wales Register
Ethel and Thomas moved to High Mark, Silsden at some point. Edith died there on 2nd January 1970; her husband Thomas died ten years later on 9th August 1980.
Sources:
England and Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1935
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
UK, British Army World War 1 Service Records, 1914-1920
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935
1939 England and Wales Register
England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
