Caleb Shang
Encyclopedia
Caleb James Shang, DCM
& Bar
, MM
(4 August 1884 – 6 April 1953; born Duckbour Caleb James Shang) was the most highly decorated Chinese Australian
soldier who served in World War I
, receiving the Distinguished Conduct Medal twice and the Military Medal. He served with distinction on the Western Front
, primarily as a scout and sniper, until his wounds rendered him unfit for further duties. After returning to Australia, Shang married in Victoria and moved to Queensland, where he and his wife raised their three children. During World War II
, he served on home defence duties in northern Queensland.
, China. His mother was Jane Shang (née Noon) from Gayndah
. He was the eldest of 13 children born into the family. The family moved to Cairns
, and he left school at the age of 12. Before World War I began, Shang was working as a clerk. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
(AIF) on 5 June 1916, aged 31. His brother Sidney Waugh Shang had enlisted in January 1916, and was in the 12th Battalion. It was unusual for men of Asian ancestry to join Australia's armed forces at this time in history, since only those of European ancestry
were considered eligible for such service.
on 7 March 1917, in time for the battalion's action at Bullecourt
, in Flanders
, Belgium, in April 1917. Shang served in the 47th Battalion throughout the heavy fighting around Passchendaele in July–November 1917, including Menin Road, Polygon Wood
, and Passchendaele Ridge
. On 7 June 1917, Shang served with distinction at Messines Ridge
. Shang observed the German preparations for a counter attack on the 47th Battalion's newly won positions, and managed to signal to the rear for artillery support to catch the Germans advancing in the open, all the while exposed to the enemy. The Australian Official Historian, Charles Bean
recorded Shang's conduct in his notebook, writing:
For his actions, Shang was subsequently recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal
on 18 June 1917. In his recommendation, the commanding officer of the 47th Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel A. P. Imlay, wrote:
Shang received the DCM on 6 July 1917, with the citation reading:
on the Somme
, France, where the 47th Battalion was engaged in the defence of Amiens
. In the path of the "heaviest attack ever faced by Australians in this or any war," the 12th Australian Brigade
and 13th Australian Brigade
faced two and a half divisions of German troops and suffered 1,230 casualties. Despite these losses, the fierce resistance of the 4th Australian Division at Dernancourt and the 3rd Australian Division at Villers-Bretonneux
effectively halted the German Spring Offensive
. For his actions around Dernancourt, Shang was recommended for a Bar to his DCM on 8 April 1918. In his recommendation, the commander of the 12th Australian Brigade
, Brigadier John Gellibrand
, wrote:
Shang was awarded a Bar to the DCM on 25 August 1918, with the citation reading:
, which was awarded on 13 September 1918.
Caleb James Shang, DCM
& Bar
, MM
(4 August 1884 – 6 April 1953; born Duckbour Caleb James Shang) was the most highly decorated Chinese Australian
soldier who served in World War I
, receiving the Distinguished Conduct Medal twice and the Military Medal.Taplin, H. (1988): Shang, Caleb James (1884–1953) Australian Dictionary of Biography: Vol. 11 (p. 574). Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. Retrieved on 31 May 2010.Heyer, S. (2007): Gong for Chinese diggers Army: The Soldier's newspaper (Edition 1162, 22 March 2007). Retrieved on 31 May 2010.Perrett, G. (2008): Moreton Electorate: Chinese-Australian War Memorial – Speech (25 June 2008). Retrieved on 31 May 2010.Dunn, M. (2010): Sing film under fire The Great Southern Star (18 May 2010). Retrieved on 31 May 2010.Rolls, E. C. (1996): Citizens: Flowers and the wide sea – Continuing the epic story of China's centuries-old relationship with Australia (p. 442). Saint Lucia, Australia: University of Queensland Press. He served with distinction on the Western Front
, primarily as a scout and sniper, until his wounds rendered him unfit for further duties. After returning to Australia, Shang married in Victoria and moved to Queensland, where he and his wife raised their three children. During World War II
, he served on home defence duties in northern Queensland.
, China. His mother was Jane Shang (née Noon) from Gayndah
. He was the eldest of 13 children born into the family.Francis, J. (2009): Forgotten soldiers of the Australian Army Down Under Today (24 April 2009). Retrieved on 31 May 2010. The family moved to Cairns
, and he left school at the age of 12. Before World War I began, Shang was working as a clerk. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
(AIF) on 5 June 1916, aged 31. His brother Sidney Waugh Shang had enlisted in January 1916, and was in the 12th Battalion.National Archives of Australia, B2455, Shang Sidney Waugh 5483. Retrieved on 25 May 2010. It was unusual for men of Asian ancestry to join Australia's armed forces at this time in history, since only those of European ancestry
were considered eligible for such service.Laws, J., & Stewart, C. R. (2006): There's always more to the story. Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia. (ISBN 978-0-3304-2282-6)
on 7 March 1917, in time for the battalion's action at Bullecourt
, in Flanders
, Belgium, in April 1917.Australian War Memorial: 47th Battalion Retrieved on 24 April 2011. Shang served in the 47th Battalion throughout the heavy fighting around Passchendaele in July–November 1917, including Menin Road, Polygon Wood
, and Passchendaele Ridge
.National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A. Retrieved 22 April 2011 On 7 June 1917, Shang served with distinction at Messines Ridge
. Shang observed the German preparations for a counter attack on the 47th Battalion's newly won positions, and managed to signal to the rear for artillery support to catch the Germans advancing in the open, all the while exposed to the enemy.Deayton (2011), p. 140. The Australian Official Historian, Charles Bean
recorded Shang's conduct in his notebook, writing:
For his actions, Shang was subsequently recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal
on 18 June 1917.Australian War Memorial: Army Form W.3121, 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, 4th Australian Division, 2nd ANZAC Corps, 18 June 1917 Retrieved on 22 April 2011.Australian War Memorial: Note on Army Form W.3121, 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, 4th Australian Division, 2nd ANZAC Corps, 18 June 1917 Retrieved on 22 April 2011. In his recommendation, the commanding officer of the 47th Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel A. P. Imlay, wrote:
Shang received the DCM on 6 July 1917,National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, p. 7. Retrieved 22 April 2011 with the citation reading:
on the Somme
, France, where the 47th Battalion was engaged in the defence of Amiens
. In the path of the "heaviest attack ever faced by Australians in this or any war,"Deayton, C. (2011): Battle Scarred: The 47th Battalion in the First World War. Newport, Australia: Big Sky Publishing. (ISBN 978-0-9870-5740-2) Description of book Retrieved on 24 April 2011. the 12th Australian Brigade
and 13th Australian Brigade
faced two and a half divisions of German troops and suffered 1,230 casualties.Australian War Memorial: Attacks on Dernacourt Retrieved on 24 April 2011. Despite these losses, the fierce resistance of the 4th Australian Division at Dernancourt and the 3rd Australian Division at Villers-Bretonneux
effectively halted the German Spring Offensive
. For his actions around Dernancourt, Shang was recommended for a Bar to his DCM on 8 April 1918. In his recommendation, the commander of the 12th Australian Brigade
, Brigadier John Gellibrand
, wrote:
Shang was awarded a Bar to the DCM on 25 August 1918,National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, p. 8. Retrieved 22 April 2011Supplement 10261 London Gazette, No. 30879 (3 September 1918). Retrieved on 25 April 2011. with the citation reading:
, which was awarded on 13 September 1918.
