Shovlin Joseph Thomas Pte 4457134
Personnel Entry
Name Shovlin Joseph Thomas
Army number 4457134
Rank Private.
Decorations None known beyond Service Awards.
Date of birth Born 30/10/1918.
Age 86 at the time of his death.
Unit Enlisted in The Durham Light Infantry, T, on 19/10/1939 at Darlington. Underwent Basic Training at Brancepeth Infantry Training Centre. Posted to the 11th Battalion DLI. Served in Northern France with the B.E.F. Evacuated via Dunkirk. Served Iceland. Served Normandy. Transferred to the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 5/9/44 on the disbandment of the Brigade. (KOYLI Enlistment Book not available). Posted to the 1/4th Battalion. Transferred to the York and Lancaster Regiment. Posted to the Hallamshire Battalion.
Company/Battery Possibly Support Company.
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role It is indicated that he qualified as a Signaller while in Iceland so he may have served in the Signal Platoon of HQ Company or Normandy photographs imply that he was part of the Anti-Tank Platoon as a Signaller.
Joined Brigade On completing Basic Training.
Promotions Appointed Lance Corporal on 17/10/1944 while with 1/4th KOYLI. Promoted to Corporal on 13/10/1945 while in the Hallamshire Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment.
Wounded Not as far as is known.
Prisoner of War Not as far as is known.
Died/Killed in action Died 12/12/2004 aged 86.
Home address Worked as a Chocolate Assistant/Maker. Lived at North Moor Farm, Durham Road, Herrington, Sunderland.
Source table 11DLI
