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Shaw, Edwin E. "Ted"

Date of birth:
January 25th, 1915 (York, Great Britain)
Date of death:
July 17th, 1997
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Servicenumber 160932.

Edwin Shaw lived in Bridlington, East yorkshire and was optician of profession. He reported as volunteer to the Army in 1939 and was called upon in June 1940. In December 1940 he was placed into active service as a 2nd Lieutenant. He finally reached the rank of Major and discharged in October 1946. During the war he served in the Middle East and North Africa from April 1941 through to November 1942,
and in Northwest Europe from March 1945 through to October 1946.

Promotions:
14th December 1940: 2nd Lieutenant;
Jne 1945: Major.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
2nd Lieutenant
Unit:
The East Yorkshire Regiment (The Duke of York’s Own)
Awarded on:
May 12th, 1942
Press Association quotation:
"Second-Lieutenant Shaw was in command of a Platoon on the night of 20/21 March 1942. He fought for and gained a footing on the Ras El Eleba, in spite of the fact that the feature was held by a company of Lorried Infantry, supported by at least four machine guns, two anti-tank guns and one medium mortar. He led his platoon with cool determination, capturing an officer, four other ranks and one machine gun and inflicting several casualties on the enemy. Eventually the platoon, depleted by casualties, was driven off the feature by a counter attack of at least fifty men. Second-Lieutenant Shaw did not leave until he had made certain that all his men had withdrawn less one too seriously wounded to move. He himself covered the withdrawal of his Platoon. The action throughout of this young officer in his first engagement was most praiseworthy and was of the highest standard."
Military Cross (MC)

Sources

  • Photo 1: Chris Shaw
  • - Letter by the Editor of the Daily Express (Manchester) to Ted Shaw's mother, with the MC text in that newspaper on 8th July 1942
    - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 8th May 1942, Issue 35556, dated 12th May 1942

Photo