Leslie Shortland, son of Horace Shortland and Mercy Lillian Shaw who had married at Stone in Staffordshire in 1917. Horace had been born in Lutterworth and his father was a shoemaker. Leslie was born on 20-03-1919 in Stirchley adjacent to King’s Norton in Birmingham, so he was just 25 when he died.

In 1921, Leslie was living with his parents in the house of his maternal grandparents, Richard and Annie Shaw, at 13, George Road, Selly Oak, in south Birmingham. Richard was a bricklayer. A large number of his mother’s siblings were also present in what appeared to be a small terraced house.

Leslie’s mother was referred to as M Lillian Shortland who had been born in Stoke on Trent in 1895. His father was described as a “Discharged Soldier, Crippled” who had been born in Leicester in 1897, making him just 24 years old.

It is thought that Leslie Shortland’s father’s full name was Horace Alfred James Shortland, who had served in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry in WW1 (service no 28976). He enlisted on 7-12-1915 and was discharged on 26-7-1918 when he was only 21 and still a soldier. He was discharged under regulations for injuries, which seems to fit his 1921 description.

Research shows that Leslie probably had brothers and/or sisters. This is under further investigation in the hope of finding any relatives who can help us further in finding photographs and background information on Leslie. 

Leslie JH Shortland married Betty Baldwin in Birmingham in 1941. They do not appear to have had any children.

Leslie Joseph Horace Shortland was killed on 19-10-1944 near Overloon. He was a gunner in the Royal Artillery 7th Field Regiment (Private No 5114581). 

On 19 October 1945, there were two reports of Leslie Shortland’s death in the Birmingham Mail:
“Shortland (Leslie), – If all the world were ours, we would give it, yes, and more, to see the face of someone we loved come smiling through the door. – Mum and Dad Baldwin.

“Shortland – Leslie, killed in 1944, Time changes a lot, but one thing never changes, the memory of those happy days, when we were all together. – Mary, Josie and Sid.”
Mary, Josie and Sid were the siblings of Betty Baldwin.

From FindMyPast: Civil Birth, Marriage and Death Records; England Census and 1939 Register Records; Electoral Rolls; Military Records; Birmingham Mail (Reach PLC)