[2][3][4][5][b] 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.

[15][16] In his recommendation, the commanding officer of the 47th Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel A. P. Imlay, wrote: This soldier displayed a contempt for danger and exhibited wonderful endurance and coolness resource and initiative and his conduct certainly inspired everybody he came in contact with ... His conduct throughout excited the admiration of officers and men.

[15]

He acted as runner continuously for four days through barrages and fire swept areas, carrying water, food and ammunition to the front line.

[b] In his recommendation, the commander of the 12th Australian Brigade, Brigadier General John Gellibrand, wrote: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at DERNAECOURT [sic][d] on April 5th 1918 and previous occasions.

This soldier's example has always been a source of pride in this Battalion, but on this occasion, he excelled himself by his wonderful powers of endurance, intrepidity and utter contempt for danger.

He continued carrying ammunition and running until company moved out when he volunteered to remain behind and cover retirement with a Lewis Gun which he did successfully.

[22][23]Shang was awarded a Bar to the DCM on 25 August 1918,[24][25] with the citation reading: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.

He then made several trips as runner through the enemy's barrage, and continued to carry ammunition until the withdrawal, which he covered with a Lewis gun.

[2][27][28] In his recommendation, the commander of the 12th Australian Brigade, Colonel Raymond Leane, wrote: At VILLERS BRETONNEUX on 1 May 1918, he displayed remarkable bravery and initiative in making a daylight reconnaissance of the Sector under heavy Machine Gun fire and snipers' activities and which proved of considerable value to us.

[29][30]The 47th Battalion was disbanded on 31 May 1918 due to severe casualties, a lack of reinforcements from Australia, and command and disciplinary problems.

[2][35] In March 1919, the Cairns Post newspaper raised a public subscription fund in order to provide Shang with a start in civilian life.

[2] The couple then moved to Queensland, where Shang worked as a clerk, taxi driver, and bookmaker, mostly in the Cairns area.

[2] Shang was an active member of the Cairns sub-branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia.

[38][39] During the Second World War, Shang enlisted in the 17th Battalion, Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) in Cairns on 21 April 1942, aged 57.

The role of the VDC was to conduct guerilla warfare, collect intelligence and provide static defence in the event of a Japanese invasion.

[40] 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.

[40] Due to a chronic chest complaint, Shang died on 6 April 1953 in Cairns,[2][43] and was buried in the Methodist section of the town cemetery.

f. ^ According to David Day, it was alleged that Shang and his brothers were involved in opium smuggling and bribed customs officers in doing so.

National Archives of Australia service records indicate that Australian World War II campaign medals were typically issued in the early 1950s—around the time of Shang's death.