Alfred Shingler, the son of Thomas Longton and Maud Shingler, of Runcorn, Cheshire, enlisted into The Border Regiment, and volunteered for airborne forces. He was the second youngest of four children, with two brothers and a sister.Private Shingler was sent to No 1 Physical Development Centre, Bradbury Lines Camp, Hereford, to increase his weight and body strength before successfully completing parachute training on course 136 at RAF Ringway from 1 to 17 October 1944. His course report stated ‘confident jumper’. He was posted to 13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion.

He took part in the 6th Airborne Division response to the German counter-offensive in the Ardennes, during Winter 1944-5.

Pte Shingler was killed in action on 3 January 1945, aged 19, and was buried in Bure, Tellin, (Belgium) temporary burial ground. He was later reinterred in Hotton War Cemetery on 20 May 1947.

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