Caleb James Shang, DCM
& Bar
, MM
(4 August 1884 – 6 April 1953; born Duckbour Caleb James Shang) was the most highly decorated Chinese Australian
soldier who served in World War I
, receiving the Distinguished Conduct Medal twice and the Military Medal.Taplin, H. (1988): Shang, Caleb James (1884–1953) Australian Dictionary of Biography: Vol. 11 (p. 574). Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. Retrieved on 31 May 2010.Heyer, S. (2007): Gong for Chinese diggers Army: The Soldier's newspaper (Edition 1162, 22 March 2007). Retrieved on 31 May 2010.Perrett, G. (2008): Moreton Electorate: Chinese-Australian War Memorial – Speech (25 June 2008). Retrieved on 31 May 2010.Dunn, M. (2010): Sing film under fire The Great Southern Star (18 May 2010). Retrieved on 31 May 2010.Rolls, E. C. (1996): Citizens: Flowers and the wide sea – Continuing the epic story of China's centuries-old relationship with Australia (p. 442). Saint Lucia, Australia: University of Queensland Press. He served with distinction on the Western Front
, primarily as a scout and sniper, until his wounds rendered him unfit for further duties. After returning to Australia, Shang married in Victoria and moved to Queensland, where he and his wife raised their three children. During World War II
, he served on home defence duties in northern Queensland.
, China. His mother was Jane Shang (née Noon) from Gayndah
. He was the eldest of 13 children born into the family.Francis, J. (2009): Forgotten soldiers of the Australian Army Down Under Today (24 April 2009). Retrieved on 31 May 2010. The family moved to Cairns
, and he left school at the age of 12. Before World War I began, Shang was working as a clerk. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
(AIF) on 5 June 1916, aged 31. His brother Sidney Waugh Shang had enlisted in January 1916, and was in the 12th Battalion.National Archives of Australia, B2455, Shang Sidney Waugh 5483. Retrieved on 25 May 2010. It was unusual for men of Asian ancestry to join Australia's armed forces at this time in history, since only those of European ancestry
were considered eligible for such service.Laws, J., & Stewart, C. R. (2006): There's always more to the story. Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia. (ISBN 978-0-3304-2282-6)
on 7 March 1917, in time for the battalion's action at Bullecourt
, in Flanders
, Belgium, in April 1917.Australian War Memorial: 47th Battalion Retrieved on 24 April 2011. Shang served in the 47th Battalion throughout the heavy fighting around Passchendaele in July–November 1917, including Menin Road, Polygon Wood
, and Passchendaele Ridge
.National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A. Retrieved 22 April 2011 On 7 June 1917, Shang served with distinction at Messines Ridge
. Shang observed the German preparations for a counter attack on the 47th Battalion's newly won positions, and managed to signal to the rear for artillery support to catch the Germans advancing in the open, all the while exposed to the enemy.Deayton (2011), p. 140. The Australian Official Historian, Charles Bean
recorded Shang's conduct in his notebook, writing:
For his actions, Shang was subsequently recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal
on 18 June 1917.Australian War Memorial: Army Form W.3121, 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, 4th Australian Division, 2nd ANZAC Corps, 18 June 1917 Retrieved on 22 April 2011.Australian War Memorial: Note on Army Form W.3121, 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, 4th Australian Division, 2nd ANZAC Corps, 18 June 1917 Retrieved on 22 April 2011. In his recommendation, the commanding officer of the 47th Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel A. P. Imlay, wrote:
Shang received the DCM on 6 July 1917,National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, p. 7. Retrieved 22 April 2011 with the citation reading:
on the Somme
, France, where the 47th Battalion was engaged in the defence of Amiens
. In the path of the "heaviest attack ever faced by Australians in this or any war,"Deayton, C. (2011): Battle Scarred: The 47th Battalion in the First World War. Newport, Australia: Big Sky Publishing. (ISBN 978-0-9870-5740-2) Description of book Retrieved on 24 April 2011. the 12th Australian Brigade
and 13th Australian Brigade
faced two and a half divisions of German troops and suffered 1,230 casualties.Australian War Memorial: Attacks on Dernacourt Retrieved on 24 April 2011. Despite these losses, the fierce resistance of the 4th Australian Division at Dernancourt and the 3rd Australian Division at Villers-Bretonneux
effectively halted the German Spring Offensive
. For his actions around Dernancourt, Shang was recommended for a Bar to his DCM on 8 April 1918. In his recommendation, the commander of the 12th Australian Brigade
, Brigadier John Gellibrand
, wrote:
Shang was awarded a Bar to the DCM on 25 August 1918,National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, p. 8. Retrieved 22 April 2011Supplement 10261 London Gazette, No. 30879 (3 September 1918). Retrieved on 25 April 2011. with the citation reading:
, which was awarded on 13 September 1918.National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, pp. 8, 18. Retrieved 22 April 2011Supplement 10778 London Gazette, No. 30897 (13 September 1918). Retrieved on 25 April 2011. In his recommendation, the commander of the 12th Australian Brigade, Colonel Raymond Leane
, wrote:
The 47th Battalion was disbanded on 31 May 1918 due to severe casualties, a lack of reinforcements from Australia, and command and disciplinary problems. The survivors of the battalionAustralian War Memorial: Collection item P04541.002 Retrieved on 24 April 2011. were transferred to other units, and Shang was posted to the 45th Battalion
. He also served for a fortnight with the 48th Battalion in June 1918.
Shang served in the 45th Battalion at the Battle of Amiens during the Hundred Days Offensive
which began on 8 August 1918.National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, p. 13. Retrieved 22 April 2011 He was wounded in action on 16 August 1918 and evacuated to the United Kingdom. The war ended while Shang was convalescing in the UK, and he was returned to Australia on 10 December 1918.National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, p. 14. Retrieved 22 April 2011 He was discharged from the AIF on 9 April 1919, and returned home as one of the most decorated Australian soldiers of the war.Fitzgerald, J. (2007): Big White Lie: Chinese Australians in White Australia (p. 157). Sydney: University of New South Wales Press. (ISBN 978-0-8684-0870-5) Described as 'the greatest of Cairns soldiers', he received a hero's welcome upon his arrival at Cairns, and was greeted by the Mayor of Cairns, the 'Returned Soldier's League' and an estimated three thousand people at the wharf.Cairns Post Saturday 22 March 1919, p.4 In March 1919, the Cairns Post newspaper raised a public subscription fund in order to provide Shang with a start in civilian life. Over £45 was collected over a period of one week from both the European and Chinese communities of Cairns.
during the interwar years
. He married Anna Louise Kassene on 28 April 1923 in Hamilton, Victoria
. The couple then moved to Queensland, where Shang worked as a clerk, taxi driver, and bookmaker, mostly in the Cairns area. He and his wife had a son and two daughters. According to Shang's sister, Alma Fang Yuen, he never talked about the war. Through the early 1930s, Shang was frequently in hospital. From the mid-1930s, he continued to suffer from poor health. In 1934, he was granted a 100% war service pension. Shang was an active member of the Cairns sub-branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia
.
