 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Shaw Kennedy akanga ari mwanakomana waKaputeni John Shaw, aimbova kaputeni mu76th Highlanders, weDalton, Kirkcudbrightshire. Akadzidza paAyr Academy. Akapihwa basa mu43rd Monmouthshire Light Infantry muna 1805 achijoinha chikwata ichi kuHythe, Kent uko kwaive kudzidziswa naSir John Moore. Akatanga kushumira muCopenhagen Expedition ya 1807 semutevedzeri, uye pasi paSir David Baird akatora chikamu muCorunna Campaign. Mukudzokera shure kubva kuCorunna, inotungamirirwa naSir John Moore, Shaw ne43rd vakarwa nevashandi vekumashure kuuto. Pakudzokera kwake kuEngland akatambura nefivha yakakomba yaasina kuzombopora zvizere. Muna Chivabvu 1809, Shaw akadzokera kuPeninsula ne43rd ndokutora chikamu mukufamba kwemakiromita mazana mana kubva kuLisbon kuenda kuTalavera kwaakazova mubatsiri wechirongwa chake chakakurumbira muHondo yeTalavera. 