Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son in law of Mrs S. Matchett of Station Road, Swannington, Leics. The War Diary entry for the 9th September 1915 records. BIENVILLERS. The night of the 8th/9th September was the quietest we have yet had. In the afternoon HQ was shelled. Two Sergeants and two Privates who were in a dug out were killed. Six shells in all landed near, and seemed to come from a bearing about 148° true, probably from a German Battery near LA BRAYELLE FARM. No doubt that there is a continual stream of orderlies, and that bombers were also being practised nearby attracted the attention of the German gunners.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday October 8th, 1915

Swannington Soldier Killed

Mrs F. Dawkins, of Griffydam, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, has received official intimation that her adopted son, Pte. Walter Shaw, 16680, 9th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action on September 9th at a place not stated.

Pte. Shaw who was 26 years of age, was a widower and formerly resided at Swannington. His wife died in September 1914, and he enlisted in the following December. He was a labourer and worked for the Council for several years and prior to that for three years he lived with Mrs S. Atkinson, of Barrow Hill Lodge, Osgathorpe.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 18th, 1916

SWANNINGTON MEMORIAL SERVICE

The Whitwick and Thringstone Citizen Corps, under Commander G. F. Burton, together with the Scouts, under Scoutmaster Armstrong, and the Swannington Scouts, on Sunday morning attended the memorial service at St. George’s Church, where the Rev. G. Robinson, the vicar, preached a special sermon on patriotism and sympathy with the relatives of the fallen soldiers of his parish, viz., Privates J. A. Johnson, Wm. Wardle, Walter Shaw, Alfred Smith, and _____ Buckley. Citizen Company Sergeant-Major J. Lester read the first lesson, and Citizen O. Geary the second. Miss Atkins ably played the Dead March in “Saul,” and two scouts sounded the “Last Post.” Corporal Toon and Private Robinson, both soldiers on active service took the Citizens’ salute on their return march.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from the Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 09/09/2017