Lieutenant Ralph Shaw DSO

[muckaroon1960]

Killed in Action 28th April 1917 aged 20, Lieutenant Ralph Shaw DSO, 11th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Son of W W E & Lucy A Shaw of Handsworth Wood, Birmingham.
Has no known grave and is remembered on the Arras Memorial. The 11th Bn fought at the Battle of Arleux which was part of the Battle of Arras.
This original picture of him I bought from a car boot a few years ago. I was told his medals including the DSO were at the Fusiliers museum in Warwick but when I enquired the museum replied they had no knowledge of this and in such an offensive manner and there's me thinking of donating the picture to the museum...their loss.  
Frame is pewter over wood with details on the rear and original Warwickshire badge. Size is 15" x 12".
London Gazette dated 18th July 1917 which suggests a posthumous award for the DSO, "2nd Lt. (temp. Lt.) Ralph Shaw, R. War. R., Spec. Res. For conspicuous gallantry and ability in action. When all the senior officers of the brigade had become casualties he assumed charge of the whole line, and showed great courage and judgment under very heavy fire in organising the consolidation".

Edited April 26, 2017 by muckaroon1960

[coldstream]

An excellent photograph and lovely frame, well done on finding it and definately the Museums loss imho.

Simon

[muckaroon1960]

Have colourised the picture of Lt Ralph Shaw.

[muckaroon1960]

The reason for posting the update picture of Lt Shaw is because Clive_Candy sent the following message:

"Lieutenant Shaw is remembered in a stained glass window in the church of St Augustine's in Handsworth, Birmingham which was my childhood parish church" and also "I'm thinking of letting St Augustine's have a copy if that's okay with you.  Might be something they could use around Ralph's 110th anniversary in a few years' time.  There's a primary school attached to the church and they might appreciate a copy also to use in their remembrance activities."

 

A great idea that he can print a copy of the above picture for the church and school in remembrance of Lt Shaw.

[clive_candy]

Thanks muckaroon.

 

I was at St Augustine's on Sunday and took these photographs of the rather beautiful memorial windows.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited Monday at 18:44 by clive_candy

[clive_candy]

The church was built shortly before the Second World War though before that there had been a chapel that now forms part of the primary school alongside the church.  The dedication refers to the windows being 'adapted' in 1939 and I wonder if they were initially installed in that chapel and then moved to the church when it was being built.  

 

I see from the 1939 register that the family were still living in Handsworth at the outbreak of the second war.  

Edited Monday at 19:51 by clive_candy

[muckaroon1960]

Excellent pictures, thank you for taking the time to take and posting these on the forum. A fitting tribute. 

Edited Tuesday at 20:17 by muckaroon1960

[muckaroon1960]

Found some more information on Lt Ralph Shaw. He was a student at King Edward School Birmingham where he excelled at science and was a medical student when he was commissioned July 1915 after 5 years in the officer training corps. He was at the time the youngest officer to receive the DSO and last reports suggest he had been wounded and was making his way to an aid station. It has been suggested that after having his wounds treated he may have returned to the front line.

 

The King Edward school web site has this information and pictures on the 1914-18 memorial roll of honour.

Edited 33 minutes ago by muckaroon1960