Captain P John A Shelley was granted an emergency commission in the 7th Battalion, The Royal Berkshire Regiment, as a 2/Lt, on the 7 May 1939.Sometime later he was posted to the Royal Ulster Rifles, 6th Airborne Divisional as Defence Platoon Commander and he then flew to Normandy on board a Horsa glider, on the 6th June 1944, and sometime later on the 8th June he was wounded in the left leg.

He retired from the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers on 26 December 1964 retaining the Honourable rank of Captain.