Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

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Death

Biographical Notes

Herbert George Shaw, known as Bert, was born on 27 June 1896 at Invercargill, the third son of John and Margaret (née Godwin) Shaw. John Shaw, who had come to New Zealand from Scotland as a lad with his family, engaged in the horse-breaking business. In 1886 he married Margaret Godwin who had been born at Peel Forest or Waihi Bush. John and Maggie had four sons and two daughters, all but one born in South Canterbury. Bert was born when his father moved for a time to Southland where he combined hotelkeeping at Wallacetown with his horse-dealing business.Herbert George Shaw was educated at Timaru Main School, starting there when the family lived in Barnard Street. All the sons engaged in the horse business. Their second son, John Dunn Shaw (Jack), who was considered an excellent horseman, died accidentally while taking part in the South Canterbury Hunt at Seadown in May 1915. In 1909 both his father John and his older brother Cecil had to pay damages in relation to the death of a woman on show day. Both were very talented horsemen and excellent riders. As of 1918 Herbert was also associated with the Stone Stables, which their father had acquired in 1888. He too enjoyed success in the steeplechase. Herbert George Shaw was a stablekeeper at Timaru when he was called up in 1917. He was medically examined by the Travelling Medical Board on 31 January 1917 at Timaru. He had suffered typhoid fever eleven years prior and was recommended to support varicocele with bandage, but was passed Fit. Attesting on 28 February 1917 at Timaru, he gave his occupation as farmer and his status as single. Herbert George Shaw appealed, saying that he had a livery business to dispose of, and that his father had a farm which he could not leave to manage the business. He also noted that he had one brother who had returned from the front (Cecil). He was allowed till 31 March. Herbert married Minna Agnes Husband in September 1917 at St Mary’s, Timaru. Tragedy was to strike the family in September 1924. Minna Agnes Shaw, just 27 years old and the mother of four children whose ages ranged from one to five years, was found dead by her husband at their Gleniti home. She had died suddenly and unexpectedly from heart troubles. Mabel had been at Gleniti School for six months and was joined by John (Jack) and Herbert junior after their mother’s death. In mid 1928 Herbert George Shaw moved to Temuka, where the children went to school, being joined by the youngest, Bernard. In 1930 Hebert married Margaret Jane O’Brine and moved back to Timaru. Thereafter the children attended Waimataitai and Timaru West schools, with a stint at Watt Lowry for two of the boys. Herbert and Margaret lived for the remainder of their lives in Timaru, Herbert being a drover and stock dealer. Having retired to North Street, he died on 1 August 1966 at Timaru, aged 70 years. Margaret Jane Shaw lived to the grand age of 97, dying on 2 September 1995 at Timaru. They are buried in the Timaru Cemetery. Mrs Margaret Shaw (Herbert’s mother) died in April 1925 at their residence, “Blair Begg” Farm in Landsborough Road. It was between 1905 and 1911 that they acquired this property. Mr John Shaw died at St Andrews, probably at the home of his younger daughter, Elsie Jane Monica Duggan, in June 1929. Deceased at one time was one of the largest dealers in horses in the South Island, and was a fine judge of horse flesh, recorded the Timaru Herald of 21 June 1929. Herbert’s brother, Cecil John Shaw, served with the Australian forces, albeit briefly before becoming ill, and enlisted with the New Zealand forces. One cousin also served with the Australian forces – Oliver John Shaw, and several cousins with the New Zealand forces, one of them being killed in action – William James Henry Mitchell Shaw, Stewart Samuel Shaw, Sydney Richard Shaw, Stanley Richard Shaw, William Murray Shaw and John Edward Shaw, all from South Canterbury, James Albert Gordon Shaw and Robert Cyril Shaw (killed in action in 1918), both from Taieri, Otago, and Robert Hyslop and George Dunn Hyslop, both from Milton; also Michael Leonard, who was born at Timaru. Bert’s uncle, Augustine Lagoria Godwin, also served in World War One.

Sources

NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [17 February 2021]; Timaru Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [23 February 2021]; School Admission record (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [23 February 2021]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [23 February 2021]; Timaru Herald, 28 May 1915, 1 March 1917, 9 September 1924 [x 2], 10 September 1924, 22 & 23 April 1925, 17 & 21 June 1929 (Papers Past) [23 February 2021]

External Links

• Military personnel file

Related Documents

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Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.