In the 1881 Census, one-year old John and his twin brother Frederick, along with three other siblings and a live-in servant were living at 6 Crossbanks, Shipley, with their parents Frederick and Mary. Frederick snr was a commercial traveller. Mary must have died shortly after that because by 1911 Frederick snr has been married to Fanny for 18 years and they are living at 84 Kirkgate. John, aged 31, is the only son still at home and there are now two servants. Frederick is manager of a limited company of dyers and finishers while John is a commercial traveller for the same firm. Narrow escape We first read of John’s war service in a report of how he narrowly escaped death that appeared in the Shipley Times & Express on 18 May 1917: Pte John Shaw, youngest son of Mr Fred Shaw of Woodville, Shipley,

who is serving in the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, had a very narrow shave during the recent heavy fighting in France. Shrapnel A piece of shrapnel struck his tunic pocket on the left breast, pierced the khaki and some letters and postcards, and finally embedded itself in a leather pocket book. The letters and pocket book, together with a piece of shrapnel have since been forwarded by Pte Shaw to his father. Pte Shaw is a member of the Shipley Liberal Club and for some years has been a humorous contributor at social gatherings. Besides contributing to the fighting forces, the Shaw family have been much to the fore in local war efforts. Through the kindness of Mr Hebert Shaw and his co-executors, Belgian refugees, now chiefly women and children, are still housed at Shipley

Grange, the residence of the late Cllr C B Shaw. And an extensive area of land on the Bradford Road side of the estate has generously been placed at the disposal of food cultivators. On 19 April 1918 there is a brief report that he is in Bradford War Hospital though no reason was given. However, it turned out to be a significant stay because on 5 September 1919 the newspaper reported: Wedding An interesting marriage was solemnised at Allerton Church, Liverpool, yesterday between Mr John C Shaw, youngest son of Mr Frederick Shaw of Woodville, Shipley, and Miss Mary (Mollie) Gould, youngest daughter of Mr J Gould of Liverpool. The bride was given away by her father and the bridesmaid was Miss Ruth Gould, sister of the bride. The best man was Mr Herberth Shaw, brother of the bridegroom. For three years the bride was a

Sister at the Bradford War Hospital and for a time the bridegroom was a patient there. He has served with the colours and was in France for two years. Entertainer He is a nephew of the late Mr C B Shaw, who was for several years Chairman of the Shipley Urban District Council. He is a director of the Shipley Liberal Club Buildings Co Ltd and a member of the Shipley Bowling Green Club and of the Shipley Liberal Club. He is also well-known as an amateur entertainer and before the war he often appeared as a humourist at concerts held in aid of charitable and philanthropic objects. The presents received by the happy couple included tokens to the bridegroom from the Shipley Bowling Green Club and the Shipley Liberal Club. The honeymoon is being spent in the Lake District.