J.+SHAW

Shaw, John, Craftsman, 22516094, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and 1st Derbyshire Yeomanry Born 13th December 1919 Killed on active service, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, 11th March 1951 aged 31

Remembered on the Armed Forces Memorial, National Arboretum

The Ashbourne News published Thursday 22nd March 1951 has 2 references to John Shaw.

The main one is the report of the inquest: “…learner-driver Craftsman John Shaw, who lost his life when an armoured vehicle which he was driving went through a hedge and turned a somersault on the Ashbourne-Derby road on March 9th”. There’s a lot of additional detail which makes it clear that not only was Shaw an inexperienced driver but the vehicle was a bit of a brute. Seems like he was just going too fast and had previously confused brake and clutch pedals. The second mention is a report of the “annual dinner of the Ashbourne Club of the Derbyshire Yeomanry Association at the Haven, Mappleton on Friday evening” (i.e. 22 March). It quotes Colonel J F Crompton-Inglefield, Officer Commanding of the Derbyshire Yeomanry who “…also referred to the death in an accident a few days before of Craftsman Shaw, a soldier of great promise.”

John Shaw in the 1939 register lived at 35 Victoria Road, Borrowash, born 26 Oct 1921 registered in Shardlow, occupation “laboratory assistant” living with his parents, William (b. 25 May 1886) and Beatrice (b. 15 Oct 1900, nee Easey); William is a sub post master.

(Identified and further research kindly contributed by Derek Hathaway)


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