Lt.Col D M Shaw - Squaredeal

Hello,
I am looking into my Grandfather Lt.l.DM Shaw MC, DSO, originally of the Royal Inniskilling regiment. I just wondered if there was any information on:

a. How did he get the nickname 'Squaredeal' - The first I saw of this was on this site in the name list for 5 Commando.

b. Was he seconded to 5 Commando and if so for how long? It seems to be only for the Arakan campaign in Burma.

Many thanks,

Nicholas Shaw

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 14/04/2012 17:43:46

Hi Nicholas,
Welcome to the CVA.

Your Grandfather, 44209, Lt Col David Shaw, was the Commanding Officer (CO) of No5 Commando.

I have seen part of No5 Commando's War Diaries and know that he was certainly Co No5 in early June 1943 - although I don't know, as yet, when he actually assumed command.

We also have a photo of him in the Gallery as CO taken in October 43 prior to The Commando sailing for India & Burma in November 1943.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/5/No+5+Officers_+Oct+43_a_.jpg.html

7th Sept 1944, CO told Sgts' Mess he was leaving the unit and returning to the UK.

9th Sept 1944, Trincamolee - The CO, Lt Col D M Shaw made a farewell speech in canteen, saying how much he disliked leaving (The Commando). The rum punch flowed. Speeches were made by Maj. Stuart (2i/c), Maj Bray and Capt Holt. Capt (Chips) Heron gave a song.

10th Sept, Sgts' Mess gave a farewell party for the CO who seemed emotional.

11th Sept, Lt Col D M Shaw MC relinquishes command of No5 Commando and after he made a farewell speech, his jeep was pulled out of camp by ropes.

12th Sept, Lt Col C J B Pollitt assumed command of No5 Cdo.

I will ask some of the No5 veterans to confirm why your grandfather was nicknames 'Squaredeal', but I believe I heard that it was because 'you knew that you'd be treated fairly and you knew you'd get a squaredeal from him'...

In the meantime, if you haven't already done so, I would strongly advise you to apply to the MoD for your grandfather's Service Records. For £30 you will receive information of enlistment, training, postings, transfer to Commandos, promotions, theatres of Operations, medals & awards etc. [If you decide to follow this avenue of enquiry and need any help with this, please let me know]

Nick

Also, if you have any photos of Lt Col Shaw that you'd be prepared to share with us, I'd be honoured to upload them to the CVA Gallery on your behalf - just email them to my address shown in my signature block below.

Hello and welcome Nicholas,

I don't know exactly when your grandfather assumed command of No. 5 Commando either but when he returned to the UK in September 1944 he had been the CO for over 2 years.

He is mentioned several times in a book called 'The raiders of Arakan' by Cecil Ernest Lucas Phillips and you can see a few snippets on Google Books:
http://books.google.co.uk/books?ei=VomJT8OgELG00QW2ldDcCQ&id=QGkDAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22david+shaw%22+arakan&q=%22shaw%22

Julie

Dear Nic and Julie,

Many thanks for the information and support, I will be contacting the army archives to see what I can find out. On a different note, I have his medals, some photos (I will scan and send them over) as well as a Japanese flag, with what appears to be a handprint in the centre. I will also take a photo and send that over, touching it is quite eerie, when you then read books on the time and look at it, everything becomes much more vivid.

I have to be honest, I was not expecting any responses so rapidly, I have been blown away by that, so thank you again.

Nicholas

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 15/04/2012 08:59:25

Nicholas,
Just a quick search has turned up quite a few notices from the London Gazette and a document in the National Archives (this will be the citation for his MC which was also published in The Times, 12 Jul 1940)

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34413/pages/4176/page.pdf

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37804/supplements/5908

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/39197/supplements/1993/page.pdf

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/38782/supplements/5907/page.pdf

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/41211/supplements/6261/page.pdf

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/39887/supplements/3335/page.pdf

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/43068/supplements/6455/page.pdf

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7652760&queryType=1&resultcount=155

Citation for Military Cross:

From The Times, Friday, Jul 12, 1940
ARMY AWARDS
REARGUARD GALLANTRY
MILITARY CROSS

SHAW, CAPTAIN (ACTING MAJOR) D.M., ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILIERS

During the night of May 23 Captain Shaw's company when holding a wide sector near Plouvain, was heavily attacked, and a part of their position was lost. He at once led his small reserved and counter-attacked a much superior force. Several of his men were hit, but Captain Shaw and the handful of men then with him closed with the enemy and inflicted sufficient losses with grenades and rifle fire to check the enemy's advance and restore the position. Though cut off for a considerable time, Captain Shaw, by skilful use of grenages, succeeded in breaking through the enemy, who had surrounded him, and rejoined his company.

Citation for DSO:

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

LT COL D M SHAW. ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILIERS
APR 1945 - ARGENTA.

At ARGENTA on 17 April 45 when in command of his battalion with a squadron of tanks under command, Lt-Col Shaw's conduct of the battle was remarkable.

Although initially directed in a NW direction, he appreciated that by a flanking movement to the SW he would be in position to seal off any enemy still in the ARGENTA gap and to cover the main thrust of the Division in a NW direction.

At the time, Lt-Col Shaw carried out this movement, a strong German counter attack with tanks was being mounted against a very vulnerable part of the Division.

With complete disregard of personal safety, Lt-Col Shaw personally established his Bttn on the bank NW of ARGENTA, and repulsed what was known to be a divisional effort by the Germans to restore their ARGENTA position.

The magnificent fighting spirit which his battalion displayed on this occasion and again when he led them to the CONDOTTO MOTTE was very largely due to the inspiring leadership and courage displayed by Lt-Col Shaw.

nick

Nicholas,

Here are the links to the application forms you'll need to apply to the MoD for his service records.

http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/ABD2FA46-5720-4F8F-AD21-53C3EDA07803/0/request_for_service_details_nok_application_part1_v5.doc

http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/04CE7BC7-A7F7-4BE2-BE7E-57B4E8232FD4/0/request_for_service_details_army_application_part2.doc

if you need any help with these do not hesitate to ask.

Nick

I was just browsing through my Grandfathers' service record and found in 1943, my Grandad, CPL Ron Evans was fined 1 days pay by Lt Col D.M. Shaw M.C. for Gambling. Date of offence, 2 Dec 1943... haha.

Hi Rich,
Welcome to the CVA.

Lt Col David Shaw was, by accounts that I have read, quite a religious man and so I would guess that he would not look too kindly on one of his NCOs who was found gambling...

Nick