Private Alexander John Shaw was born in 1923 to Donald and Dolina Shaw.Private Shaw volunteered for the The Parachute Regiment and successfully completed his parachute training at Ringway on 12 September 1942. He was then posted to the 5th (Scottish) Battalion, Parachute Regiment.

He died on 24 May 1944, aged 21. He is now buried at Cassino War Cemetery, Italy.