Jun 5, 1896

Born at Tweed Ontario to John and Adeline Shaw

Feb 22, 1916

Attested into the 155^th Battalion at Belleville Ontario 

Ø      Number 636684

Ø      Next of kin given as John Shaw (father) of Tweed Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Electrician

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Christian Science

Ø      Assigned to the Signals Section 

On Attestation, he gave his birth date as June 5, 1895, but his birth certificate clearly shows the year as 1896. 

At some point the Battalion moved to the Barriefield camp at Kingston Ontario

Mar 1, 1916

His pay record indicates that he was “attending school”.  I assume this was for the Signalling Course

May 26, 1916

Appointed to rank of Lance Corporal

Jul 5, 1916

Promoted to the provisional rank of Sergeant

Sep 29, 1916

Will made out leaving his estate to his mother, Mrs John W Shaw, of Tweed Ontario

Oct 12, 1916          Granted a weekend pass prior to proceeding to England

On the reverse

Oct 18, 1916

Embarked the SS Northland at Halifax Nova Scotia

Appointed to the rank of Acting Lance Sergeant without pay

Oct 28, 1916

Disembarked at Liverpool England and proceeded first to the Witley Camp, then to the Bramshott Camp

Click above to read the entire letter

Dec 8, 1916

Transferred to the 154^th Battalion at Bramshott 

Admitted to the Aldershot Isolation Hospital diagnosed with Chicken Pox, however there was another file entry where the diagnosis reads Influenza for the same admission

Jan 31, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital and posted to the 6^th Reserve Battalion

Mar 24, 1917

Received a cable from his mother advising him of the death of his father in Canada.  Below is his letter to his mother

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Jun 5, 1917 

In a letter to his mother on this date, he mentions being on the last week of a course for Signals Instructors.  There is no mention of the course in his service file.

 This letter is sent to her at an address in Detroit Michigan.  His mother’s nationality on the 1901 Census is listed as German.  It is possible that she was being harassed at home and moved south to join her married daughter in the USA to avoid abuse now that she no longer had her husband and son to protect her.  He tells his mother below that he has made plans to marry as soon as the war is over.

 
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Jun 9, 1917

To receive pay and allowances for rank of L/Sgt

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Jul 10, 1917

Reverted to the rank of Private at his own request

Jul 11, 1917

Posted to the 21^st Battalion

Jul 12, 1917

Arrived at 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Jul 17, 1917

Joined the 21^st Battalion in the field 

The Battalion had just moved to Angres in the Lens Section to form the Brigade Reserve.  On this date the Battalion recorded 1 Other Rank killed and 3 wounded.  Pte Shaw was assigned to the Signals Section

Aug 15, 1917          

Pte Shaw was killed in action during the attack at Hill 70.  He was 1 of 37 Other Ranks killed on that day.  Because his body was either never recovered or if so, was never identified he is commemorated on the Vimy Ridge Memorial.  A photo of his name on the Memorial is below

Sep 2, 1917

Click above to read the entire letter

Nov 25, 1920

The Memorial Cross was sent to his sister, Mrs Charles Black, at 256 Post Ave, Battle Creek Michigan, USA.  This was done as his mother had died after he was killed in action

Jun 9, 1921

The Scroll was sent to his sister at the address above

Apr 5, 1922

The British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to his sister, Mrs Charles Black, at 256 Post Ave, Battle Creek Michigan, USA.  The rank shown on his medals card in the file reads A/L/Sgt

Jun 29, 1922

The Death Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) was sent to his sister in Battle Creek Michigan, USA