Shaw, Edwin Arthur
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Edwin Arthur |
Surname | Shaw |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 15-04-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of William and Alice Hannah Shaw, of Bare, Morecambe, Lancashire. His brother 4346363 Pvt. John Shaw also fell (27 March 1940, laid to rest at Bingley (Wilsden) Cemetery. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | BF462 |
Markings | WP-P |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Soude-Notre-Dame-ou-le-Petit Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Grave 6. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 240 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1232268 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 90 |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Roadside location, Tilbury Juxta Clare, Essex |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Memorial |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Airmen of XC Sqn, No 3 Bomb Group flying operations from here with the Mk 1 Stirling Bomber December 1943 until May 1943 |
Location | St. Mary & All the Saints Church, Little Walsingham, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | In loving memory of Henry Philip Lee Warner AFC DFC. Only Son of Philip Henry & Mary King Lee Warner. Actg S/L RAFVR killed in action over Germany Aug 26th 1944 in his 32nd year |
Location | Village Green, Tuddenham, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial atopped with Inscribed Silver Sun-Dial |
Memorial Text | For all those who served their country as part of XC Sqn RAF |
Location | St. Mary's Church, Tuddenham, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Framed Sqn Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | They grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the Sun and in the morning, we will remember them |
Miscellaneous Information
Edwin was born in Wilsden, the youngest of two sons. He also had two sisters, Lucy and Hilda. The family moved to Sandy Lane while the boys were in their teens. On the return flight, in the early hours of 15 April, the aircraft was shot down from 11,000 feet after being attacked in quick succession by two German fighters, and crashed at Soude-Notre-Dame-ou-le-Petit, 24km south of Chalons-sur-Marne. All the crew was lost with the exception of the pilot who was taken prisoner of war. No. 90 Squadron lost eight Stirlings, including Edwin’s, from the 82 which had set out on this operation. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw and their two daughters moved to Bare, Morecambe before the end of WW2, having also lost their other son, John. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/731/14 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/731/13 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 14-04-1943 |
End Date | 15-04-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Ridgewell |
Day/Night Raid | Night (72% moon) |
Operation | Stuttgart. 462 aircraft, 23 losses (5.0%). PFF claimed accurate marking but the bombing was concentrated to the north east. This is an example of a phenomenon called 'creepback' where successive crews would release their bombs earlier and earlier on an effort to turn for home as quickly as possible. Fortunately the bombed suburbs included many industrial installations so some useful damage was caused. An air raid shelter packed with French and Russian PoWs was hit, increasing the death toll to 619, a new record. |
Reason for Loss | Shot about numerous times by night-fighters (Me 110s and Ju 88s). Crashed at Soude Notre Dame ou le Petit, France |