Shaw War Memorial

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This war memorial is made of stone and is in memory of those who died in the First World War (1914-18) (sometimes called the Great War), who lived in the villages of Shaw and Donnington. It was dedicated in a ceremony on 1 December 1918 after a special memorial service was held in St Mary’s Church. You can read what the Newbury Weekly News said about it at the time here: www.westberkshirewarmemorials.org.uk/memorial.php?link=WB015.

There are also five Commonwealth War Graves in the churchyard. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an organisation that tries to make sure all of the people of the Commonwealth who died in the First and Second World Wars are commemorated somewhere, so that they are not forgotten. The memorials are often distinctive white stone headstones of the same shape as each other. Can you find them all?

• Gunner Ernest Henry Deacon died in 1917 and is commemorated to the south-east of the north gate
• Private James Frederick Ayres of the Royal Marine Light Infantry died in 1919 is commemorated to the south-east of the north gate
• Sergeant William Charles Goodman died in 1940 and is commemorated north of the Church
• Private Albert Edward Richardson died in 1942 and is commemorated in the north-west corner of the churchyard
• Flying Officer Edgar Ernest Vincent (Marc) Barwood died in 1944 and is commemorated north of the Church

After exploring this part of the churchyard, go back along the same path towards the church tower. Follow the path as it turns left around the corner of the building and heads east. Just after going around the corner of the Church you will see several chest tombs to your right. They are big, rectangular grave markers made of stone, now quite covered in lichen.