Frederick Shaw (British Army Officer) - Military Career

Military Career

Shaw was commissioned into the Sherwood Foresters in 1882. He saw service in the Anglo-Egyptian War in 1882.

He served during the Second Boer War as a Brigade Major, then as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General and then as Assistant Adjutant-General. In 1907 he was made Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion the Sherwood Foresters.

He served in World War I initially as Commander of 9th Infantry Brigade in which role he deployed to France. He was wounded by a shell that hit his Headquarters on 12 November 1914. After his recovery, in 1915, he was appointed Commander of the 29th Division. He then became Director of Home Defence and subsequently Chief of the General Staff for Home Forces.

On 19 September 1919, during the Irish War of Independence, he suggested that the police force in Ireland be expanded via the recruitment of a special force of volunteer British ex-servicemen. Following direct intervention from London, the "Black and Tans" and Auxiliary Division of the Constabulary were introduced in order to achieve a decisive result. Ironically this intervention preceded a purge of the Irish administration at Dublin Castle during which Shaw himself was replaced.

Shaw retired in 1920, and died on 6 January 1942.