In November 1944, Sergeant Shaw was in charge of a troop detailed to the important task of opening the sluice gates at Crevecquer, Map Reference E.29451, in order to drain the surrounding polders. The task was an arduous one but Sergeant Shaw led a party forward and completed it despite the fact that the work had to be done in full view of the enemy and the site was subjected to accurate enemy mortar and small arms fire. On the night of 28/29 March 1945, Sergeant Shaw's troop was detailed to clear a shrapnel minefield on the banks of the Rhine opposite Emmerich. It was a dangerous task as the enemy had mortared the site and shrapnel had cut a good many of the trip wires. In several instances the mines has been set off but had misfired. This Non-Commissioned Officer was in charge of one of the parties, and despite the hazards caused by the enemy mortaring, by outstanding leadership succeeded in clearing his area without mishap. Sergeant Shaw was placed in charge of the off-loading of the Class 9 Close Support raft on the Kusten Canal on 17 and 18 April 1945. The raft site was being subjected to such severe enemy mortar fire that the work had to be abandoned after seven lorries had been off-loaded and when an enemy counter attack developed. All but two pontoons were unserviceable and during the next 24 hours Sergeant Shaw made numerous reconnaissances under intense enemy fire to see if work could be recommenced, necessitating several trips out onto the pontoons already in the water, in full view of the enemy, to see if they could be repaired. Throughout all these actions Sergeant Shaw showed himself to be an able and inspiring leader, and his coolness under fire was a shining example of steadiness and determination which had a great effect on the morale of his men.