Newbury GeoCache Series 

After our recently placed GeoCache Series at Great Western Park (GWP) (cache #1-11, 14, 17-19, 30-32, 35, 38, 60-61, 80-81, 84, 104-106), Didcot (cache #12-13, 15-16, 20-25, 29, 33-34, 41-42, 44-45, 47-48, 53, 59, 62-63, 66-67, 69-79, 82-83, 90-103, 107-112, 117-119, 121-129, 137-141), Harwell (cache #26, 36-37, 43, 46, 54-55, 58, 68), Chilton (cache #27-28, 85), Sutton Courtenay (cache #39, 64-65), Milton (cache #40, 49-52, 56-57), Upton (cache #86-87), Long Wittenham (cache #88-89), Hagbournes (cache #114-116), Kingsgrove (cache #120, 130-132), Compton (cache #133-134), Appleford (cache #135-136) and Newbury (cache #142), we decide to place a few more caches in other parts of Didcot and surrounding villages, in order to honour local heros, and to reflect our rich local history, stories and heritage. We hope you will enjoy these new caches and may also learn something new when you are caching, thank you!

Newbury #143 - Shaw War Memorial (officially known as War Memorial # 2621 ~ Newbury)

The Shaw War Memorial is located with Shaw House and St Mary's Church Conservation Area, at RG14 7DS. 

This war memorial is made of stone and is in memory of those who died in the First World War (1914-18) (sometimes called the Great War), who lived in the villages of Shaw and Donnington. It was dedicated in a ceremony on 1 December 1918 after a special memorial service was held in St Mary's Church. You can read what the Newbury Weekly News said about it at the time here: www.westberkshirewarmemorials.org.uk/memorial.php?link=WB015.

There are also five Commonwealth War Graves in the churchyard. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an organisation that tries to make sure all of the people of the Commonwealth who died in the First and Second World Wars are commemorated somewhere, so that they are not forgotten. The memorials are often distinctive white stone headstones of the same shape as each other. Can you find them all?

• Gunner Ernest Henry Deacon died in 1917 and is commemorated to the south-east of the north gate
• Private James Frederick Ayres of the Royal Marine Light Infantry died in 1919 is commemorated to the south-east of the north gate
• Sergeant William Charles Goodman died in 1940 and is commemorated north of the Church
• Private Albert Edward Richardson died in 1942 and is commemorated in the north-west corner of the churchyard
• Flying Officer Edgar Ernest Vincent (Marc) Barwood died in 1944 and is commemorated north of the Church

After exploring this part of the churchyard, go back along the same path towards the church tower. Follow the path as it turns left around the corner of the building and heads east. Just after going around the corner of the Church you will see several chest tombs to your right. They are big, rectangular grave markers made of stone, now quite covered in lichen.

About this multi-cache:

At the published coordinates, you will be standing in front of the War Memorial. On its front face, the base stone has several lines of words and numbers carved into it. The total number of lines on this front surface is A.

Then please walk around and find another face which year "1918" on the top. The total number of soldiers commemorated in the year of 1918 is B. And the number of letters in the only soldier's surname commemorated in 1919 is C.

Please now walk again and find another face with year "1917" on the top. The total number of soldiers commemorated in the year of 1917 is DE.

Finally, find a face with the year "1915" on its top. The total number of soldiers commemorated in the year of 1915 is F,  and the total number of soldiers commemorated in the year of 1916 is G. 

The final coordinates are some distance away at:

N51 ( C - B )  ( A / ( B - D ) )  .  ( C + E )  ( F - E )  ( A / G )

W001 ( F / ( C + D ) )  ( A + D )  .  ( B / E )  ( F * D )  ( G + D )

You may check your answer via the following GeoCheck:

Please also note: 

Please bring your own pen, and open & close the cache lid carefully so the cache and log book can survive longer. You might need a tweezer to help retrieve the log paper.

Please also replace exactly as found due to obvious reason, and please be careful with the possible thorns, stinging nettles, and overhead tree branches! Long sleeves, trousers, and gloves are recommended.

Thank you and enjoy GeoCaching!

FTF: Congratulations to firstyferrets and wendykmj for their Joint FTF on 23 March 2026!