212 of 876 3882 (326503) Pte Ernest George Shaw 3rd/1st Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment Died 14th October 1916 age 20

Ernest George Shaw was born on 15th April 1896 at 7am at Water Side Soham Cambridgeshire, his twin brother Frederick James was born 5 minutes later they being the children of George Robert and Elizabeth Shaw.

His father was born 11th April 1869 at Clay Street Soham and died 28th August 1938 aged 69. Elizabeth his mother was born Elizabeth King on 31st March 1873 at Brook Dam, Soham and died 11th January 1961 aged 87,

George and Elizabeth were married in Soham in 1892. George was a Carpenter.

In 1901 Ernest was living at The Cottage Clay Street in Soham and was still there in 1911 where he was working a Grocers Shop Assistant.

Pte Shaw enlisted in the 3rd/1st Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment in May 1915 in Cambridge aged 19. He also enlisted with 3 other men John Reeve who died March 25th 1918 aged 31 and is number 562 of 876 also Ernest Covell and Frederick Talbot who both survived the war. This was taken from an article in the Cambridge Independent Press.

Ernest’s brother Frederick served as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery during WWI.  After his De-mobilisation he worked as a chauffeur then married Henrietta Irish in 1922, they settled in Woking Surrey where he lived until his death in May 1970.

Ernest did not go out to France until 1916 when numerous 3rd/1st replaced men from the 1st /1st this could be anything from 20 to 70 men.

Pte Shaw was killed in action on 14th October 1916 age 20 during the battle of the Schwarben Redoubt. It is interesting to note that Ernest had a 6 figure military number (326503) this was not introduced until 1917 and because of a lack of his body he was presumed missing in action. Because of the intensity of the fighting, shell fire and terrible conditions around the Redoubt being missing in action was the  fate for too many soldiers and their names are written on the Thiepval Memorial.

Pte Ernest George Shaw is remembered with honour at Thiepval Memorial

Keith Wainwright