(VDC) in Cairns on 21 April 1942, aged 57.National Archives of Australia B884, Q219599, Shang Caleb James (VDC), pp. 1–3. The VDC was a part time volunteer force modelled on the British Home Guard, consisting of World War I veterans, men in reserved occupation
s and men aged 16–18, too young to enlist in the armed forces. The role of the VDC was to conduct guerilla warfare, collect intelligence and provide static defence in the event of a Japanese
invasion. As the threat of an invasion of Australia diminished, Shang was placed on reserve on 18 December 1944. He was discharged on 21 October 1945, following the disbandment of the Corps.National Archives of Australia B884, Q219599, Shang Caleb James (VDC), p. 3.
In the 1940s, few were aware of Shang's distinguished AIF war record and continuing VDC service. Consequently, he suffered the occasional racial slur as a result of the heightened anti-Asian sentiment during the war. Shang marched in the ANZAC Day parade, complete with decorations, in April 1943.Deayton (2011), pp. 299–300. Despite many years of active membership with the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League, this was the only ANZAC Day parade that he ever marched in. Shang's daughter, Delta Shang, stated that her normally modest father participated in the march largely as a response to the racism felt during World War II.
section of the town cemetery. He was survived by his wife and children. His photograph and medals hang on display in the Cairns Regional Gallery.Giese, D. (2001): The flesh, the bones and the heart National Library of Australia News (March 2001, pp. 14–16). Retrieved on 31 May 2010. Shang Street in Mooroobool
, a suburb of Cairns, is named after him.Cairns Regional Council (2009): ‘S’ street names (29 September 2009). Retrieved on 31 May 2010.
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Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, MM
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
(4 August 1884 – 6 April 1953; born Duckbour Caleb James Shang) was the most highly decorated Chinese Australian
Chinese Australian
Chinese Australian is an Australian of Chinese heritage. In the 2006 Australian Census, 669,890 Australian residents identified themselves as having Chinese ancestry, either alone or with another ancestry....
soldier who served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, receiving the Distinguished Conduct Medal twice and the Military Medal. He served with distinction on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
, primarily as a scout and sniper, until his wounds rendered him unfit for further duties. After returning to Australia, Shang married in Victoria and moved to Queensland, where he and his wife raised their three children. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served on home defence duties in northern Queensland.
Early life
Shang was born on 4 August 1884 in Fortitude Valley, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland. His father was Lee Wah Shang from GuangdongGuangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
, China. His mother was Jane Shang (née Noon) from Gayndah
Gayndah, Queensland
Gayndah is a town located on the Burnett River in Queensland, Australia. It is north of the state capital, Brisbane, and west of the regional city of Maryborough. The Burnett Highway passes through the town. At the 2006 census, Gayndah had a population of 1,745.-History:Exploration of the...
. He was the eldest of 13 children born into the family. The family moved to Cairns
Cairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
, and he left school at the age of 12. Before World War I began, Shang was working as a clerk. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
(AIF) on 5 June 1916, aged 31. His brother Sidney Waugh Shang had enlisted in January 1916, and was in the 12th Battalion. It was unusual for men of Asian ancestry to join Australia's armed forces at this time in history, since only those of European ancestry
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
were considered eligible for such service.
Distinguished Conduct Medal
Shang joined the 47th Battalion47th Battalion (Australia)
The 47th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in 1916 for service during the First World War and took part in the fighting in the trenches of the Western Front in France and Belgium before being disbanded in early 1918 to provide reinforcements for...
on 7 March 1917, in time for the battalion's action at Bullecourt
Battle of Arras (1917)
The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
, in Flanders
Flanders Fields
Flanders Fields is the generic name of the World War I battlefields in the medieval County of Flanders. At the time of World War I, the county no longer existed but corresponded approximately to the Belgian provinces East Flanders and West Flanders and the French Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. The...
, Belgium, in April 1917. Shang served in the 47th Battalion throughout the heavy fighting around Passchendaele in July–November 1917, including Menin Road, Polygon Wood
Battle of Polygon Wood
The Battle of Polygon Wood took place during the second phase of the Battle of Passchendaele in World War I. The battle was fought near Ypres, Belgium, in an area named the Polygon Wood after the layout of the area...
, and Passchendaele Ridge
First Battle of Passchendaele
The First Battle of Passchendaele was a World War I battle that took place on 12 October 1917 in the Ypres Salient area of the Western Front, outside the Belgian village of Passchendaele, during the Third Battle of Ypres...
. On 7 June 1917, Shang served with distinction at Messines Ridge
Battle of Messines
The Battle of Messines was a battle of the Western front of the First World War. It began on 7 June 1917 when the British Second Army under the command of General Herbert Plumer launched an offensive near the village of Mesen in West Flanders, Belgium...
. Shang observed the German preparations for a counter attack on the 47th Battalion's newly won positions, and managed to signal to the rear for artillery support to catch the Germans advancing in the open, all the while exposed to the enemy. The Australian Official Historian, Charles Bean
Charles Bean
Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean , usually identified as C.E.W. Bean, was an Australian schoolmaster, judge's associate, barrister journalist, war correspondent and historian....
recorded Shang's conduct in his notebook, writing:
(He) acted as a runner, signaller, scout, L[ewis] Gunner (after 10 weeks of self tuition in signalling). He found a signal lamp in the cement cottage at Hun's Walk, set up the lamp on top of it, exposed to everything, worked it there by daylight and dark (by daylight running messages). He went out on patrol after snipers & got through without a scratch. Every time he came to Bn HQ he carried some information, disc or paybook. Every time he went out he carried water, ammunition and sniped in the intervals. The CO roused on him with tongue in cheek, 'You don't appear to be doing much' he said. 'Oh well I'm a bit new to this' he said, 'it's only my second stunt'.
For his actions, Shang was subsequently recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
on 18 June 1917. In his recommendation, the commanding officer of the 47th Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel A. P. Imlay, wrote:
This soldier displayed a contempt for danger and exhibited wonderful endurance and coolness resource and initiative and his conduct certainly inspired everybody he came in contact with ... His conduct throughout excited the admiration of officers and men.
