Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Charles James Shaw served twice in the South African (Boer) War, first as a Private (promoted to Bugler) S.N. 163 in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, and second as a Private S.N. 670 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (source AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 470 and 519- see notes).

Note- he is recorded in various births, deaths and marriages registers as Charles James Shaw, Charles James De Cousie Ward Shaw and Charles James De Courcey Shaw.

Charles James Shaw served twice in the South African (Boer) War and again in WW2. First service was as a Bugler S.N. 163, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, Boer war. Second service was as a Private S.N. 670, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (1st Draft), Boer war. Third service was as a Sergeant S.N. Q187307, 32 Garrison Battalion (Qld), home service, WW2.

When he joined the 3rd QMI in 1900 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 3 Mar 1900, it was noted he was single and his N.O.K. was Mrs. M. E. Shaw, Bowen Hills, Brisbane. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 3rd QMI, Bk 3 p. 91, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Mrs. M. E. Shaw, Edgar St, Bowen Hills. He was invalided from from service with the 3rd QMI and returned to Brisbane for discharge on 16 Mar 1901.

A number of months later he was selected in the First Draft of the 6th QIB and embarked again for South Africa in Aug 1901. The members of the draft mainly consisted of men who had served in previous contingents in South Africa and were assembled as reinforcements for the 5th and 6th QIB contingents already in South Africa.

Men in the draft were not recorded in the original nominal roll for the 6th QIB but he is recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (to which he was allotted), Bk 4 p. 106, where it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Margaret Elizabeth Shaw, Anderson St, Valley, Brisbane. The paybook also notes his mother passed while he was on active service and future monies were directed to his brother Bernard R. Shaw. 

The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, notes when the 5th QIB embarked to return to Australia that, S.N. 670, Private Jas. C. Shaw, remained in South Africa for further service. The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 106, notes he returned to Brisbane where he was discharged 9 Aug 1902.

He enlisted again in 1939 for WW2 (home service) and on his Attestation Form, dated 9 Oct 1939, he noted that; he was born at Launceston, Hobart, on 16 Nov 1885 and was 53 years of age; he was married and a motor mechanic; his N.O.K. was his wife Mrs. Charles James Shaw, Bowen Hills; and he had previously served in The Boer War (Lt Horse), Zulu Rebellion (Artillery) and The Great War WW1 (Lt Horse). 

In a newspaper article "Heroism at Rorke's Drift" published in The Courier Mail, 11 May 1934, he recounts his involvement in the Zulu Rebellion in 1906. On his WW2 attestation he also indicates he served in WW1, but he was unable to be found in a search of records covering Australian Forces. On his attestation it also appears he lowered his age to the birth year of 1885, Tasmanian BDM birth registers indicate he was born 1882.

Charles James (De Courcey) Shaw was born on 16 Nov 1882 at Launceston, Tasmania, a son to Robert Shaw and Margaret Elizabeth Shaw (nee Begent). He married under the name Charles James De Cousie Ward Shaw on 28 Sep 1912 to Harriet "Hettie" May Fitzgerald in Queensland. Hettie passed shortly after in 1914. In 1939 on his WW2 attestation he stated he was married and his N.O.K. was his wife but it could not be ascertained when and to whom he had married that was his wife in 1939.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 470 & 519; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier 1st service; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 3rd QMI, Bk 3 p. 91, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 106; National Archives Australia- WW2 service record; BDM Tasmania- Birth Register for the district of Launceston 1883; BDM Qld- online marriage and death registers).