Caleb Shang

Early life

Shang was born on 4 August 1884 in Fortitude Valley, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland. His father was Lee Wah Shang from Guangdong, China. His mother was Jane Shang (nee 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 the First World War 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, serving 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.

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Shang joined the 47th Battalion 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:

(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 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 Distinguished Conduct Medal

In March–April 1918, Shang fought around Dernancourt 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 General John 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 Medal, which was awarded on 13 September 1918. In his recommendation, the commander of the 12th Australian Brigade, Colonel Raymond Leane, 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.

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 battalion 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. 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. He was discharged from the AIF on 9 April 1919, and returned home as one of the most decorated Australian soldiers of the war. 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. 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 Victoria 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.

Second World War

During the Second World War, Shang enlisted in the 17th Battalion, Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) in Cairns on 21 April 1942, aged 57. The VDC was a part time volunteer force modelled on the British Home Guard, consisting of World War I veterans, men in reserved occupations 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.

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. 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, and was buried in the Methodist 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. Shang Street in Mooroobool, a suburb of Cairns, is named after him.

Honours and awards