Researching Daniel Shaw proved challenging and took over 3 years to establish his identity. He is listed under the 'Western Front' panel on the war memorial, with a date of 2nd September 1916. No CWGC records match this name and around this date. While searching for something else on the British Newspaper Archives, a reference was found to men lost from Uddingston in the First World War, including Private Dan Shaw, Royal Scots from Inverkip, together with his service number - bingo!

 

Daniel was born in Glasgow, around 1884. He appears on the 1891 Inverkip census, living as a boarder with Robert and Margaret Campbell at Brown's Land, Main Street. His brother James is on the same census entry.

 

He appears on the 1901 Paisley census as a visitor at the house of James Wilson. Daniel's occupation is recorded as a booking clerk.

 

On the 1911 census, he is living at 55 Main Street, Uddingston as a boarder with Alexander and Frances Weir.

 

He enlisted for service in May 1915 with the Royal Scots at Glencorse. His occupation is recorded as a clerk and he gives his mother, Mary, of the Queen's Hotel, Dundee, as his next of kin.

 

His Will and other documents relating to his service have fortunately survived the last 100 years. Some of the paperwork details an injury he suffered to his head in September 1915 from shrapnel. The letter he wrote detailing his Will is poignant, almost as if he wasn't expecting to come home.

 

He was killed on 4th July 1916 and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.