Author
Alistair Neil
Branch
Army
Personal Stories
A programme for a Thanksgiving Service for the Allied Victory over Japan on Sunday 19 August 1945 was recently inherited by Alistair Neill.
His uncle Pte Willie Shaw served in the Royal Scots, 2nd British Division, South East Asia Command.
“It was quite a moving find for me,” said Alistair. “I was close to my uncle and he was an excellent pianist. The programme shows the piano keys that he would have played the hymns in at the service at such an historic time.
Alistair, who inherited his uncle’s the papers from a cousin, added: “As a boy I remember Willie telling me that the call often came from the Officers Mess for ‘ Private Shaw’ to come over so he could play the piano. I think it helped his war experience!”