Harry Shaw enlisted into the 7^th/9^th Battalion, The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) on the 16^th October 1939. ^[1] It is probable that he saw service with the 7^th/9^th Battalion, as part of the 155^th Infantry Brigade, of the 52^nd (Lowland) Infantry Division in the 2^nd BEF in France in June 1940.

He volunteered for Airborne Forces in late 1941 and was posted to Hardwick Hall in October 1941. Here he was assigned to ‘C’ Company, 2^nd Parachute Battalion. Upon completion of their selection process and ground training they were sent to RAF Ringway, under the command of Major. Teichman. They were to attend Parachute Course No 1, which commenced on Monday, 3rd November, and was completed by 13.00 hours on Saturday 15th November. Pte. Shaw completed the two daytime balloon and five Whitley aircraft descents to qualify as an Army Parachutist. ^[2]

He also attended Advanced Course No 1 at RAF Ringway, which commenced on the 4 January 1942 and was completed on Sunday, 11 January 1942. The intake consisted of 6 Officers and 87 Other Ranks of the 1^st Battalion under the command of Captain Martin and 3 officers and 93 Other Ranks of the 2^nd Battalion under the command of Major Teichman.

The Course comprised of the following:

(a). Advanced training in synthetic and aircraft drill and practice in packing and unpacking containers.

(b). Section descents with arms containers under Section Leaders.

(c). Platoon descents with arms containers under Army Commanders from aircraft flying in formation.

(d). Tactical ground exercises after landing.

(e). Night descents from the balloon.

He successfully completed this Course and returned to Bulford with the Company. ^[3]

‘C’ Company now began training, in great secrecy for a ‘raid’ on Northern France.

On the night of the 27 February 1942, he boarded a Whitley aircraft as part of the ‘stick’ of Captain John Ross. This ‘stick’ is part of the heavy section of the group codenamed ‘Nelson’, whose mission is to take over the Bruneval beach. Ross and his men land in the snowy fields of La Poterie-Cap-d’Antifer and notice the absence of another stick, under the command2nd-Lt. Charteris. After waiting for a possible delay on their part, Ross and his men descend to the Bruneval Valley from the rendezvous point. Then begins an exchange of fire against the Germans occupying the defenses of the beach. They keep up the pressure with their Bren machine guns. James Calderwood is the No 1 on the Bren, and Harry Shaw is No 2. During the battle, Shaw was severely hit in his left leg by a bullet causing him an open fracture of his tibia and fibula. Sergeant Sunley joins them, and with Calderwood, they use their daggers to cut open Shaw’s trousers to get at the wound. Overcoming his pain, Shaw indicates to them that he is capable of thinking alone. He asks them to continue without him. Sunley injects him with morphine and resumes the fight. Platoon Sergeant Sharp sends Private Ewing to replace Shaw as No 2 on the Bren. Shaw is put under cover behind a grove during the continuing battle. Calderwood shoulders his mate Shaw on his back, and carries him to the beach for evacuation.

Back in England Harry Shaw, and the rest of the casualties from the Bruneval Raid, are transferred directly from the MGB (Motor Gun Boat) to the Royal Naval Hospital, Ward No 1, Haslar at Gosport. In the two different reports it is stated that he has, ‘bullet wound in left leg – Compound Fracture Tibia and Fibula. Not likely to ever continue as a Parachute Trooper.’ ^[4]

The casualties were visited by the GOC: Maj-Gen. Browning, on the 29 February 1942.

Pte. Harry Shaw transferred back to The Royal Scots on the 8 March 1944. ^[1]

NOTES:

[1] The Parachute Regiment, Transfer & Enlistment Book 05, page 35.

[2] Parachute Course Report, RAF Ringway. 17 November 1941.

[3] Parachute Course Report, RAF Ringway. 18 January 1942.

[4] Appendices to War Diaries. March 1942. (Note: One of the documents has the wrong Army Number!)

Research conducted by R Hilton