Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Eustace Harold Shapter was born on the 7th of July in 1889 in the town of Gumeracha, in South Australia. Shapter worked as a school teacher and was married to a lady named Beryl Lucy Shapter, his wife, and was also the father of 3 children, he was part of the Baptist church, and he lived with his wife and children at 103 Osmond Terrace, Norwood, SA. Shapter enlisted to join the war on the 18th of January in 1918, making him only 28 years and 6 months old.

Eustace Harold Shapter then embarked for war on the 1st of May in 1918. Shapter embarked from Sydney, Australia on a ship that was called the HMAT Euripides.

Australians went to fight in World War 1 for many reasons, but the main reason was their connection to Britain, when Britain joined the war Australia followed in after them. When Eustace Harold Shapter first joined the ANZACS on their journey he was placed in the 43rd Australian Infantry Battalion on the 2nd of June 1918. Nothing specific to Eustace Harold Shapter was recorded on where and when he trained, and in which battles he fought in but we do know that the 43rd battalion was raised in March of 1916 as South Australia’s contribution to the new 3rd division. The battalion was housed at the Morphettvile Racecourse. They trained in many places around South Australia such as the sand hills between Glenelg, and Henley was where firearms practice was held, and Montifiore Hill was where a practice attack against the Hindmarsh Bridge took place.

Later, on the 9th of September Shapter was transferred to the 2nd pioneer battalion. Again, there was no evidence given to suggest the battles in which he fought but it is known that the 2nd Pioneer Battalion was an Australian infantry and light engineer unit, the unit fought in most of the major battles in which the AIF participated in from mid 1916 until the end of the war in November 1918. In mid to late 1918, at the time Shapter would have been serving the Battalion, it fought in Montbrehain in the Battle of St. Quentin Canal. The 2nd Pioneer Battalion, most likely including Shapter, lead up to the battle by bridging over the Somme and later used mostly for infantry because of great loses throughout the 2nd Division’s infantry battalions.

After that he went on to be placed in the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, which was another Australian infantry and light engineer unit. His battalion was part of the all-volunteer Australian Imperial Force. This is the unit in which he completed his service, as he was then discharged on the 17th of June, in 1919.

During his time fighting he received British War Medal, which was awarded to the officers and men of British and Imperial Forces for their service.

ANZAC stands for The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. On the 25th of April in 1915 New Zealand and Australian soldiers set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula as part of an allied expedition. There is a whole day devoted to honouring the ANZACS who fought for us, there was one thing that all the ANZAC soldiers had in common and that was the ANZAC spirit. To have the ANZAC spirit means you possess qualities such as; endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour and mateship. The concept of having the ANZAC spirit is that all the New Zealand and Australian soldiers possess the same characteristics, which unites them and makes them one. Just by signing up and being willing to put himself in danger for his country he was one of the many amazing soldiers who reflected the ANZAC spirit.

Eustace Harold Shapter was not killed in battle, he later returned home safety to his family. After World War 1 was over he continued to live his life and then died at the age of 80 in 1970. His body was cremated and then buried at Centennial Park, right beside his wife who died the year before, in 1969, also at the age of 80. Shapter lived a good, long life after his return and he will be one of the many ANZAC soldiers who we will never forgot, and we will honour forever, he served our country well.