SAPPER HERBERT SHAW
272 – 1st Tunnelling Company
Rockhampton was the birthplace of Herbert Shaw on March 8, 1888 the son of Fredrick and Annie (nee Somerset) Shaw.
The twenty-seven year old enlisted in Brisbane, Qld on September 25, 1915 and passed the medical examination. Forms of Attestation were completed and show he was 170cms (5ft 7ins) tall and weighed 65.4kgs (144lbs) with a chest expansion of 89-92cms (35¼-36¼ins). Fresh was his complexion with grey eyes and brown hair. One eye had good vision and the other tested as fair. Church of England was his religion and his sister Mrs Annie Doak of Gordon Lane, Mount Morgan was named as his next-of-kin.
Herb went into basic training at Casula camp, near Liverpool, NSW where the formation of the Mining Corps was just commencing. On October 28, 1915 he was assigned to the No. 1 Company Mining Corps with the regimental number 272 in the rank of Sapper.
At a civic parade in the Domain, Sydney on Saturday February 19, a large crowd of relations and friends of the departing Miners lined the four sides of the parade ground. Sixty police and 100 Garrison Military Police were on hand to keep the crowds within bounds. The scene was an inspiriting one. On the extreme right flank, facing the saluting base, were companies of the Rifle Club School; next came a detachment of the 4th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, then the bands of the Light Horse, Liverpool Depot, and the Miners’ on the left, rank upon rank, the Miners’ Battalion.
The Corps boarded HMAT A38 Ulysses in Sydney, NSW on February 20 and sailed for the European theatre. Arriving in Melbourne, Victoria on February 22 the Miners camped at Broadmeadows for a stay of 7 days while further cargo was loaded.
Another parade was held at the Broadmeadows camp on March 1, the Miners’ Corps being inspected by the Governor-General, as Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth military forces.
Leaving Melbourne on March 1, Ulysses arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia on March 7 where a further 53 members were taken on board.
On Wednesday March 8, 1916 the whole force, with their band and equipment, paraded at Fremantle prior to leaving Victoria Quay at 9.30 o’clock.
The ship hit a reef when leaving Fremantle harbour, stripping the plates for 40 feet and, although there was a gap in the outside plate, the inner bilge plates were not punctured. The men on board nicknamed her ‘Useless’. The Miners were off-loaded and sent to the Blackboy Hill Camp where further training was conducted.
The Mining Corps comprised 1303 members at the time they embarked with a Headquarters of 40; No.1 Company – 390; No.2 Company – 380; No.3 Company – 392, and 101 members of the 1st Reinforcements.
Finally departing Fremantle on April 1, Ulysses voyaged via Suez, Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt. The Captain of the ship was reluctant to take Ulysses out of the Suez Canal because he felt the weight of the ship made it impossible to manoeuvre in the situation of a submarine attack. The troops were transhipped to HM Transport B.1 Ansonia, then on to Valetta, Malta before disembarking at Marseilles, France on May 5, 1916. As a unit they entrained at Marseilles on May 7 and detrained on May 11 at Hazebrouck.
A ‘Mining Corps’ did not fit in the British Expeditionary Force, and the Corps was disbanded and three Australian Tunnelling Companies were formed. The Technical Staff of the Corps Headquarters, plus some technically qualified men from the individual companies, was formed into the entirely new Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company (AEMMBC), better known as the ‘Alphabetical Company’.
On September 9, 1916 a Field General Court Martial was held in the field, France, by 107th Infantry Brigade where Sapper Shaw was dealt with over the following incrimination:
Charge:Section 15 (1a) A.A. When on Active Service
Absenting himself without leave
Period of Absence without Leave from 2 p.m. 23/8/1916 to 8.45 p.m.
25/8/1916
Pleaded:Not Guilty
Found:Guilty
Sentence:One Years imprisonment with H.L.
Commuted to 84 days F.P. No 1 [Field Punishment] Confirmed by Brig-Gen W.M.
Withycomb, 107th Infantry Brigade.
In confinement awaiting trial 25/8/1916 until 9/9/1916
Total forfeiture 101 days pay.
He was taken to hospital sick on October 6, 1916 and admitted to the 110th Field Ambulance with Bronchitis and returned on October 11, 1916. He rejoined his unit on December 4, 1916.
On May 26, 1917 was wounded in action by mine gas and taken to the 60th Field Ambulance. The next day was transferred to the 23rd Divisional Rest Station. A day later was sent to the 10th Casualty clearing Station remaining until June 4 when he rejoined his unit.
