Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Stuart (Stewart) Samuel Shaw was born on 12 November 1889 at Waimate, the sixth son and ninth of the fourteen children of James Henry and Maria (née Mitchell) Shaw. James’ parents came to New Zealand from Scotland in 1864, bringing with them four sons (James the eldest) and a daughter. Stewart was educated at Fairlie School, with stints at Geraldine and Silverstream schools, leaving Silverstream at the age of thirteen. Stuart and his brother Oliver gave recitations at the Fairlie Band of Hope gathering in July 1899. The family moved to the Waitahuna district in South Otago about 1905. Stuart was a keen footballer, playing for the Star team at nearby Lawrence. He was a farmer, working for his father at Ngawira, Waitahuna, when he enlisted on the outbreak of war. He named his father as next-of-kin – J. H. Shaw, Waitahuna. He had served with the McKenzie Mounted Rifles, finishing when the company was disbanded. Trooper S. S. Shaw embarked with the Otago Mounted Rifles of the Main Body from Port Chalmers on 16 October 1914, destined for Suez, Egypt. Trooper Stewart Samuel Shaw suffered gunshot wounds in the right arm and the chest at the Dardanelles. Shortly after, in August 1915, his father received word that he had contracted typhoid fever and was dangerously ill. His brother Oliver who served with the Australian Light Horse was at the Dardanelles at this time. Just prior to this, Stuart had met Oliver for the first time in eight years, when Oliver visited the New Zealanders’ camp. After returning home, Stuart was a labourer at Tuapeka Mouth, then moving to Dunedin, he became a carrier, at which occupation he spent the remainder of his working days. He married Mary Isabella Catherine Wilson, known as Bella, in 1920. Stuart’s father who died in 1928 and his mother in 1938, were buried in the Waitahuna Cemetery. Stuart Samuel Shaw died on 22 August 1972 at Marton, where his daughter Peggy Walker was living. He was cremated at Kelvin Grove Crematorium, Palmerston North and his ashes were interred in the servicemen’s area of Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin, where there is services stone. His wife Bella had died in 1969 and was cremated at Andersons Bay, her name being added to Stuart’s grave stone. Stuarts’s brothers, William James Henry Mitchell Shaw, Sydney Richard Shaw and StanleyRichard Shaw, all served with the New Zealand forces, while Oliver John Shaw served with the Australian forces. Several cousins also served, one of them being killed in action - William Murray Shaw, Cecil John Shaw (with the Australian forces) 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; in addition, Herbert George Shaw enlisted in New Zealand. Stanley R. Shaw and his four brothers who served are remembered on the Greenfield War Memorial as Returned. “At the intersection of the roads in the very heart of Greenfield, with the tall pines softly bowing their venerable heads and forming an august and sheltering rampart, lies a portion of ground dedicated by the patriotic hearts of the Greenfield residents to the memory of those who left the district in response to their country’s call in her time of need. As the days pass and the years come and go, and age waxes old with those who stood around on that day of dedication the lofty marble pedestal will still continue to stir the hearts of passers-by with feelings of pride at the names thereon enrolled, of gratitude for those who returned, of reverence for those who fell, and of mingled joy and pride at the glory they achieved and the peace they helped to win.” [Clutha Leader. 6 January 1920.] The soldiers’ memorial at Greenfield was unveiled in early January 1920. The hymn “Now Thank We, O Our God,” was sung, prayer was offered, and “The Last Post” was sounded. On the front is a scroll with the inscription, “War 1914/1919 Peace,” and below are the names of the nine fallen. Beneath are the words: “This monument has been erected by the residents of Greenfield in grateful recognition of those who served their King and country in the Great War.” On either side are the names of the men who returned, among the twenty-five names those of the five Shaw brothers - Stewart Shaw, Oliver Shaw, W. J. H. Shaw, Sydney Shaw, and Stanley R. Shaw.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [24 February 2021]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [24 February 2021]; Archer Street Cemetery, Masterton, headstone transcription [25 February 2021]; Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin, headstone transcription [25 February 2021]; Kelvin Grove Crematorium record (Palmerston North City Council) [01 March 2021]; Waitahuna Cemetery records [25 February 2021]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [25 February 2021]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [25 & 28 February 2021]; Temuka Leader, 20 July 1899, Otago Witness, 25 August 1915, Evening Star, 27 August 1915, Clutha Leader, 6 January 1920 (Papers Past) [28 February 2021]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.