Shang received the DCM on 6 July 1917, with the citation reading:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on numerous occasions. He acted as runner continuously for four days through barrages and fire swept areas, carrying water, food and ammunition to the front line. He attacked enemy snipers in broad daylight and accounted for them. In addition to this, he constantly volunteered for dangerous patrols into enemy country, where he gained valuable information as a scout, and also showed remarkable skill in improvising lamp signals in a very dangerous position whence he could send information to Battalion Headquarters. His conduct showed a never-failing example of fearlessness, resource and initiative.
Bar to the Distinguished Conduct Medal
In March–April 1918, Shang fought around DernancourtDernancourt
Dernancourt is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Dernancourt is situated on the D52 road, some northeast of Amiens.-Population:-Places and monuments:...
on the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
, France, where the 47th Battalion was engaged in the defence of Amiens
Operation Michael
Operation Michael was a First World War German military operation that began the Spring Offensive on 21 March 1918. It was launched from the Hindenburg Line, in the vicinity of Saint-Quentin, France...
. In the path of the "heaviest attack ever faced by Australians in this or any war," the 12th Australian Brigade
12th Brigade (Australia)
The 12th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army. It was initially raised in 1916 as part of the expansion of the First Australian Imperial Force, which was Australia's overseas volunteer force during World War I...
and 13th Australian Brigade
13th Brigade (Australia)
The 13th Brigade is an Army Reserve formation of the Australian Army headquartered at Perth, Western Australia and its various units have depots in Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Albany and Katanning as well as Joondalup and Rockingham in the metro area. The 13th Brigade was first created in early 1916 and...
faced two and a half divisions of German troops and suffered 1,230 casualties. Despite these losses, the fierce resistance of the 4th Australian Division at Dernancourt and the 3rd Australian Division at Villers-Bretonneux
Villers-Bretonneux
Villers-Bretonneux is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Villers-Bretonneux is situated some 19 km due east of Amiens, on the D1029 road and the A29 motorway.-History - World War I:...
effectively halted the German Spring Offensive
Spring Offensive
The 1918 Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht , also known as the Ludendorff Offensive, was a series of German attacks along the Western Front during World War I, beginning on 21 March 1918, which marked the deepest advances by either side since 1914...
. For his actions around Dernancourt, Shang was recommended for a Bar to his DCM on 8 April 1918. In his recommendation, the commander of the 12th Australian Brigade
12th Brigade (Australia)
The 12th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army. It was initially raised in 1916 as part of the expansion of the First Australian Imperial Force, which was Australia's overseas volunteer force during World War I...
, Brigadier John Gellibrand
John Gellibrand
Major General Sir John Gellibrand KCB, DSO & Bar was an Australian Army Major General in World War I and member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Tasmanian Division of Denison as a Nationalist Party member from 1925 to 1928.-Early life and career:John "Jack" Gellibrand...
, wrote:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at DERNAECOURT [sic] on April 5th 1918 and previous occasions. This soldier's example has always been a source of pride in this Battalion, but on this occasion, he excelled himself by his wonderful powers of endurance, intrepidity and utter contempt for danger. He volunteered for an O.P. in an advanced position at the start of operations and maintained it throughout until attack started when he reaped a harvest with his rifles until his post was blown right out. He came back through enemy fire to get more rifles but was employed as runner and made several trips through enemy barrage which was intense. He continued carrying ammunition and running until company moved out when he volunteered to remain behind and cover retirement with a Lewis Gun which he did successfully. He showed an utter disregard for danger and is a gallant soldier.
Shang was awarded a Bar to the DCM on 25 August 1918, with the citation reading:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He volunteered for an O.P. at start of operations, and reaped a harvest with his rifle till his post was blown up. He then made several trips as runner through the enemy's barrage, and continued to carry ammunition until the withdrawal, which he covered with a Lewis gun.
Military Medal
In further fighting around Amiens at Villers-Bretonneux on 1 May 1918, Shang was recommended for the Military MedalMilitary Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
, which was awarded on 13 September 1918.
Caleb James Shang, DCM
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, MM
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
(4 August 1884 – 6 April 1953; born Duckbour Caleb James Shang) was the most highly decorated Chinese Australian
Chinese Australian
Chinese Australian is an Australian of Chinese heritage. In the 2006 Australian Census, 669,890 Australian residents identified themselves as having Chinese ancestry, either alone or with another ancestry....
soldier who served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, receiving the Distinguished Conduct Medal twice and the Military Medal.Taplin, H. (1988): Shang, Caleb James (1884–1953) Australian Dictionary of Biography: Vol. 11 (p. 574). Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. Retrieved on 31 May 2010.Heyer, S. (2007): Gong for Chinese diggers Army: The Soldier's newspaper (Edition 1162, 22 March 2007). Retrieved on 31 May 2010.Perrett, G. (2008): Moreton Electorate: Chinese-Australian War Memorial – Speech (25 June 2008). Retrieved on 31 May 2010.Dunn, M. (2010): Sing film under fire The Great Southern Star (18 May 2010). Retrieved on 31 May 2010.Rolls, E. C. (1996): Citizens: Flowers and the wide sea – Continuing the epic story of China's centuries-old relationship with Australia (p. 442). Saint Lucia, Australia: University of Queensland Press. He served with distinction on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
, primarily as a scout and sniper, until his wounds rendered him unfit for further duties. After returning to Australia, Shang married in Victoria and moved to Queensland, where he and his wife raised their three children. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served on home defence duties in northern Queensland.
Early life
Shang was born on 4 August 1884 in Fortitude Valley, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland. His father was Lee Wah Shang from GuangdongGuangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
, China. His mother was Jane Shang (née Noon) from Gayndah
Gayndah, Queensland
Gayndah is a town located on the Burnett River in Queensland, Australia. It is north of the state capital, Brisbane, and west of the regional city of Maryborough. The Burnett Highway passes through the town. At the 2006 census, Gayndah had a population of 1,745.-History:Exploration of the...
. He was the eldest of 13 children born into the family.Francis, J. (2009): Forgotten soldiers of the Australian Army Down Under Today (24 April 2009). Retrieved on 31 May 2010. The family moved to Cairns
Cairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
, and he left school at the age of 12. Before World War I began, Shang was working as a clerk. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
(AIF) on 5 June 1916, aged 31. His brother Sidney Waugh Shang had enlisted in January 1916, and was in the 12th Battalion.National Archives of Australia, B2455, Shang Sidney Waugh 5483. Retrieved on 25 May 2010. It was unusual for men of Asian ancestry to join Australia's armed forces at this time in history, since only those of European ancestry
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
were considered eligible for such service.Laws, J., & Stewart, C. R. (2006): There's always more to the story. Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia. (ISBN 978-0-3304-2282-6)
Distinguished Conduct Medal
Shang joined the 47th Battalion47th Battalion (Australia)
The 47th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in 1916 for service during the First World War and took part in the fighting in the trenches of the Western Front in France and Belgium before being disbanded in early 1918 to provide reinforcements for...
on 7 March 1917, in time for the battalion's action at Bullecourt
Battle of Arras (1917)
The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
, in Flanders
Flanders Fields
Flanders Fields is the generic name of the World War I battlefields in the medieval County of Flanders. At the time of World War I, the county no longer existed but corresponded approximately to the Belgian provinces East Flanders and West Flanders and the French Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. The...