On June 11, 1917 a Telegram was sent to his Sister advising he had been gassed:
He was admitted to the 15th Field Ambulance suffering from a Social Disease then taken to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station. Transferred the following day on A.T.20 to Boulogne and admitted to the 39th General Hospital where he remained for 64 days treatment. On January 23, 1918 was discharged to the 1st Aust Casualty Clearing Station to convalesce while on light duties as an Orderly.
Central Queensland soldiers on the Front were in contact with Mrs H.G. Wheeler working in London co-ordinating the Central Queensland Comfort Fund and each week sent report-letters naming those men she had been in contact with during the week. These were published in the Rockhampton newspapers to give relatives reliable news of their men abroad. Her address was care of the Agent-General, Queensland Office, London.
Following are extracts from her letters home published in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin this one on Saturday February 16, 1918 which she imparts news of Sapper Shaw.
While on Orderly duty on February 10, 1918 he broke Army Regulations and faced a second Field General Court Martial on February 28, 1918.
Charge:A.A. section 20 (2) Wilfully allowing to escape a prisoner committed to his charge
Alternative:A.A. section 20 (2) Without reasonable excuse allowing to escape a prisoner committed to his charge 10/2/1918.
Finding:Not Guilty for first charge, but guilty of alternative charge.
Sentence:30 days F.P. No 2. Confirmed by Brig.-Gen E. Tivey 8th Infantry Brigade.
Period in arrest awaiting trial 10/2/1918 to 27/2/1918
Forfeiture:18 days pay.
On April 22, 1918 D.A.G. A.I.F. remitted to him the 18 days pay forfeited in February, 1918.
He returned to his unit on May 5, 1919 remaining until May 27, 1918 when he went to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station suffering from Scabies. A transfer on A.T.41 to Rouen the next day saw him admitted to the 6th General Hospital. He returned to the 2nd Command Depot “A” at the Aust General Base Depot, Rouelles on June 16, 1918 and marched out to his unit on June 29, 1916, rejoining on July 2, 1918.
More news was published from Mrs H.G. Wheeler’s letter:
On September, 6, 1918 he went to the 2/1 H.O. Field Ambulance and admitted with Scabies then discharged to duty three days later.
After the Armistice the Tunnelling Companies remained on the front as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation work such as clearing roads or repairing bridges.
Further news was briefly mentioned in the latest Wheeler letters:
Sapper Shaw enjoyed leave to the U.K. from January 17 to 31st, 1919. While on leave he became ill and from Headquarters was admitted to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford on February 4, 1919 suffering from Influenza. On arrival his Kit was inspected on February 11 and an inventory taken, He was discharged on February 24, 1919 on furlough. Items to complete his Kit on departure from hospital were issued. These were:
Hair, Shaving and Tooth Brushes, Comb, Fork, Knife & Spoon, Drawers, Flannel Shirt, 2 Singlets, Woollen Socks, Towel and a Sea Kit Bag.
He had orders to report to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth on March 3, 1919.
A further week’s extension of leave was granted until March 10, 1919 to make up for leave lost due to illness. He marched into the No 2 Command Depot at Weymouth on the designated day. Two days later at Westham camp his Kit passed inspection having the required items.
While at Westham on March 14, 1919 he received the following requisites for his Kit:
Universal Bag, Woollen Socks, Towel, Bootlaces, 2 Australia titles, Comforter Cap, Identity Disc with cord, Woollen Gloves and a Drill Suit.
The last news of Sapper Shaw was highlighted again from Mrs Wheeler’s letter from London:
On April 1, 1919 Sapper Shaw paid for these items for his Kit:
Housewife and Identity Disc with cord.
After demobilisation he departed Devonport, England on April 5, 1919 on board the H.T. Armagh for his journey home. His sister was notified that he was returning on May 5, 1919. The ship arrived in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on May 20, 1919 and he departed for Brisbane (1st M.D.) disembarking about May 22, 1919.
He was discharged medically unfit in Brisbane, Qld (1st M.D.) on July 6, 1919.
On May 4, 1920 and July 9, 1920 the proceedings of both his Court Martials were filed at the Attorney-General’s Department under Nos. 7981 and 11199.
Sapper 272 Herbert Shaw, 1st Tunnelling Company received the British War Medal (12207) and the Victory Medal (12048) for his services abroad.
A Statement of Service was issued to the Repatriation Department in Brisbane on January 9, 1929.
His name appeared in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Thursday June 1, 1939:
This news item was reported in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Saturday June 27, 1953:
Herbert Shaw died in Queensland on April 20, 1961 aged 73 years. Family notices were published in The Courier-Mail on Friday April 21, 1961:
Newsprint very feint
© Donna Baldey 2010