Location of Grave:
Highland Road Cemetery (See map)
O/S: SZ 658 988.
HUGH SHAW V.C.
MAJOR GENERAL.
18th REGIMENT (LATER THE ROYAL IRISH RIFLES).
MEDAL WON: NUKUMARA, NEW ZEALAND, 24 JANUARY 1865.
GAZETTED: 28 NOVEMBER 1865.
BORN: MADRAS, INDIA. 4 FEBRUARY 1839.
DIED: SOUTHSEA, 25 AUGUST 1904.
MEDAL: NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM, CHELSEA.
OTHER AWARD: CB - Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
Details of the Award
For gallant conduct at the skirmish near Nakumaru, New Zealand, on the 24th January last, in proceeding under a heavy fire, with four privates of the Regiment, who volunteered to accompany him, to within thirty yards of the bush occupied by the rebels, in order to carry off a comrade who was badly wounded. On the afternoon of that day, Captain Shaw was ordered to occupy a position about half a mile from the camp. He advanced in skirmishing order, and when thirty yards from the bush he deemed it prudent to retire to the palisade about sixty yards from the bush, as two of his party had been wounded. Finding that one of them was unable to move, he called for volunteers to advance to the front to carry the man to the rear, and the four privates referred to accompanied him, under a heavy fire, to the place where the wounded man was lying, and they succeeded in bringing him to the rear.
Military Career
By the age of 16 years Shaw held the rank of Second Lieutenant (from 10th May 1855) and shortly afterwards went toserve in the Crimean War. In 1857 he went on to serve as Lieutenant in the Indian Mutiny and saw further action at Nakuman in New Zealand between 1864 and 1866. He was Adjutant of North Tipperary Militia from Jun 1873 to Feb 1878 during which time he was promoted to Major (1st October 1877). On 22nd May 1878 he is recorded as having joined the Royal Irish Regiment and then went on to the Afghanistan Campaign with the Kyber Line Field Force. In September 1881 he attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and subsequently served in the Sudan Expedition to the Nile, Sarras and Korti. He was made Colonel in September 1885 and was in command of a battalion by May 1887.
Family History
Hugh Shaw was born on 4th February 1839 in Madras. His parents were James Shaw (born 20th Feb 1809), Principal Inspector-General, Medical Dept, Madras, and Anne (his third wife, nee Hay, born c1819). Hugh married Emily Grace Sheffield (youngest daughter of William Sheffield, HEICS and Madras Civil Service) at Holy Trinity Church, Bedford on 21st June 1870. They had three daughters - Nina Jane b.1861, Dolores Evangeline and Mabel Annie b.1867.
Shaw was educated at Sandhurst and was granted a distinguished service award in April 1887, a month before retiring as a Major General. He had lived at "St Lanner", 5 Victoria Grove, Southsea.
Headstone Inscription
"In Loving Memory of, MAJOR GENERAL HUGH SHAW VC CB, LATE OF THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT, DIED AUGUST 25TH 1904, AGED 65 YEARS. ALSO HIS WIFE EMILY GRACE SHAW, BORN APRIL 2ND 1851, DIED MARCH 27TH 1932"
