1st Dragoons (Royals).

Awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 22 January.
Mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette of 1 January 1916.

Shaw was a native of Burnley, Lancashire.

Rufus Shaw was born at Burnley, Lancashire on the 7 November 1890, the son of James and Caroline Shaw.

The Burnley Express of 28 August 1915, reported, BURNLEY SOLDIERS LOST SIGHT. On May 13th, Private Rufus Shaw, of the 1st Royal Dragoons, whose home is at 18, Lancaster Street, Burnley, sustained a wound which cost him his eyesight. Twice Private Shaw volunteered to carry despatches, and on the second occasion he was hit by a German sniper. The bullet struck him in the right temple and came out of his left eye, and Private Shaw had to remain where he fell for some hours before receiving attention. He is 24 years of age and enlisted six years ago.

The Burnley News of 22 January 1916, reported, MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. LORD KITCHENER AND BURNLEY SOLDIER. D.C.M., FOR SIGHTLESS SOLDIER. Few men more worthy deserve decoration for meritorious service than Private Rufus Shaw, of, 18, Lancaster Street, Burnley, who has been deprived completely of his eyesight whilst on service for his country, and it is pleasing to believe that before long he will be presented with the D.C.M., which, in a letter home this week, he says he has been recommended for. For some months past Private Shaw has been an inmate at St. Dunstan's, London, and last week he sent a letter home which says, " I was spoken to by Lord Kitchener and he asked how I was going on. He also asked me how I got shot and where the bullet went in. When I showed him he said I was lucky to be alive and tell the tale."

Private Shaw is a fine example of British pluck and spirit, and the life and soul of the hostel, always ready with a laugh and a joke. Before entering the army he was employed as a labourer at Harling & Todd foundry, but since entering the hostel he has show real grit by learning to make ladies netting hand-bags, carpentry, typewriting and shoe making. He has won a bag of carpenters tools and a typewriter, and on the latter he indites all his letters home to his mother. He has been home on several occasions, the last time being at Christmas, when he and his brother, who is a recruit in the army at Plymouth, met for the first time in six years. He is staying at St. Dunstan's a little longer in order to pass as a shoe maker.

SWALLOWED THE DISPATCH.

A native of Burnley, Private Shaw is about 25 years of age, enlisted into the Royal Dragoons(cavalry) six years ago. When war broke out he was with his regiment in Africa, and returned to England immediately. After a two days leave, which he spent at home, he accompanied his regiment to France, early in October, 1914, and saw some of the severest fighting around Ypres. The incident for which he has been recommended for the D.C.M., occurred on the morning of 13 May last, when he sustained the wound that cost his his eyesight. His regiment was at Hooge Woods, and the German's were maintaining a continuous fire on their positions. The officer in command ask for a volunteer to carry a despatch a distance of about a quarter of a mile, and Shaw offering to take the message, was entrusted with the task. The danger to which he would be exposed was passed on to him, but he courageously set out on his bicycle, successfully delivered his letter and returned to his post unscathed. A few minutes later a volunteer was requested to carry another despatch, and again Shaw gallantly undertook the perilous task. This time however he was not as fortunate. He had not proceeded far on his bicycle when he was hit by a German sniper. The bullet struck him in the right temple, and came out of his left eye. Badly wounded as he was, Shaw did not lose consciousness, and appreciating the importance of preventing the despatch falling into German hands, he swallowed it.

That was, he said, the only "food" he had during the three days that he lay out, for, owing to the withering fire from the Germans, help was impossible, but he was ultimately brought in by a Belgian. In the view of the nature of the wound, and the spot where the bullet entered, it is miraculous that Shaw was not instantly killed.

Rufus Shaw married Miss Matilda Dawe of Pendle Street, Whittlefield on the 15 April 1916 at St. Stephen's Parish Church, Burnley. Matilda was working in Burnley at the time they met.

On the 1921 register he was living at 19, Frankland Street, Burnley.

On the 1939 register he was living at 17, Garnett Street, Barrowford, a butcher and army pensioner.

The Burnley Express of 29 September 1954, reported, Mr. RUFUS SHAW, M.M. A member of the Burnley Branch of the British Legion, Mr. Rufus Shaw of Dean Lane, Water, formerly of Cavour Street, Burnley died on Wednesday. Mr. Shaw, who served in the Royal Dragoons, won his Military Medal, at Ypres, in 1915.

Rufus Shaw died on the 25 September 1954 and was buried a few days later at Burnley Cemetery.