Thank you to Lenka Cathersides and Patricia Brazier for the following research.
Cyril Shaw was born in Horbury, Yorkshire on 31st December 1895 to dyer Frederick and Ada (nee Shires) Horner.
In the 1901 census, there is a Cyril Shaw aged 6, who is an inmate at a workhouse in Wakefield.
After the death of Frederick, Ada remarried George Shaw in 1903.
In the 1911 Census he is a scholar in the Milton Industrial School in Farnborough, Hampshire. Industrial schools gave destitute children who had not committed any crime, the opportunity to get an education and to learn a trade.
Cyril joined the Royal Marines on 17th September 1913 at Eastrey in Hampshire. His records note that he had light brown hair and grey eyes and he was 5 feet 3 and one quarter inches in height. His occupation at the time of enlistment was a boot makers apprentice. His next of kin is his aunt; Mrs Phillpot; she is living at Anstie Farm, Holmwood, in Surrey. His character is described as sober, honest and steady.
Cyril is entitled to the 1914 Star with Clasp, as he served with the Royal Marines during the defence of Antwerp. He was ‘invalided’ from the royal Marines in March 1915.
He then joined the Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment on 6th June 1917, his address on enlistment was 1 White House Cottage in Dorking. He was discharged from the Royal West Surrey on 26th September 1917, being described as physically unfit. He received a gratuity of £7.00.
Cyril died of heart failure on 20th August 1919 at Aldershot Hospital.
Aldershot Military Cemetery
Roll of Honour © CWGC.org
He was buried at Aldershot Military Cemetery
His Aunt, Mrs Emma Phillpot received his medals and his memorial Plaque with parchment scroll.
She also erected Cyril’s headstone that reads: ‘Until the Day Breaks’. At this time Emma lived at East Lodge, Anstie, Holmwood, where her husband Solomon was working as a gardener.
The memorial Plaque, often referred to as the “Dead Man’s Penny” has been donated to the Dorking Museum.
Shaw Family History
Cyril’s father Frederick Horner was born about 1865 in Horbury, Yorkshire to dyer Amos. His mother Ada Shires was born about 1868 in Methley, Yorkshire to miner Alfred and Grace, born about 1841 in Middlestown, Yorkshire. Frederick and Ada married, on 26th December 1887 in Wakefield, Yorkshire. At the time of their marriage, Frederick was working as a dyer and he lived in Horbury. Ada lived in Middlestown.
Cyril had a full brother called Luther who was born about 1889 in Horbury.
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at Queen Street, Horbury. Frederick was working as a worsted dyer and Ada was looking after their son Luther.
At the time of the 1901 Census, Ada was staying with her widowed mother Grace Shires at Highfield Terrace, Middlesfield, Yorkshire. The household further comprised of Ada’s brother, a worsted dyer, Ephraim, and her two sons Luther and Cyril. Ada was working as a cloth dyer.
Widowed Ada Horner re-married widower George Shaw on 16th May 1903 in the Parish of Middlestown, Yorkshire. At the time of the marriage, George was working as a cloth fuller and he was living in Horbury. Ada lived in Middlestown.
George was born about 1865 in Horbury, Yorkshire to engineer James.
| Born | Horbury, Yorkshire | |
| Son of | The late Frederick and Ada (nee Shires) Horner | |
| Regiment | 2nd Battalion. The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment | |
| Number | L/11245 | |
| Former Regiment | Royal Marines | |
| Number | 16979 | |
| Date of Death | 20th August 1919 | |
| Place of Death | Aldershot Hospital | |
| Cause of Death | Heart failure | |
| Age | 23 | |
| Memorial | Aldershot Military Cemetery |
