Name
Robert Edward Frederic Shaw (MC)
29 August 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/08/1918
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant Colonel
London Regiment *1
13th (Kensington) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Military Cross
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ
VIII. N. 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST
UK & Other Memorials
Langleybury Village Memorial, Hunton Bridge, Individual plaque, St Paul's Church, Langleybury, Quebec Chapel Memorial, (Marylebone Calvary) Church of the Annunciation, Bryanston Street, London, Keble College Chapel Memorial, Oxford, Not on the Abbots Langley Memorial
Pre War
Robert Edward Frederick Shaw (known as Fred) was a 'Langleybury man', but born on 29 August 1891 at Llangattock in Monmouthshire, where his father was the Vicar. He was baptised there on 6 September 1891 by his father at St Cadoc's Church, Langattock.
He was the son of the Rev. Robert and Agnes Shaw, and one of five children, with three sisters, Alice (b.1889), Kathleen (b.1893) and Mary (b. 1899) and a younger brother John (b.1903).
By the time of the 1901 Census the family had moved to St Paul’s Vicarage at Langleybury, but Fred was not listed with them. He was recorded in the Wisden Cricket Archives playing for Forest School (Snaresbrook) between 1908 and 1910 and on 30 May 1910 he scored 19 runs in Forest Green’s 35 run win against the Royal Naval School. In the Michaelmas Term (October) 1910 he moved on to Keble College, Oxford, becoming a member of the Football Association X1, Captain of the Lawn Tennis VI and gaining a BA in 1914. Whilst there he was also a member of the University's Officer Training Corps.
Wartime Service
He enlisted on 14 October 1914 and joined the 13th (County of London) (Princess Louise's Kensington Battalion) of the London Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant, rising to Lieutenant in 1915, Captain in 1916 and Lieutenant Colonel in 1917. He served in France from 21 December 1914.
Both the Abbots Langley and Langleybury Parish Magazines reported of his progress and death. It was noted that was "At the Front" in January and May 1915. In June 1916 he was recorded serving with 13th Kensington’s. This battalion had mustered at Abbots Langley shortly after war was declared in August 1914, and had moved to France in early November of the same year.
Fred was reported severely wounded in May 1915 in the Wisden records and wounded in February 1917 and November 1917 in the Parish Magazines. At some point he was awarded the Military Cross for exemplary gallantry in the field.
In October 1917 the Langleybury Parish Magazine reported “We congratulate Captain Fred Shaw on his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, while commanding the First Battalion of the 13th London (Kensington) regiment, which will always be remembered with affection in Abbots Langley and Hunton Bridge”. Remarkably, Fred attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and was commanding a battalion at the relatively young age of 26.
He was killed in action on 23 August 1918 when the 13th Kensington’s were engaged at Boyelles, about seven miles south of Arras. They suffered heavy casualties advancing to the south of the village and were caught by heavy artillery and machine gun fire, but pressed on to their objective and captured 176 prisoners, 11 machine guns and several trench mortars. Fred Shaw was killed, along with fourteen other men and ninety five men were wounded. One source states that he was killed in action by a sniper.
In October 1918 the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine recorded – “The sympathy of all in the Parish will be felt with the Vicar of Langleybury and Mrs Shaw on the death of their gallant son, Lieut-Colonel Fred Shaw. He joined the Kensington Regiment as a subaltern when they were stationed here in 1914, and rose to be the Colonel. He commanded and led his Regiment in a most gallant and distinguished manner and at the time of his death, on August 23rd, he had just achieved most brilliant success”.
Robert “Fred” Shaw was initially buried at Blairville Orchard British Cemetery and later 'concentrated', i.e. exhumed and reburied, at Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez France.
Biography
Additional Information
His father received pay owing of £365 19s 2d and obtained probate of his estate in London on 14 January 1919 with effects of £1058 2s 10d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org, heritage.keble.ox.ac.uk, www.londonremembers.com
