Samuel Shaw

Corporal Samuel Shaw enlisted on 1st March 1911 at Mansfield, he served with the 2nd battalion Grenadier Guards. He served with the battalion for 3 years and then joined the reserves. Upon the outbreak of war was mobilised into his old regiment and on 24th August 1914 was promoted to Lance Corporal. He was wounded in action on 16th September 1914 at Soissons and returned to England where on 14th January 1915 he died at the Wandsworth Hospital, London. He is buried at Sutton in Ashfield Cemetery.

Article published in the Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times 22nd January 1915 :- “Large crowds gathered at Sutton on Sunday afternoon [17th January 1915] to witness the interment of the late Lance-Corporal Samuel Shaw. of 17, Brook-street, whose remains were laid to rest in the cemetery with full military honours. The Sutton Band, under the conductorship of Mr. Keeton, accompanied the cortege, and a number of Sutton soldiers acted as bearers. Service was first held in the Parish Church, the clergymen taking part in the obsequies being the Vicar (Rev. W. L. Latham), the Vicar of St. Michael's (Rev. W. H. C. Stainer), and the Rev. H. V. Turner. “A firing party and bugulers [sic] were present from Newark under the command of Sergt. Lacey, and over the open grave the usual volleys were fired, and the impressive ceremoney [sic] concluded with the sounding of the “Last Past.” Amongst the tremendously large crowd present were the Chairman and several members of the Urban District Council, members of the Old Comrades' Association, and many soldiers and sailors. “Lance-Corporal Shaw, who was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Shaw, was 23 years of age — he would have been 24 had he lived until next Sunday — and enlisted in the Grenadier Guards on March 1st, 1911. After serving three years with the Regular Army he returned to civil life, and had been at home five months when he was called up as a Reservist in August. On the 24th of that month he was appointed Lance-Corporal, and left with one of the earliest drafts for the front. After seeing some severe fighting, he was seriously wounded in both knees by a shell at Soissons on September 16th — due, Shaw stated, solely to the abuse of the white flag by the Germans. “The unfortunate part was that Lance-Corpl. Shaw had to lie some time in the trenches — and probably this accounted for the tetanus and double pneumonia which eventually caused his death — before he could be conveyed to the base hospital. At the latter place he was kept but a short time before being sent on to the Wandsworth Hospital at London. “Here he received every possible care and attention, but, after lingering until early on Thursday morning last, he passed away. Each week-end he was visited by Mr. and Mrs. Shaw and his fiancee, who greatly appreciated the kindness and care shown to him by the hospital staff. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved relatives and friends, and particularly so for Mr. and Mrs. Shaw in the loss of their only son, who has given his life for his country. A vote of condolence passed by the Sutton Conservative Club has been forwarded to Mr. and Mrs. Shaw.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918