, Belgium, in April 1917.Australian War Memorial: 47th Battalion Retrieved on 24 April 2011. Shang served in the 47th Battalion throughout the heavy fighting around Passchendaele in July–November 1917, including Menin Road, Polygon Wood
Battle of Polygon Wood
The Battle of Polygon Wood took place during the second phase of the Battle of Passchendaele in World War I. The battle was fought near Ypres, Belgium, in an area named the Polygon Wood after the layout of the area...
, and Passchendaele Ridge
First Battle of Passchendaele
The First Battle of Passchendaele was a World War I battle that took place on 12 October 1917 in the Ypres Salient area of the Western Front, outside the Belgian village of Passchendaele, during the Third Battle of Ypres...
.National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A. Retrieved 22 April 2011 On 7 June 1917, Shang served with distinction at Messines Ridge
Battle of Messines
The Battle of Messines was a battle of the Western front of the First World War. It began on 7 June 1917 when the British Second Army under the command of General Herbert Plumer launched an offensive near the village of Mesen in West Flanders, Belgium...
. Shang observed the German preparations for a counter attack on the 47th Battalion's newly won positions, and managed to signal to the rear for artillery support to catch the Germans advancing in the open, all the while exposed to the enemy.Deayton (2011), p. 140. The Australian Official Historian, Charles Bean
Charles Bean
Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean , usually identified as C.E.W. Bean, was an Australian schoolmaster, judge's associate, barrister journalist, war correspondent and historian....
recorded Shang's conduct in his notebook, writing:
(He) acted as a runner, signaller, scout, L[ewis] Gunner (after 10 weeks of self tuition in signalling). He found a signal lamp in the cement cottage at Hun's Walk, set up the lamp on top of it, exposed to everything, worked it there by daylight and dark (by daylight running messages). He went out on patrol after snipers & got through without a scratch. Every time he came to Bn HQ he carried some information, disc or paybook. Every time he went out he carried water, ammunition and sniped in the intervals. The CO roused on him with tongue in cheek, 'You don't appear to be doing much' he said. 'Oh well I'm a bit new to this' he said, 'it's only my second stunt'.Australian War Memorial, Records of C.E.W. Bean, Notebooks, AWM38, 3DRL606/160/1 - June 1917. Retrieved 20 May 2011.Deayton (2011), p. 150.
For his actions, Shang was subsequently recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
on 18 June 1917.Australian War Memorial: Army Form W.3121, 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, 4th Australian Division, 2nd ANZAC Corps, 18 June 1917 Retrieved on 22 April 2011.Australian War Memorial: Note on Army Form W.3121, 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, 4th Australian Division, 2nd ANZAC Corps, 18 June 1917 Retrieved on 22 April 2011. In his recommendation, the commanding officer of the 47th Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel A. P. Imlay, wrote:
This soldier displayed a contempt for danger and exhibited wonderful endurance and coolness resource and initiative and his conduct certainly inspired everybody he came in contact with ... His conduct throughout excited the admiration of officers and men.
Shang received the DCM on 6 July 1917,National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, p. 7. Retrieved 22 April 2011 with the citation reading:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on numerous occasions. He acted as runner continuously for four days through barrages and fire swept areas, carrying water, food and ammunition to the front line. He attacked enemy snipers in broad daylight and accounted for them. In addition to this, he constantly volunteered for dangerous patrols into enemy country, where he gained valuable information as a scout, and also showed remarkable skill in improvising lamp signals in a very dangerous position whence he could send information to Battalion Headquarters. His conduct showed a never-failing example of fearlessness, resource and initiative.National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A. p. 21. Retrieved 22 April 2011Supplement 8847 London Gazette, No. 30251 (24 August 1917). Retrieved on 25 April 2011.
Bar to the Distinguished Conduct Medal
In March–April 1918, Shang fought around DernancourtDernancourt
Dernancourt is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Dernancourt is situated on the D52 road, some northeast of Amiens.-Population:-Places and monuments:...
on the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
, France, where the 47th Battalion was engaged in the defence of Amiens
Operation Michael
Operation Michael was a First World War German military operation that began the Spring Offensive on 21 March 1918. It was launched from the Hindenburg Line, in the vicinity of Saint-Quentin, France...
. In the path of the "heaviest attack ever faced by Australians in this or any war,"Deayton, C. (2011): Battle Scarred: The 47th Battalion in the First World War. Newport, Australia: Big Sky Publishing. (ISBN 978-0-9870-5740-2) Description of book Retrieved on 24 April 2011. the 12th Australian Brigade
12th Brigade (Australia)
The 12th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army. It was initially raised in 1916 as part of the expansion of the First Australian Imperial Force, which was Australia's overseas volunteer force during World War I...
and 13th Australian Brigade
13th Brigade (Australia)
The 13th Brigade is an Army Reserve formation of the Australian Army headquartered at Perth, Western Australia and its various units have depots in Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Albany and Katanning as well as Joondalup and Rockingham in the metro area. The 13th Brigade was first created in early 1916 and...
faced two and a half divisions of German troops and suffered 1,230 casualties.Australian War Memorial: Attacks on Dernacourt Retrieved on 24 April 2011. Despite these losses, the fierce resistance of the 4th Australian Division at Dernancourt and the 3rd Australian Division at Villers-Bretonneux
Villers-Bretonneux
Villers-Bretonneux is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Villers-Bretonneux is situated some 19 km due east of Amiens, on the D1029 road and the A29 motorway.-History - World War I:...
effectively halted the German Spring Offensive
Spring Offensive
The 1918 Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht , also known as the Ludendorff Offensive, was a series of German attacks along the Western Front during World War I, beginning on 21 March 1918, which marked the deepest advances by either side since 1914...
. For his actions around Dernancourt, Shang was recommended for a Bar to his DCM on 8 April 1918. In his recommendation, the commander of the 12th Australian Brigade
12th Brigade (Australia)
The 12th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army. It was initially raised in 1916 as part of the expansion of the First Australian Imperial Force, which was Australia's overseas volunteer force during World War I...
, Brigadier John Gellibrand
John Gellibrand
Major General Sir John Gellibrand KCB, DSO & Bar was an Australian Army Major General in World War I and member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Tasmanian Division of Denison as a Nationalist Party member from 1925 to 1928.-Early life and career:John "Jack" Gellibrand...
, wrote:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at DERNAECOURT [sic] on April 5th 1918 and previous occasions. This soldier's example has always been a source of pride in this Battalion, but on this occasion, he excelled himself by his wonderful powers of endurance, intrepidity and utter contempt for danger. He volunteered for an O.P. in an advanced position at the start of operations and maintained it throughout until attack started when he reaped a harvest with his rifles until his post was blown right out. He came back through enemy fire to get more rifles but was employed as runner and made several trips through enemy barrage which was intense. He continued carrying ammunition and running until company moved out when he volunteered to remain behind and cover retirement with a Lewis Gun which he did successfully. He showed an utter disregard for danger and is a gallant soldier.Australian War Memorial: Army Form W.3121, 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, 4th Australian Division, Australian Corps, 8 April 1918 Retrieved on 22 April 2011.Australian War Memorial: Note on Army Form W.3121, 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, 4th Australian Division, Australian Corps, 8 April 1918 Retrieved on 22 April 2011.
