John Shaw

Who was John Shaw?

John Alexander Lachlan Shaw CBE, DSO was a New South Wales public servant.

John Shaw was born on 26 August 1902 in Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia, the son of John and Alice Shaw. He attended Sydney Technical High School and thereafter studied civil engineering at the University of Sydney. After graduating with honours with a Bachelor of Engineering in 1925, Shaw was recruited into newly established Main Roads Board of New South Wales, which was a part of the NSW Department of Main Roads. In 1928 he was included amongst the first six divisional engineer appointments made by the Board, taking up postings at Glen Innes, Newcastle and Sydney. In 1926 he married Nellie Hicks in Chatswood.

When the Second World War broke out, Shaw enlisted on 8 July 1940 in the 2/12 Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers, with his commission as a Major. As part of the 8th Division in the Second Australian Imperial Force, Shaw was sent over in February 1941 to Malaya to assist in the defence of Singapore. He surrendered along with all allied forces on 31 January 1942 and was taken prisoner, being held in the notorious Changi Prison.