Born on the 2nd February 1890.   No trace on
BMDs.

He enlisted in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve
during WW1 - No. MB1090, serving on Coastal Motor
Boat - HMS Hermione from the 20th April 1916 to
the 31st July 1916.   Then from the 1st until the
15th August as a C.M.M.   He next served on HMS
Victory II from  the 16th August 1916 until the
16th October 1916.   He then served on HMS
Boadicea II from the 17th October 1916 until the
31st January 1919.   Lastly back to HMS Hermione
from the 1st February until the 9th April 1919
when he was demobbed.   His next of kin was his
father  at 68 Beam Street, Nantwich.

Hermione was a 10 gun, twin screw, cruiser of
4,360 tons.  In 1914 she became a guard ship at
Southampton, later becoming the HQ ship for motor
launches and coastal motor boats from December
1916 to December 1919.   HMS Victory II was at
Chrystal Palace, the training base for the Royal
Naval Division.   HMS Boadicea was a 3,400 ton
lead ship of her class of scout cruisers.  From
1913 she served with the 2nd Battle Squadron.  She
was present at the Battle of Jutland 1916, but did
not take part in that Battle.  In 1917 she was
converted into a mine layer and completed three
mine laying sorties before the end of the War.

Married Irene Ellwood during the March quarter
1927 in the Chester R.D. - ref: 8a/595.

1939 National Registration - "Heled Wen", Beam
Street, Nantwich, Cheshire.   Henry E. Shakeshaft
- Married - Born on the 2nd February 1890 - occ:
Master General Engineer.    Irene Shakeshaft -
Married - Born on the 24th February 1901 - occ:
Unpaid Domestic Duties.   Henry Shakeshaft Single
- Born on the 27th September 1929 - At School.  
There are two redacted records at this address -
these were undoubtedly their two other sons -
Leslie Shakeshaft, born: 1927 and Douglas E.
Shakeshaft, born: 1932.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail dated the 31st
December 1940 - FIREMAN'S DEATH ON DUTY - Evan
Henry (sic) Shakeshaft, aged: 46 - a member of the
Nantwich Fire Brigade collapsed and died fighting
a fire in Manchester on Christmas Eve.   Member of
the Brigade for 30 years he was one of a party of
four engaged in handling a 75 ft length of hose
when he fell on his face.   He had previously been
working a heavy pump.   Dr. Reginald Ellis said in
evidence that he thought the man's days were
numbered, but he would not have died when he did
but for the strenuous exertions he had been making
that night.   A verdict of accidental death was
returned.

Chester Chronicle dated the 4th January 1941 -
NANTWICH FIREMAN'S FUNERAL - Henry's helmet, belt
and uniform were placed on a tender and the coffin
was covered with a Union Jack.  Firemen formed a
guard of honour at the cemetery.   The Crewe,
Audlem, Congleton, Tarporley, Sandbach and
Winsford Fire Brigades were represented.

Crewe Chronicle dated the 4th January 1941 -
NANTWICH FIREMAN'S FUNERAL - TOWN'S TRIBUTE -
PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES IN PROCESSION  The report
includes a portrait photograph of Henry.   A
member of the Nantwich Brigade since 1907.  He
left a widow and three young sons.   The
procession started from the Engine House and
passed lines of sympathisers on its way to the
General Cemetery.   A long list of mourners
included Mrs. Shakeshaft, his sons - Leslie, Henry
& Douglas.   Report on the Inquest - Stanley
Harding an A.F.S Fireman of the Nantwich Brigade
stated that at 04.30 hours on the 24th December
the party were moving 75 ft of wet hose from one
position to another, when Henry fell flat on his
face.  Dr. Reginald Ellis said in evidence that
there was organic disease of the heart and a
kidney ailment.  The cause of death was Angina
Pectoris.   A long report covering almost a full
line in this newspaper.

Liverpool Evening Express dated the 4th January
1941 - DIED WHILE ON DUTY - Edition contains a
very good portrait photograph of Henry.  It states
that during WW1 he served as an Engineer in the
Royal Navy.

FB Museum records him as a Chief Engineer from
Nantwich.

Commemorated on the Manchester City FB Memorial
and the Nantwich Town War Memorial In front of St
Mary & St Nicholas's Church, Nantwich, Cheshire.

ON DUTY, BUT NOT COMMEMORATED BY THE CWGC.