Royden Edward Norman Shiels was born on 21 August 1922 at Taree to Victor Paul Shiels and Martha Mary Fuller.
Prior to Royden’s enlistment in the AIF, he had spent 6 months volunteering in the Militia.
Royden enlisted into the Australian Army on 28 January 1942 at Upper Lansdowne and was aged 19 years and 5 months stating his occupation as motor truck driver and his father Victor Paul Shiels of Upper Lansdowne as his next of kin.
Royden was originally posted to 1 Armoured Brigade Company.
On 31 August 1942 Royden disembarked from Brisbane arriving in New Guinea on 9 September 1942. He then returned to Brisbane from New Guinea on 8 January 1943. While serving in New Guinea he was in the 2/33 Infantry Battalion. He remained in Australia until his transfer to the RAAF.
Royden was awarded the Pacific Star, the War Medal 1939-45, the Australia Service Medal 1939-45 and the Returned from Active Service Badge.
When Royden was discharged on 6 December 1943 he was posted to 7 Armoured Regiment.
Royden then enlisted in the RAAF on 7 December 1943 at Brisbane again stating his father Victor Paul Shiels as his next of kin.
During his time in the RAAF Royden received postings to Kingaroy, Narromine, Tamworth, Adelaide, Point Cook, Morotai, Brisbane and Bradfield Park.
In 1945 he completed No 207 Teleprinter Operators Course at Point Cook where he became classified as a teleprinter operator. He was then posted to Morotai from 26 April 1945 to 30 April 1945.
At the time of his discharge on 29 May 1946 he was stationed at Brisbane TEL Unit.
Royden married Norene Veronica Christian at Hamilton in 1964.
Royden’s brothers Earle, John and Walter and his sister Edna also enlisted during WW2.
Royden died on 10 March 1995 at Grafton.
