Thomas Shaw

Born in Esh, near Durham City, he was a labourer before he enlisted in the 68 Regiment at Durham in April 1811, aged 22 years. He served in the Peninsula and fought at Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle and Orthes. On 5 January 1815, he deserted from his Regiment at Belfast but surrendered, on 11 September 1822, to the Depot. Thomas Shaw served for a further two years, though most of this time was spent in hospital suffering from asthma, and he was finally discharged in January 1824.