| Full Name: |
Charles Shelford |
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| Rank Last Held: |
Private |
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| Forename(s): |
Charles |
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| Surname: |
Shelford |
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| Also Known As: |
Charlie |
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| War: |
World War II, 1939-1945 |
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| Serial No.: |
39159 |
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| Iwi: |
- Ngati Porou
- Nga Puhi
- Te Arawa
- Te Whakatohea
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| Gender: |
Male |
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| Date of Birth: |
22 August 1921 |
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| Place of Birth: |
Te Kaha, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand |
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| First Known Rank: |
Private |
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| Occupation before Enlistment: |
Labourer |
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| Next of Kin: |
Mrs Teowaina Shelford (mother), Tikitiki, New Zealand |
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| Marital Status: |
Single |
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| Enlistment Address: |
Wainui Beach, Gisborne, New Zealand |
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| Physical Description: |
- Height: 5 foot 10 1/2 inches
- Eyes: brown
- Hair: Black
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| Enlistment Date: |
26 January 1940 |
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| Military District: |
Gisborne |
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| Body on Embarkation: |
- 4th Reinforcements
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF)
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| Embarkation Unit: |
28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company |
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| Embarkation Date: |
8 November 1940 |
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| Destination: |
Egypt |
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| Nominal Roll Number: |
WW2 3 |
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| Page on Nominal Roll: |
WW2 430 |
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| Other Units: |
Transferred to D Company Maori Battalion 1941 |
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| Campaigns: |
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| Military Awards: |
- Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
- 1939-1945 Star
- Africa Star (8th Army clasp)
- Italy Star
- Defence Medal
- War Medal 1939-1945
- New Zealand War Service Medal
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|
| Award Circumstances: |
- London Gazette 20 February 1942
- During a night attack on 14 December 1941 he showed outstanding heroism and courage. Private Shelford volunteered to cover 300 yards to the enemy firing from the rear and clean it out. He covered the 300 yards under fire from anti tank guns, MMGs, LMGs and rifle fire, walking, running and firing.
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| Wounds and Diseases: |
- Egypt, Camp Hospital 19-23 February 1941
- Hospitalised immediately after the Gazala incident with leg injuries
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| Discharge Date: |
3 February 1945 |
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| Last Unit Served: |
28 (Maori) Battalion, D Company |
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| Reason for Discharge: |
End of war |
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| Place of Death: |
Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand |
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| Date of Death: |
7 May 1984 |
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| Age at Death: |
63 |
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| Year of Death: |
1984 |
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| Cause of Death: |
Killed as a pedestrian in a hit and run road accident |
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| Cemetery Name: |
Mangere Public Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand |
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| Obituary: |
Death Notice: RSA Review Last Post |
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| Biographical Notes: |
- He was the son of Tame Shelford and Te Owaina Kirikiri Puihi of Tikitiki. Raised by Atareta and Paratene of Tikitiki
- Married Lilias May (known as Maisie and Blue ) Beazley in 1948
- Aged 18 years at enlistment, as he increased his age by three years to enlist his military records have his birth date as 1918
- Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal after the action at Gazala, Libya, North Africa. The recommending officer, 2nd Lieutenant Rangi Logan later recalled that he had actually recommended Shelford for the Victoria Cross. Feelings about this never really died away and were the subject of a newspaper report some 40 years later at the time of his tangi.
- Was hospitalised after the Gazala episode as his legs were giving him trouble and was transferred to duties with transport as a driver initially for Rangi Logan and later delivering ammunition to distribution points close to the front line.
- Described as a legendary figure for his exploits during service bravery, bucking authority and the rules, and for his success in collecting loot and booty for resale and trade.
- Returned to New Zealand 31 October 1944 and discharged in February the following year having served 5 years 9 days
- He was closely associated with the Newmarket Returned Servicemens Association. The club still holds an annual pool competition in which members compete for the Charlie Shelford trophy.
- Closely associated with the Te Unga Waka Marae, Clyde Street, Epsom, Auckland; kaumatua and one of the first Maori Warden
- Tangi held at the Te Unga Waka Marae
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| Postwar Occupation: |
Drainlayer |
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| Description of Image: |
- Portrait; original held in the Tairawhiti Museum, Gisborne
- Headstone, Mangere Public Cemetery
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| Further References: |
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| Sources Used: |
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force Nominal Roll No. 3 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1940 to 31st March, 1941.) Wellington: E.V. Paul, Government Printer. 1941
- Cenotaph data entry form
- Unpublished papers: family papers
- Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. URL: http://www.dnzb.govt.nz
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