L/Cpl 23828 Frederick Shaw

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 11th July 1916
• Commemorated at: St Sever Cem, Rouen
  Panel Ref: A.28.13

Frederick Shaw was born in Liverpool on 07th June 1893 and was baptised on the 25th June 1893 in St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool. He was the son of Thomas Shaw and his wife Wilhelmina (nee Obst). His parents married in 1884.

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 297 Breck Road, Liverpool. Frederick is seven years of age and is living with his parents and three siblings. His father is a 44 year old licensed victualler who was born in Bolton. The family are living at the Breck Hotel, a public house. Frederick's mother is 39 years old and was born in Liverpool. His siblings are shown as; James aged 16, Margaretta aged 12 and Ernest aged 7 months. There is also a servant declared in the household; Mary Ann Yates aged 21. 

The family are still living at 297 Breck Road in 1911. Frederick is now 17 years of age and is shown as a caterer's clerk. He is living with his widowed father and two siblings James aged 26 assisting in the business and Ernest aged 10 and a schoolboy. His parents had been married for 27 years. 

Frederick enlisted in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 23828.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He sailed to France with his Battalion on the 07th November 1915.

Frederick, serving as Lance Corporal when he was fatally wounded, during the attack at Montauban, on the 01st July 1916 and evacuated to a base hospital in Rouen where he died of his wounds on the 11th July.

The 20th Battalion Diary gives an insight into the action during which Frederick received his fatal wounds:

Maricourt

Zero Hour 7.30am. After 65 minutes intensive bombardment the Battalion advanced to the attack of the German trenches. The Battalion advanced in four lines each of the two leading Companies on a frontage of 2 platoons – No’s 1 & 2 Companies (in that order from the right) leading. No.3 Company in the 3^rd wave. No.4 Company in the 4^th wave. There being a distance of about 100 yards between each line. The lines advanced through the enemy’s artillery fire as though on parade in quick time. The leading waves went on without a pause to Alt Trench and Casement Trench which were secured at (time not stated) am. The casualties up to this being small. Our barrage lifting Dublin Trench (the 1^st Objective) was captured and consolidation immediately proceeded with. Captain Whiting with the 3^rd wave entrenching about 150 yards in the rear. Captain Robinson was wounded and No.2 Company was commanded during the day by Lt C P Moore. Casualties up to now were killed 2 officers – 1 wounded and 49 other ranks casualties killed and wounded. At 11.50 am orders were received for the assault of the Briqueterie. The Battalion operation orders for this were issued from NW of Germans Wood. Our barrage lifted at 12,30 pm and No. 4 Company under Captain E C Orford assisted by a section of bombers under 2^nd Lt Baker who went up Nord Alley and Chimney Trench to secure his left flank, who had got right forward under cover of the fire of our guns rushed it almost without opposition. On the far side a party of the enemy were found in deep dug-outs. They brough a machine gun into action and some close fighting ensued in which Lt Gooch and Lt Williams were wounded. Opposition was however speedily overcome and the garrison consisting of the H.Q. of a Regt, one Colonel and 4 other officers – 40 rank and file , 2 machine guns together with maps, orders, documents and material fell into our hands. Steps were immediately taken for consolidating the ground won, which however owing to the destruction wrought by our “heavies” was a matter of great difficulty, what had been trenches being almost unrecognisable as such and the earth so pulverised that cover could only be made by aid of sandbags. The garrison was heavily shelled through the afternoon and most of the night and casualties were many. Battalion H.Q. were at the junction of Glatz Alley and Casement Trench north west of Germans Wood and this together with Dublin Trench received considerable attention from enemy guns. Casualties during the day 2 officers killed (2^nd Lts F Barnes and JC Laughlin) and 3 wounded (Captain H H Robinson, Lt S Gooch and 2^nd Lt F J Williams). 75 other ranks killed and wounded.                      

Frederick now rests at St Sever Cemetery, Rouen.

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross, one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.The adjoining cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here.

The Commonwealth plots were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Frederick is possibly commemorated on the Memorial at St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic College, Beaconsfield Road, Woolton, Liverpool lists a Lance-Corporal F Shaw but it is unknown whether this Frederick.

We currently have no further information on Frederick Shaw, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.