Shelby (left) with his brothers Arthur and John, in their soldier's uniforms during World War I, in 1914.
His flawless conduct in this role (made even more difficult on account of his youth at the time) earned him unwavering respect both from members of his unit and other veterans alike and cemented his reputation in the streets.Īs to his heritage, Thomas claims that he is related to the Lee family on his mother's side and Johnny Dogs claims that Thomas's grandfather was a "king", most likely a King of the Gypsies. Shelby is shown to be a member of the Small Heath Rifles at the rank of sergeant major – a non-commissioned officer in charge of well-being, morale and training of the entire unit (all other sergeants and corporals answer to him as well as to the actual commanding officers). After the War, he began experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. It is implied that there was a drastic personality shift before and after his experiences in the First World War, during which he was a Tunneller or Sapper (a volunteer digging treacherous tunnels covertly, in order to place enormous amount of explosives beneath enemy lines, a tactic used several times in the war to devastating effect). Gretta grew sick, and Thomas stayed by her bedside for three months before she passed away and he went to war.
Shelby was in love with a girl named Greta Jurossi before the First World War, as stated by Jessie Eden. It can be concluded that perhaps both of Thomas' parents are partially Romani Gypsies, it is also implied that they have Irish Traveller ancestry too, as Polly mentions that, alongside Romani, they should not speak Shelta to Karl Thorne, which is the language spoken by Irish Travellers.
It is implied by their aunt, Polly, who is their father's sister and Thomas himself when he states in Series 1 that the Lee Family are kin to the Shelby family from their mother's side. Thomas Shelby and his siblings are Gypsies from both sides of their family.