Frederick Shaw was born on 25 May 1924, the son of Lieutenant Colonel F C Shaw and Mrs Shaw. He joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet (E), was promoted to Midshipman (E) on 1 January 1943 and undertook the (E) Course at the Royal Navy Engineering College, Keyham. On 30 April 1944 he was appointed to the cruiser HMS BELFAST and, on 17 August 1944, to the cruiser HMS CASSANDRA. In April 1946 he was serving in the cruiser HMS LIVERPOOL.

He was appointed to HMS DOLPHIN ‘for the Submarine Course‘ on 1 January 1951. On 16 April 1951 he was a member of the training class of Submarine Engineers who joined HMS AFFRAY at HMS DOLPHIN. AFFRAY was lost with all hands in the English Channel near the Hurd Deep overnight 16/17 April 1951.