Shang was awarded a Bar to the DCM on 25 August 1918,National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, p. 8. Retrieved 22 April 2011Supplement 10261 London Gazette, No. 30879 (3 September 1918). Retrieved on 25 April 2011. with the citation reading:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He volunteered for an O.P. at start of operations, and reaped a harvest with his rifle till his post was blown up. He then made several trips as runner through the enemy's barrage, and continued to carry ammunition until the withdrawal, which he covered with a Lewis gun.
Military Medal
In further fighting around Amiens at Villers-Bretonneux on 1 May 1918, Shang was recommended for the Military MedalMilitary Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
, which was awarded on 13 September 1918.
Caleb James Shang, DCM
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, MM
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
(4 August 1884 – 6 April 1953; born Duckbour Caleb James Shang) was the most highly decorated Chinese Australian
Chinese Australian
Chinese Australian is an Australian of Chinese heritage. In the 2006 Australian Census, 669,890 Australian residents identified themselves as having Chinese ancestry, either alone or with another ancestry....
soldier who served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, receiving the Distinguished Conduct Medal twice and the Military Medal.Taplin, H. (1988): Shang, Caleb James (1884–1953) Australian Dictionary of Biography: Vol. 11 (p. 574). Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. Retrieved on 31 May 2010.Heyer, S. (2007): Gong for Chinese diggers Army: The Soldier's newspaper (Edition 1162, 22 March 2007). Retrieved on 31 May 2010.Perrett, G. (2008): Moreton Electorate: Chinese-Australian War Memorial – Speech (25 June 2008). Retrieved on 31 May 2010.Dunn, M. (2010): Sing film under fire The Great Southern Star (18 May 2010). Retrieved on 31 May 2010.Rolls, E. C. (1996): Citizens: Flowers and the wide sea – Continuing the epic story of China's centuries-old relationship with Australia (p. 442). Saint Lucia, Australia: University of Queensland Press. He served with distinction on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
, primarily as a scout and sniper, until his wounds rendered him unfit for further duties. After returning to Australia, Shang married in Victoria and moved to Queensland, where he and his wife raised their three children. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served on home defence duties in northern Queensland.
Early life
Shang was born on 4 August 1884 in Fortitude Valley, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland. His father was Lee Wah Shang from GuangdongGuangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
, China. His mother was Jane Shang (née Noon) from Gayndah
Gayndah, Queensland
Gayndah is a town located on the Burnett River in Queensland, Australia. It is north of the state capital, Brisbane, and west of the regional city of Maryborough. The Burnett Highway passes through the town. At the 2006 census, Gayndah had a population of 1,745.-History:Exploration of the...
. He was the eldest of 13 children born into the family.Francis, J. (2009): Forgotten soldiers of the Australian Army Down Under Today (24 April 2009). Retrieved on 31 May 2010. The family moved to Cairns
Cairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
, and he left school at the age of 12. Before World War I began, Shang was working as a clerk. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
(AIF) on 5 June 1916, aged 31. His brother Sidney Waugh Shang had enlisted in January 1916, and was in the 12th Battalion.National Archives of Australia, B2455, Shang Sidney Waugh 5483. Retrieved on 25 May 2010. It was unusual for men of Asian ancestry to join Australia's armed forces at this time in history, since only those of European ancestry
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
were considered eligible for such service.Laws, J., & Stewart, C. R. (2006): There's always more to the story. Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia. (ISBN 978-0-3304-2282-6)
Distinguished Conduct Medal
Shang joined the 47th Battalion47th Battalion (Australia)
The 47th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in 1916 for service during the First World War and took part in the fighting in the trenches of the Western Front in France and Belgium before being disbanded in early 1918 to provide reinforcements for...
on 7 March 1917, in time for the battalion's action at Bullecourt
Battle of Arras (1917)
The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
, in Flanders
Flanders Fields
Flanders Fields is the generic name of the World War I battlefields in the medieval County of Flanders. At the time of World War I, the county no longer existed but corresponded approximately to the Belgian provinces East Flanders and West Flanders and the French Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. The...
, Belgium, in April 1917.Australian War Memorial: 47th Battalion Retrieved on 24 April 2011. Shang served in the 47th Battalion throughout the heavy fighting around Passchendaele in July–November 1917, including Menin Road, Polygon Wood
Battle of Polygon Wood
The Battle of Polygon Wood took place during the second phase of the Battle of Passchendaele in World War I. The battle was fought near Ypres, Belgium, in an area named the Polygon Wood after the layout of the area...
, and Passchendaele Ridge
First Battle of Passchendaele
The First Battle of Passchendaele was a World War I battle that took place on 12 October 1917 in the Ypres Salient area of the Western Front, outside the Belgian village of Passchendaele, during the Third Battle of Ypres...
.National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A. Retrieved 22 April 2011 On 7 June 1917, Shang served with distinction at Messines Ridge
Battle of Messines
The Battle of Messines was a battle of the Western front of the First World War. It began on 7 June 1917 when the British Second Army under the command of General Herbert Plumer launched an offensive near the village of Mesen in West Flanders, Belgium...
. Shang observed the German preparations for a counter attack on the 47th Battalion's newly won positions, and managed to signal to the rear for artillery support to catch the Germans advancing in the open, all the while exposed to the enemy.Deayton (2011), p. 140. The Australian Official Historian, Charles Bean
Charles Bean
Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean , usually identified as C.E.W. Bean, was an Australian schoolmaster, judge's associate, barrister journalist, war correspondent and historian....
recorded Shang's conduct in his notebook, writing:
(He) acted as a runner, signaller, scout, L[ewis] Gunner (after 10 weeks of self tuition in signalling). He found a signal lamp in the cement cottage at Hun's Walk, set up the lamp on top of it, exposed to everything, worked it there by daylight and dark (by daylight running messages). He went out on patrol after snipers & got through without a scratch. Every time he came to Bn HQ he carried some information, disc or paybook. Every time he went out he carried water, ammunition and sniped in the intervals. The CO roused on him with tongue in cheek, 'You don't appear to be doing much' he said. 'Oh well I'm a bit new to this' he said, 'it's only my second stunt'.Australian War Memorial, Records of C.E.W. Bean, Notebooks, AWM38, 3DRL606/160/1 - June 1917. Retrieved 20 May 2011.Deayton (2011), p. 150.
