Harry Shaw

HARRY SHAW

Private 26132, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Died 11th April 1917 aged 21

Buried Warlingcourt Halte British Cemetery, France

Son of Alfred and Harriet Shaw

Lived 8, Brighton Street, Heckmondwike

Harry was born in the 2nd Quarter of 1896. His father, Alfred Shaw, was born in 1868 in Gildersome and his family moved to Brighton Street in Heckmondwike when Alfred was a young boy. Alfred married Harriet Longstaff in 1890 and they were living in Brighton Street in 1891. They had 4 sons during the 1890’s and Harry was the youngest of these four boys. Sadly, his mother Harriet died in 1897 aged 31. Harry was only one year old when his mother died. Harry’s father remarried in 1899 and he went on to have 4 more children. Harry’s father was a Greengrocer in Brighton Street.

Harry’s maternal grandmother, Jane Longstaff, had been born in Bridgenorth in Shropshire in 1847 and was a widow when her daughter Harriet died in 1897. She had several children of her own, but Harry was also living with her in 1901 and 1911 in Ravensthorpe. Most of his activities were in the Ravensthorpe area. Harry was working as a Cloth Finisher before enlisting on 21st January 1915 into the 10th Battalion of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was sent to France and fought in the Battle on the Somme in 1916. He was injured in his left thigh in July 1916 and was treated in hospital but sadly died of his wounds on 11th of April 1917. He was buried in the Warlencourt Halte British Cemetery near Bapaume in Northern France. This cemetery was formed in 1919 by amalgamating several smaller cemeteries. The British Cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and George Hartley Goldsmith.

Harry’s name is commemorated on the Heckmondwike Green Park War Memorial. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.{MA-ex4}

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