Stories from the Great War ............ the Shaw family and their loss of five sons ..... no. 2 the Western Front

Even from the distance of a century the impact of the Great War continues to reverberate through most families.

The five brothers

Few I suspect cannot account for one family member who either joined the Colours or was engaged on essential war work.  In our case we can count seven from our immediate family and in the course of the book I wrote many of those I interviewed had stories of grandfathers and great grandfather’s who had fought on all the battle fronts, including the Italian one, and of grandmothers who had done their bit in the munitions factories, as Red Cross nurses, or working on the land and on the trams.*

In the case of Pam it was her five great uncles.  She told me, “We grew up with their memories as part of our lives. “

And she also passed over an account written by one of her relatives of the five men, all of whom died during the conflict.

The article written by the son of Thomas Shaw is undated and there is no clue where it was published, but it must post date 1986 because there is a reference to the Queen’s birthday of that year.

Thomas Shaw

The piece is short but details the fate of all five. Two had left for Australia before 1914 and they both enlisted in the Australian army.

Of these Jessie died at Gallipoli in 1915 and his brother John who was a Lieutenant in the 20th Battalion, 9th Brigade of the Australian Force was on May 3 1917.**

On the same, day, the eldest son, Rifleman Thomas Samuel Shaw, aged 32 of the 8th King’s Royal Rifles was killed during an attack on German positions in a wood.

His body was never recovered.

Thomas was the father of the author of the article, who added, “With Uncle Jessie at Gallipoli, three brothers were killed on May 3; Private James Friend Shaw was to be the third brother to be killed in 1917, overstating his age to enlist.  

He was with the 20th Battalion London Regiment which was in Ypres area.  Uncle James was killed in action on August 3 1917 aged 20.”

Jessie Shaw

In the previous year Lance Corporal Henry James Shaw was killed during the Battle of the Somme.  He was 29.

By any measure the loss of five sons must have been very difficult and it underlines the sacrifice that was made by so many.

Their father lived in New Cross.

In time I will devote some time to researching the five men, their families and the life of their father, mother and sister.

All of whom will have stories that should be told.

Location; London, Gallipoli and the Western Front

Pictures; from an article written by the son of Thomas Shaw, and kindly supplied by Pam White Prosser

*Manchester Remembering 1914-18, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/today-new-book-on-manchester-and-great.html

**The Shaw family and the Great War, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/stories-from-great-war-shaw-family-and.html

For Miss Florence Brown ........ an invitation to a Christmas Tea and Entertainment .... January 8 1919 at Laurie Grove

Now less than half a century will separate Miss Florence Brown’s presence in the Borough Hall on Laurie Grove and my own visits.

She was attending a Christmas Tea and Entertainment for “the Children of Deptford Men who have fallen in the War".

I went looking for young Miss Florence and while I cam e up with a number of candidates, I can’t be sure which was her.

An invitation, 1919

I won’t leave it there and in the fullness of time I will trawl the official records and the local media for a report of her father’s death and of the event at Laurie Grove.

And I will go looking for some of those who were connected with the Deptford War Hospital Supply Depot, which included Elsie E Morton, the secretary and Mrs R.G.White of BroomfieldHouse Evelyn Street.

The War Hospital Supply Depots were as their name suggests a voluntary organisation involved with producing everything from bandages to surgical equipment along with nightshirts and bed jackets for wounded soldiers recovering in hospitals.

There were more than 2,700 of these work parties and War Hospital Supply Depots.*

Here in Manchester there was large depot which was supported by women and school children.

Looking down the list for south east London there were contact names for pretty much everywhere with Eltham having six contact names, Blackheath four, Greenwich two and Woolwich one.

A medal, circa 1916

Location Deptford
















Picture; Miss Florence Brown’s invitation, 1919, and Dover House Supply medal circa 1916, from the collection of David Harrop, 

* War Hospital Supply Depot, http://www.scarletfinders.co.uk/178.html

**The Red Cross Medal and the lost Dover House on Oxford Road ................ stories behind the book part 1,  https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/the-red-cross-medal-and-lost-dover.html

Stories from the Great War ............ the Shaw family and their loss of five sons ..... no. 1. Gallopli

Now I always count it a prviledge when I get to share the stories of other people’s families and so I was very pleased that Pam chose to share hers with me.

The article

Just yesterday she contacted me through social media.

“I found your blogs regarding WW1 extremely interesting and I thought you may find this article interesting.  

These five brothers were my Nans brothers.  

We grew up with their memories as part of our lives.  

My grandmother was the loveliest lady and I have so much regard for her as she lived a hard life, she was actually raising her own 8 children when WW1 broke out.  

The youngest my father being born in 1912.  

As mentioned in the article her Mother passed away in 1910, so she was also helping her father with her young brothers.  

From the Kentish Mercury, May 2, 1919

The other interesting fact was that three of the brothers were in the British army and two were Anzacs.   

My Nan bought her family up in Collins Street, Blackheath, along side the rail line, she lived next door to the widow and son of the eldest of the five brothers.   Hope you find the article of interest. Also the significance of 3rd May.   

They also had a younger brother John, too young for service .He lost his only son in WW2, he was a fighter pilot.  Uncle John and his wife Alice had their home bombed in London and were buried under rubble for 3 days.  Aunt Alice lost her sight, Uncle John lost his hearing.  I realise there are so many stories like these.   

The loss in WW1 was unbelievable.  Hope you don't mind me sending this. Regards,  Pam"

Well of course I was over the moon at receiving it and very happy that it could be included in the blog along with extracts from an  article  and the page from the Kentish Times, dated May 2 1919.

Private Jessie Shaw 1915

The article was written by the son of the eldest of the five brothers.

At present his identity and the date the article was written is unknown, but perhaps reprinting this short extract might stir the pot and someone will come forward with a name.

So for now here is that extract. “My grandfather, Thomas Shaw was born T 9 Upper Grange Walk Bermondsey on November 20, 1847 ..... and was married at St John’s Walworth in 1877 to Harriet Bray of 30 East Street.  

She died 1910; mercifully, it can be said with hindsight.

By 1914, of the five sons who were to go on active service, two had emigrated to Australia, a springboard in 1915 for an Australian Expeditionary Force to land on Gallipoli.  

The landing was made on April 25 1915, and Private Jesse Shaw, aged 23 was one of the 13th Battalion of the 4th Brigade who landed .  His grave at Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli 39 MR 6 reads that Private Jesse Shaw died of wounds at sea on May 3, 1915."


Next; the story of four more brothers and the full significance of May 3

Location, London Gallipoli

Pictures; from the collection of Pam White Prosser