For his actions, Shang was subsequently recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
on 18 June 1917.Australian War Memorial: Army Form W.3121, 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, 4th Australian Division, 2nd ANZAC Corps, 18 June 1917 Retrieved on 22 April 2011.Australian War Memorial: Note on Army Form W.3121, 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, 4th Australian Division, 2nd ANZAC Corps, 18 June 1917 Retrieved on 22 April 2011. In his recommendation, the commanding officer of the 47th Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel A. P. Imlay, wrote:
This soldier displayed a contempt for danger and exhibited wonderful endurance and coolness resource and initiative and his conduct certainly inspired everybody he came in contact with ... His conduct throughout excited the admiration of officers and men.
Shang received the DCM on 6 July 1917,National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, p. 7. Retrieved 22 April 2011 with the citation reading:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on numerous occasions. He acted as runner continuously for four days through barrages and fire swept areas, carrying water, food and ammunition to the front line. He attacked enemy snipers in broad daylight and accounted for them. In addition to this, he constantly volunteered for dangerous patrols into enemy country, where he gained valuable information as a scout, and also showed remarkable skill in improvising lamp signals in a very dangerous position whence he could send information to Battalion Headquarters. His conduct showed a never-failing example of fearlessness, resource and initiative.National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A. p. 21. Retrieved 22 April 2011Supplement 8847 London Gazette, No. 30251 (24 August 1917). Retrieved on 25 April 2011.
Bar to the Distinguished Conduct Medal
In March–April 1918, Shang fought around DernancourtDernancourt
Dernancourt is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Dernancourt is situated on the D52 road, some northeast of Amiens.-Population:-Places and monuments:...
on the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
, France, where the 47th Battalion was engaged in the defence of Amiens
Operation Michael
Operation Michael was a First World War German military operation that began the Spring Offensive on 21 March 1918. It was launched from the Hindenburg Line, in the vicinity of Saint-Quentin, France...
. In the path of the "heaviest attack ever faced by Australians in this or any war,"Deayton, C. (2011): Battle Scarred: The 47th Battalion in the First World War. Newport, Australia: Big Sky Publishing. (ISBN 978-0-9870-5740-2) Description of book Retrieved on 24 April 2011. the 12th Australian Brigade
12th Brigade (Australia)
The 12th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army. It was initially raised in 1916 as part of the expansion of the First Australian Imperial Force, which was Australia's overseas volunteer force during World War I...
and 13th Australian Brigade
13th Brigade (Australia)
The 13th Brigade is an Army Reserve formation of the Australian Army headquartered at Perth, Western Australia and its various units have depots in Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Albany and Katanning as well as Joondalup and Rockingham in the metro area. The 13th Brigade was first created in early 1916 and...
faced two and a half divisions of German troops and suffered 1,230 casualties.Australian War Memorial: Attacks on Dernacourt Retrieved on 24 April 2011. Despite these losses, the fierce resistance of the 4th Australian Division at Dernancourt and the 3rd Australian Division at Villers-Bretonneux
Villers-Bretonneux
Villers-Bretonneux is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Villers-Bretonneux is situated some 19 km due east of Amiens, on the D1029 road and the A29 motorway.-History - World War I:...
effectively halted the German Spring Offensive
Spring Offensive
The 1918 Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht , also known as the Ludendorff Offensive, was a series of German attacks along the Western Front during World War I, beginning on 21 March 1918, which marked the deepest advances by either side since 1914...
. For his actions around Dernancourt, Shang was recommended for a Bar to his DCM on 8 April 1918. In his recommendation, the commander of the 12th Australian Brigade
12th Brigade (Australia)
The 12th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army. It was initially raised in 1916 as part of the expansion of the First Australian Imperial Force, which was Australia's overseas volunteer force during World War I...
, Brigadier John Gellibrand
John Gellibrand
Major General Sir John Gellibrand KCB, DSO & Bar was an Australian Army Major General in World War I and member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Tasmanian Division of Denison as a Nationalist Party member from 1925 to 1928.-Early life and career:John "Jack" Gellibrand...
, wrote:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at DERNAECOURT [sic] on April 5th 1918 and previous occasions. This soldier's example has always been a source of pride in this Battalion, but on this occasion, he excelled himself by his wonderful powers of endurance, intrepidity and utter contempt for danger. He volunteered for an O.P. in an advanced position at the start of operations and maintained it throughout until attack started when he reaped a harvest with his rifles until his post was blown right out. He came back through enemy fire to get more rifles but was employed as runner and made several trips through enemy barrage which was intense. He continued carrying ammunition and running until company moved out when he volunteered to remain behind and cover retirement with a Lewis Gun which he did successfully. He showed an utter disregard for danger and is a gallant soldier.Australian War Memorial: Army Form W.3121, 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, 4th Australian Division, Australian Corps, 8 April 1918 Retrieved on 22 April 2011.Australian War Memorial: Note on Army Form W.3121, 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, 4th Australian Division, Australian Corps, 8 April 1918 Retrieved on 22 April 2011.
Shang was awarded a Bar to the DCM on 25 August 1918,National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, p. 8. Retrieved 22 April 2011Supplement 10261 London Gazette, No. 30879 (3 September 1918). Retrieved on 25 April 2011. with the citation reading:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He volunteered for an O.P. at start of operations, and reaped a harvest with his rifle till his post was blown up. He then made several trips as runner through the enemy's barrage, and continued to carry ammunition until the withdrawal, which he covered with a Lewis gun.
Military Medal
In further fighting around Amiens at Villers-Bretonneux on 1 May 1918, Shang was recommended for the Military MedalMilitary Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
, which was awarded on 13 September 1918.National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, pp. 8, 18. Retrieved 22 April 2011Supplement 10778 London Gazette, No. 30897 (13 September 1918). Retrieved on 25 April 2011. In his recommendation, the commander of the 12th Australian Brigade, Colonel Raymond Leane
Raymond Leane
Brigadier General Sir Raymond Lionel Leane CB, CMG, DSO & Bar, MC was an Australian Army Brigadier General who served in World War I, and later served as Chief Commissioner of Police in South Australia.-Early life and career:...
, wrote:
At VILLERS BRETONNEUX on 1st May, 1918, he displayed remarkable bravery and initiative in making a daylight reconnaissance of the Sector under heavy Machine Gun fire and snipers' activities and which proved of considerable value to us. He established an O.P. at which he was continually sniped at and succeeded in conveying back valuable information of enemy movement and directed our artillery fire on to the enemy formations causing them many casualties. He maintained this Post during tour in line without relief.Australian War Memorial: Army Form W.3121, 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, 4th Australian Division, Australian Corps, 6 May 1918 Retrieved on 22 April 2011.Australian War Memorial: Note on Army Form W.3121, 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, 4th Australian Division, Australian Corps, 6 May 1918 Retrieved on 22 April 2011.
The 47th Battalion was disbanded on 31 May 1918 due to severe casualties, a lack of reinforcements from Australia, and command and disciplinary problems. The survivors of the battalionAustralian War Memorial: Collection item P04541.002 Retrieved on 24 April 2011. were transferred to other units, and Shang was posted to the 45th Battalion
45th Battalion (Australia)
The 45th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Raised for service during World War I, the battalion served in the trenches on the Western Front in France and Belgium from mid-1916 until the end of hostilities in November 1918. Following this, it was disbanded in May 1919...
