Gordon was born on 13 July 1914 and was the only son of Mr and Mrs Shackleton of School Villas, Galgate. Before enlisting in September 1940, he had worked at the Co-op central grocery department and was also a member of the Lancaster Fire service (AFS) for 12 months. Gordon married Elizabeth in 1935 and they had two children. At the time of his death, his wife lived at 16 Devonshire Street ,Greaves, Lancaster where the family home had been for some time.

Posted to 50 Squadron RAF Skellingthorpe as a W/OP/AG flying Hampdens Gordon was lost on a mine laying mission in March 1942. 8 March

GARDENING ARTICHOKE AREA

'Eight aircraft took off in the early hours on the 8th March for a mine dropping mission to French coastal waters. Seven aircraft returned safely to Base. Preston built (by English Electric) Hampden AE400 failed to return, nothing further having been heard from this crew after departing Base. It is believed the aircraft was lost off LORIENT, lost were: 61280 F/O Allan Godfrey Davidson, Pilot RAFVR; 1182318 Sgt. William Mervyn Alastair Eardley, WOP/AG RAFVR; 1178923 Sgt. Leslie Norman Follows, Pilot 2 RAFVR and 1101049 Sgt. Gordon Shackleton, WOP/AG RAFVR later confirmed killed. The body of Sgt. Follows was washed ashore at Finistere 11 March but the rest of the crew have never been found. Likely area of loss was the Bay of Biscay. As no night fighter claims have been found for this period it is suspected the aircraft was hit by flak. (possibly a Flakship)'

Gordon is commemorated on the Ellel War memorial, the Lancaster Memorial and the Co-op war memorial in Ashton Hall Lancaster