Letter from William Shaw to James Shaw, December 1915 Letters 1916-1923 William Shaw

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Letter from William Shaw to his father, James Shaw, about his life aboard the H.M.S. Excellent. William starts the letter by discussing his his father's fishing business. William also writes about his prospects of getting put on a merchant ship. William mentions a firing excursion he was on and comments on the first crew members to fire all originating from Ulster. William Shaw (1893-1934) was a gunner in the Royal Naval Reserve. He volunteered for active service in 1915 and served on ships such as the H.M.S. Excellent and H.M.S. Albemarle, a battle cruiser. Before the war he was a fisherman.

 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Shaw Papers, D1962-11 https://letters1916.ie/item/4190 English William Shaw 1915-12 H.M.S. Excellent, Portsmouth, England James Shaw Male 1934 World War I (1914-1918) World War I (1914-1918) Personal Relations Country and City Life

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 H M.S. Excellent Portsmouth 57 Mess Thursday Dear Father Just a few lines in answer to your letter I am very glad you are able to fish again I see by your letter that you are at the lines and the haddocks is plenty and the main thing is that your are getting a good price for them. You were wanting to know how many boys went with Jack he went himself for Liverpool but there was a lot fleft for Cardiff and Glasgow all of them for merchantmen. You were hoping that I would get a merchant ship well there is every chance of me going as I told you before that all R.N.R. men are for the defence of armed merchant vessels. All men that join them have to sign papers to work about the ship as well as at the gun that is when they get out the danger zone. I am glad that the boats are all doing well. you were wanting to know about Jack & Andy they only done 10 days course it is only a short one to see how they get on but there was bigger block heads stayed behind to go through for seamen gunner than Andy was at any rate he was in a different classthan I was so I only can take his word for it. Wellfather I was out fishing on Tuesday and what do you think the first guns crew to open fire was all Ulster men and the first shot went right through the target so what do you think of that I was britch worker and Charlie was butting in the shells and a Belfast man was gun layer. well we fired 207 rounds the gun was black with heat — she burned all the paint I do no know how I got on but I had very good shooting I fired 14 rounds and I can tell you I did not firemuch for a while god only knows what it is like in France I am glad Sam is still all right — I am sure he has it pretty cold poor fellow I will close now give my love to Jessie. I remain your Loving Son Willie P./S. I will be going before the commander shortly to see he will read out our points I was told that I got a reckamend for CL3 W. William Shaw Letter from William Shaw to James Shaw, December 1915Letter from William Shaw to Martha Shaw, 1915Letter from William Shaw to Martha Shaw, c. 1916Letter from William Shaw to Martha Shaw, c. 1916Letter from William Shaw to James and Martha Shaw, 1916 H.M.S. Excellent, Portsmouth, England Letter from William Shaw to James Shaw, December 1915Letter from William Shaw to Martha Shaw, 1915Letter from William Shaw to Martha Shaw, c. 1916Letter from William Shaw to Martha Shaw, c. 1916Letter from William Shaw to James and Martha Shaw, 1916