SHAW, William

William Shaw was born in Lye and attended Wollescote school. He was living in Chester by the time of the Great War and enlisted in the Worcesters. He was sent to the 4th Battalion who fought on the Somme in 1916 and at Arras and Ypres in 1917. In the Spring of 1918 they were in the front line near Ploegsteert and facing the second German Spring offensive on the River Lys. It opened on the 9th April and they fought stubbornly against overwhelming numbers for three days until forced into retreat. Private William Shaw was killed in action near Neuve Eglise on the 12th April 1918 and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert, Lye and Wollescote, Lye church and Wollescote school Memorials.