Caleb Shang

Caleb James Shang (born Duckbour Caleb James Shang; 4 August 1884 – 6 April 1953)Births Deaths and Marriages, Queensland. 1884/B32863. was the most highly decorated Chinese Australian soldier who served in the First World War. He was decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal twice and received the Military Medal.Taplin, H. (1988): Shang, Caleb James (1884–1953) Australian Dictionary of Biography: Vol. 11 (p. 574). Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. Retrieved 31 May 2010.Heyer, S. (2007): Gong for Chinese diggers Army: The Soldier's newspaper (Edition 1162, 22 March 2007). Retrieved 31 May 2010.Perrett, G. (2008): Moreton Electorate: Chinese-Australian War Memorial – Speech (25 June 2008). Retrieved 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 the Second World War, he served on home defence duties in northern Queensland.Profile, Chinesemuseum.com. Accessed 3 August 2023.

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 Mary 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 31 May 2010. 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.National Archives of Australia, B2455, Shang Sidney Waugh 5483. Retrieved 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. ()

First World War

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.Australian War Memorial: 47th Battalion. Retrieved 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 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 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:

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,"Deayton, C. (2011): Battle Scarred: The 47th Battalion in the First World War. Newport, Australia: Big Sky Publishing. () Description of book Retrieved 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 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 General 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 25 April 2011. with the citation reading:

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.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 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 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. () 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.Cairns Post, Friday 21 March 1919, p4

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.Cairns Post, Tuesday 24 November 1936, p. 8Cairns Post, Tuesday 23 January 1940, p. 3

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.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 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.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 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.Giese, D. (2001): The flesh, the bones and the heart National Library of Australia News (March 2001, pp. 14–16). Retrieved 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 31 May 2010.

Honours and awards

Distinguished Conduct Medal & Bar Awarded 6 July 1917Awarded 25 August 1918 Military Medal Awarded 13 September 1918 British War Medal 1914–1920National Archives of Australia B2455, Shang Caleb James 2504A, pp. 17, 23. Retrieved 22 April 2011Department of Defence: Defence Honours and Awards – The British War Medal 1914–1920. Retrieved 23 April 2011. Issued January 1922 Victory MedalDepartment of Defence: Defence Honours and Awards – The Victory Medal. Retrieved 23 April 2011. Issued January 1922 Australia Service Medal 1939–1945National Archives of Australia B884 – Q219599 (VDC).Department of Defence: Defence Honours and Awards – Australia Service Medal 1939–1945. Retrieved 23 April 2011. Eligible 1949

Caleb Shang

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