Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Charles Sandford Shaw Biography

Service number 447

Charles Sandford Shaw, son on Mary Shaw and Ebenezer Augustus Shaw, was born on the 8th of August 1887 in Baltimore, USA. Charles grew up under the care of both of his parents in Black River, the capital of Jamaica. His mother, who had no occupation at the time and his father, a local shopkeeper were able to provide Charles with a solid education. He was taught to read and write in English and eventually pursued a job as an engineer in his adult life. He followed the same religion as his parents, the Church of England. After childhood, Charles did not stay in Jamaica for long. The 5”8, dark skinned man migrated to South Africa and then to Australia. He never returned to Jamaica which is where his parents remained.  

Charles served for several years as a Cape Mounted Rifleman in South Africa where he experienced battle and war for the first time. After completing his service in South Africa, he then migrated to Australia. Charles moved to 40, Beulah Road, Norwood, South Australia. He worked as an engineer for many years prior to his enlistment in the war. 

When the war began, propaganda began circulating around Australia to try and encourage young men, like Charles, to enlist in the war. This may have persuaded Charles to sign up. 

Charles, single and childless, enlisted for service abroad on the 2nd of January 1915 in Melbourne, Victoria. He was 27 years and 7 months at the time. He was assigned the service number 447 and was to serve in the 2nd Mobile Veterinary Section unit as a Private (the lowest rank). His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board the HMAT A9 Shropshire on the 20th of March 1915.

He served in the 2nd Mobile Veterinary section until he was taken on strength on the 22 of March 1916 and transferred to Egypt where he was attached to the 48th battery of the 12th Brigade. Majority of his training happened in this unit. On the 6th of April 1916, the unit received official information that by the end of May they would be expected to leave Egypt and to begin to head for France and that their training would have to be expedited accordingly. From the 3rd to the 8th of June 1916, Charles’s unit was travelling by boat to Marseilles, France. Training while at sea was in the form of lectures and physical exercises that were able to be carried out on board. 2 days after arriving in France, the 48th Battery was complete, and Charles was transferred to the 24th Field Artillery Brigade. He served in that unit for just over a year until he was taken on strength and transferred to the 4th Mobile Veterinary Section on the 14th of September 1917.

Charles was promoted to the rank of a sergeant when he was transferred to the 4th Mobile Veterinary section which meant that he was “second in command” to a platoon of infantry soldiers. He was quickly demoted soon after to the rank on a corporal on the 12th of September due to being charged with using insubordinate language towards his superior officer while on active duty. From September onwards, Charles was fighting in Delettes and by the end of November the Unit had travelled south to L’Epinoy, France. Charles continued his service in this unit until the war was over. In total, Charles served for 4 years and 49 days abroad. He was discharged on the 6th of July 1919 and travelled back to Australia on board the HMT Kildonian Castle and moved back into his home on Beulah Road, Norwood.

Charles got married very soon after arriving back in Australia to Edith Lillie Morgan. They got married on the 22nd of March 1920 at the Malvern Methodist Church, South Australia. Charles was 33 at the time and Edith was 30. Charles and Edith had their first child, a daughter later that year on December 31st. Her name was Violet Mara Shaw and sadly passed away on the same day as her birth. Roughly seven years later, Edith gave birth to a boy on the 27th of February 1927 in Orroroo, South Australia. Charles continued his profession as an engineer to provide for his family.

On the 30th of July 1947, when Charles was 59 years old, he died after suddenly collapsing while on a trip from Orbost to Adelaide. He died while staying at the Royal Hotel and was beyond medical aid by the time doctors were able to get to him. Charles funeral took place on the same day of his death at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery in Dandenong, Victoria. He is buried on the Joshua Jordan Memorial Lawn, row S, grave 43.

Charles’ story is one of loyalty, bravery, selflessness and most importantly, one of great ANZAC spirit. Throughout his service, he was promoted to the role of a sergeant which means that he was showing great courage and leadership withing his unit. His legacy will forever be remembered as he was part of the reason that the triple Entente had a victory. His bravery and hardships have resulted in a better life for everyone else which proves that he showed great ANZAC spirit throughout his service and his life. He was awarded with the British War Medal, Victory Medal and Star Medal.

Bibliography:

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Allen P, Pearson History 9, Australia, Adelaide, 2016