. He also served for a fortnight with the 48th Battalion in June 1918.
Shang served in the 45th Battalion at the Battle of Amiens during the Hundred Days Offensive
Hundred Days Offensive
The Hundred Days Offensive was the final period of the First World War, during which the Allies launched a series of offensives against the Central Powers on the Western Front from 8 August to 11 November 1918, beginning with the Battle of Amiens. The offensive forced the German armies to retreat...
which began on 8 August 1918.National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, p. 13. Retrieved 22 April 2011 He was wounded in action on 16 August 1918 and evacuated to the United Kingdom. The war ended while Shang was convalescing in the UK, and he was returned to Australia on 10 December 1918.National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, p. 14. Retrieved 22 April 2011 He was discharged from the AIF on 9 April 1919, and returned home as one of the most decorated Australian soldiers of the war.Fitzgerald, J. (2007): Big White Lie: Chinese Australians in White Australia (p. 157). Sydney: University of New South Wales Press. (ISBN 978-0-8684-0870-5) Described as 'the greatest of Cairns soldiers', he received a hero's welcome upon his arrival at Cairns, and was greeted by the Mayor of Cairns, the 'Returned Soldier's League' and an estimated three thousand people at the wharf.Cairns Post Saturday 22 March 1919, p.4 In March 1919, the Cairns Post newspaper raised a public subscription fund in order to provide Shang with a start in civilian life. Over £45 was collected over a period of one week from both the European and Chinese communities of Cairns.
Interwar period
Shang resumed civilian life working as a herbalist in VictoriaVictoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
during the interwar years
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
. He married Anna Louise Kassene on 28 April 1923 in Hamilton, Victoria
Hamilton, Victoria
Hamilton is a city in western Victoria, Australia. It is located at the intersection of the Glenelg Highway and the Henty Highway...
. The couple then moved to Queensland, where Shang worked as a clerk, taxi driver, and bookmaker, mostly in the Cairns area. He and his wife had a son and two daughters. According to Shang's sister, Alma Fang Yuen, he never talked about the war. Through the early 1930s, Shang was frequently in hospital. From the mid-1930s, he continued to suffer from poor health. In 1934, he was granted a 100% war service pension. Shang was an active member of the Cairns sub-branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia
Returned and Services League of Australia
The Returned and Services League of Australia is a support organisation for men and women who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force ....
.
World War II
During World War II, Shang enlisted in the 17th Battalion Volunteer Defence CorpsVolunteer Defence Corps (Australia)
The Volunteer Defence Corps was an Australian part time volunteer military force of World War II modelled on the British Home Guard. The VDC was established in July 1940 by the Returned and Services League of Australia and was initially composed of ex-servicemen who had served in World War I...
(VDC) in Cairns on 21 April 1942, aged 57.National Archives of Australia B884, Q219599, Shang Caleb James (VDC), pp. 1–3. The VDC was a part time volunteer force modelled on the British Home Guard, consisting of World War I veterans, men in reserved occupation
Reserved occupation
A reserved occupation is an occupation considered important enough to a country that those serving in such occupations are exempt - in fact forbidden - from military service....
s and men aged 16–18, too young to enlist in the armed forces. The role of the VDC was to conduct guerilla warfare, collect intelligence and provide static defence in the event of a Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
invasion. As the threat of an invasion of Australia diminished, Shang was placed on reserve on 18 December 1944. He was discharged on 21 October 1945, following the disbandment of the Corps.National Archives of Australia B884, Q219599, Shang Caleb James (VDC), p. 3.
In the 1940s, few were aware of Shang's distinguished AIF war record and continuing VDC service. Consequently, he suffered the occasional racial slur as a result of the heightened anti-Asian sentiment during the war. Shang marched in the ANZAC Day parade, complete with decorations, in April 1943.Deayton (2011), pp. 299–300. Despite many years of active membership with the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League, this was the only ANZAC Day parade that he ever marched in. Shang's daughter, Delta Shang, stated that her normally modest father participated in the march largely as a response to the racism felt during World War II.
Death and legacy
Due to a chronic chest complaint, Shang died on 6 April 1953 in Cairns,National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, p. 23.Retrieved 22 April 2011> and was buried in the MethodistMethodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
section of the town cemetery. He was survived by his wife and children. His photograph and medals hang on display in the Cairns Regional Gallery.Giese, D. (2001): The flesh, the bones and the heart National Library of Australia News (March 2001, pp. 14–16). Retrieved on 31 May 2010. Shang Street in Mooroobool
Mooroobool, Queensland
Mooroobool is a suburb of Cairns Region local government area. It is located 5.4 km west of the central business district of Cairns, Australia. At the 2006 census, Mooroobool had a population of 6,618....
, a suburb of Cairns, is named after him.Cairns Regional Council (2009): ‘S’ street names (29 September 2009). Retrieved on 31 May 2010.
Honours and awards
| Distinguished Conduct Medal Distinguished Conduct Medal The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean... & Bar Medal bar A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the... National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A,p7"/>National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A,p8"> |
Awarded 6 July 1917 Awarded 25 August 1918 |
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| Military Medal Military Medal The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land.... National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A,pp8,18/> |
Awarded 13 September 1918National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A,pp.8,18> | |
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British War Medal 1914–1920 British War Medal The British War Medal was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I.The medal was approved in 1919, for issue to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who had rendered service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918... National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, pp. 17, 23. Retrieved 22 April 2011>Department of Defence: Defence Honours and Awards – The British War Medal 1914–1920 Retrieved on 23 April 2011. |
Issued January 1922National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A,p.23> |
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Victory Medal Victory Medal (United Kingdom) The Victory Medal is a campaign medal - of which the basic design and ribbon was adopted by Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Siam, Union of South Africa and the USA in accordance with decisions as taken at the Inter-Allied Peace Conference at... Department of Defence: Defence Honours and Awards – The Victory Medal Retrieved on 23 April 2011. |
Issued January 1922 |
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Australia Service Medal 1939–1945National Archives of Australia B884 – Q219599 (VDC).Department of Defence: Defence Honours and Awards – Australia Service Medal 1939–1945 Retrieved on 23 April 2011. | Eligible 1949 |
See also
- Billy SingBilly SingWilliam Edward 'Billy' Sing, DCM was a Chinese Australian soldier who served in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I, best known as a sniper during the Gallipoli Campaign. He took at least 150 confirmed kills during that campaign, and may have had over 200 kills in total...
- White Australia policyWhite Australia policyThe White Australia policy comprises various historical policies that intentionally restricted "non-white" immigration to Australia. From origins at Federation in 1901, the polices were progressively dismantled between 1949-1973....
External links
- Erin Quill – Shang's grandniece, who is an actress, writer, and coach.