Trafford

Born either at the very end of 1888 or the beginning of 1889, in
Ashton-upon-Mersey, the son of Richard Henry & Elizabeth Margaret Shaw (nee
Wilkins).

1891 Census - Mersey Road, Ashton upon Mersey.   Son - aged: 2 - born:
Ashton upon Mersey.   Head of household - Richard H. Shaw - Married - aged:
46 - occ: Commission Agent Jute & Flax Goods - born: Manchester.   Also -
Elizabeth M. Shaw - Wife - aged: 34 - born: Ireland.   Plus 3 sisters and 1
domestic servant.

1901 Census - Mersey Road, Ashton upon Mersey.   Son - aged: 12 - born:
Ashton upon Mersey.   Head of household - Richard H. Shaw - Married - aged:
36 - occ: Merchant - born: Manchester.   Also - Elizabeth M. Shaw - Wife -
aged: 45 - born: Ireland.   Plus 5 siblings.

His father - Richard H. Shaw died in 1907, aged: 53.   The family then
moved to Stretford, where they lived on Cyprus Street.

1911 Census - 88 Cyprus Street, Stretford.    Son (listed as Hedley M.
Shaw) - aged: 22 - occ: Engineer - born: Sale.   Head of household -
Elizabeth M. Shaw - Widow - aged: 54 - born: Ballymena, Co. Antrim,
Ireland.   Plus 4 siblings.

After leaving school Hedley started work at the Ford Motor Company, which
had its main UK factory in Trafford Park at that time. Employed there as a
presshand in the engineering department.     Member of the Stretford
Conservative Club, that states that he was with the 4th Bn.

WO 363.   Attested in Manchester on the 22nd November 1915 and Mobilized on
the 23rd March 1916.  Aged: 26 years, 8 months.  He was 5 feet, 7¼ inches
in height.   His chest measurements were 35 1/2 inches to 37 1/2 inches.   
He weighed 122 lb and had brown hair, light blue eyes and a pale
complexion.   His medical also noted a red scar on the right of his chin
and a problem with some of his teeth.                            

Posted to the 4th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, Hedley reported for
training on the 25th of March at their Depot near Ashton-under-Lyne. His
mihtary service started well; in April 1916 he was appointed as a paid
Lance-Corporal, then acting Corporal in August and acting Sergeant on the
6th of November.  On the 11th of December 1916 he crossed to France, at
which point he had to revert to his paid rank. After further training in
France he joined the Regiment's 11th Battalion in the field on the 6 of
January 1917.

On the 15th May 1917, he was deprived of his lance corporal stripe for (1)
Falling out of line during a march and: (2) Insolence to a superior
officer.

At that time they were still near the eastern end of what had been the
Somme battlefield, where they were engaged in holding the new line,
improving defences east of Bapaume and periods in rest, labouring and
training behind the line. This continued without great incident until
mid-May 1917, when they moved north to Belgium.

On the 23rd of May Hedley's Battalion marched to Locre, where they remained
until the 10th of June preparing for the forthcoming Battle of Messines.  
It was during this period that Hedley was forced to report sick to No. 59
Field Ambulance with a severe abcess - the problem with his teeth that had
been identified in his medical - returning for duty on the of June, just in
time for the attack the next day. After Messines, which he survived without
a scratch, Hedley's next action would be during the battle of
Passchedaele.

On the 16th of August 1917 the battalion attacked from the line of the
Steenbeek, a local river. Although they performed well, achieving their
initial tasks and taking over seventy prisoners and a machine-gun, they
suffered heavily, with over fifty killed and more than one hundred and
seventy wounded. A number of these were caught by artillery fire as they
crossed the Steenbeek. Hedley was one of them, being wounded in the head
and arm by shrapnel. He was taken back down the line, being admitted to 64
Casualty Clearing Station, near Poperinghe, on the 18th of August.   
Hedley Shaw died of his wounds on Sunday the 19th of August 1917, at 64
CCS.

M.I. - "Across the bar".

CWGC - Son of Elizabeth M. Shaw of 88 Cyprus Street, Stretford, Manchester
and the late Richard Henry Shaw.

Pension Records - Dependent - Mrs. Elizabeth Margaret Shaw (Mother), 88
Cyprus Street, Stretford.   Awarded a weekly pension of 7/6d w.e.f. the
26th February 1918.    Date of death: 19.08.1917 - Died.    Robert Hedley
Shaw - 11th Bn, Manchester Rgt. - No.34459.

Listed as Hedley Shaw on the All Saints Roll of Honour.