Hugh Shaw

Captain, 18th Regiment

VC
Register No.
1132 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank
Captain all Captains →
Unit
18th Regiment (register: 18th Regiment of Foot) all 18th Regiment of Foot VCs →
Date of action
24 January 1865 on this day → all of 1865 →
Conflict / campaign
New Zealand Wars
London Gazette
28th November 1865 on this day → all of 1865 →
Born
the 4th February, 1839 at Madras, India
Died
25th August 1904 at Southsea, Hampshire
Memorial / grave
at Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea, Hampshire
Medal held by
National Army Museum, Chelsea, London

Digest of citation

During a skirmish at Nukumam, New Zealand on 24th January 1865, Captain Shaw, went under extremely heavy fire accompanied by four Privates of his regiment, all volunteers, to within at least 30 yards of the rebel occupied bush in order to bring back a badly wounded comrade. In the afternoon Captain Shaw had been ordered to take a position situated half a mile away. When about 30 yards from the bush, as two of his party had been injured, he wisely took refuge at a palisade approximately 60 yards away. Calling for volunteers to carry the man out, resulted in the four Privates, referred to, accompanying him, under heavy fire, to where the wounded man lay and brought him back to the rear

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

SHAW, Hugh. (reg No. 1132).

Captain. 18th Regiment. * London Gazetted on 28th November 1865.

VC Medal's Custodian is National Army Museum, Chelsea, London.

Born on the 4th February, 1839 at Madras, India.

Died on 25th August 1904 at Southsea, Hampshire.

Memorial on grave at Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea, Hampshire.

Digest of Citation reads: During a skirmish at Nukumam, New Zealand on 24th January 1865, Captain Shaw, went under extremely heavy fire accompanied by four Privates of his regiment, all volunteers, to within at least 30 yards of the rebel occupied bush in order to bring back a badly wounded comrade. In the afternoon Captain Shaw had been ordered to take a position situated half a mile away. When about 30 yards from the bush, as two of his party had been injured, he wisely took refuge at a palisade approximately 60 yards away. Calling for volunteers to carry the man out, resulted in the four Privates, referred to, accompanying him, under heavy fire, to where the wounded man lay and brought him back to the rear.

* Royal Irish Regiment.

Additional information:. He was the son of Mr and Mrs James Shaw, Inspector-General Hospitals, Madras, India. Further research required.

Additional information

He was the son of Mr and Mrs James Shaw, Inspector-General Hospitals, Madras, India. Further research required.

* Royal Irish Regiment.

Visit the grave or memorial

Alf recorded the memorial as: at Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea, Hampshire

Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.

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