Albert Shaw was born in West Luther Township in 1894 to John Henry Shaw and Mary Ellen Dowling, one of ten children. Albert, or Ab, as he was known, was farming when he enlisted on Feb. 23, 1916, at age 22.
He fought as a member of the 153rd Battalion. Like many of the local men in the 153rd, Ab shipped to England on SS Olympic on April 29, 1917.
Corporal Shaw became a sniper in the war and was well known as an excellent marksman. The small notebook he carried with him shows his practice targets.
Shaw arrived in France on May 11, 1918, after a year in England. In his notebook, he kept track of his unit’s movements through the period of June to August. He began at Saint Vaast, arriving in Aubigny on June 26, to Bertincourt on the June 28, where he was “on line”.
Throughout August into September, his unit moved through the Argonne to Arras by Sept. 25.
From Sept. 27 into October, Albert Shaw fought in the battle of Canal du Nord. He indicates that they went “over the top” several times.
They crossed the canal and went in support of another Canadian Regiment, the Princess Patricia’s. His last entry in his book indicates that on Oct. 2 they were back in the Bourlon Wood. At that point is seems his notebook was out of space. As well, he may not have had the time to make entries.
Shaw returned to Canada on SS Carmania on March 17, 1919, arriving at Halifax. Shaw told the story of how the soldiers were given their guns on the voyage, but threw them overboard once they reached Halifax. They wished never to see those guns again.
On his return, Shaw farmed and worked for Confederation Life. But his most important move was to bring the John Deere dealership to Arthur and area. It became a mainstay of the community.
This story is published in the Arthur and Area World War One and Two Veterans’ Book.
