William James Shave
Birth
Death Marriage Spouse Father Mother Sibling/s Children |
25 November 1889
11 February 1980 14 February 1920 Louise Alice Buchanan Robert James Shave Amelia Blundy Amelia Dorothea Shave Alexander George Shave Emily May Shave Albert Henry Shave Harry Augustus Shave Sidney Eustace Shave Edgar Percy Shave Lucy Olive Shave Lydia Grace Shave Morris Sommerville Shave Roy Arthur Lyle Shave Elva Alice Grace Shave |
Location
Location Location |
West Ham, Essex, England
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
William James Shave was born on the 25th of November 1889 in West Ham, Essex, England to Robert James Shave and Amelia Blundy. He was the 7th of 10 children and was known as Bill.
Bill emigrated to Australia in 1912 aged 22 years. He departed London on the 8th of October 1912 aboard the ship "Moravian" and arrived in Sydney on the 4th of March 1913. He celebrated his 23rd birthday on the journey. He was a Boiler Maker Helper. |
The First World War (at the time it was known as The Great War) began on the 28th of July 1914.
Australia's involvement in the First World War began when Britain and Germany went to war on the 4th of August 1914, and both Prime Minister Joseph Cook and then Opposition Leader Andrew Fisher, who were in the midst of an election campaign, pledged full support for Britain.
Bill enlisted in the army on the 4th of August 1916. Commenced duty on the 14th of August.He embarked on the 23rd of December 1916 from Melbourne on the ship HMT Orontes. He was part of the 14 Machine Gun Company - 9th Reinforcements.
Australia's involvement in the First World War began when Britain and Germany went to war on the 4th of August 1914, and both Prime Minister Joseph Cook and then Opposition Leader Andrew Fisher, who were in the midst of an election campaign, pledged full support for Britain.
Bill enlisted in the army on the 4th of August 1916. Commenced duty on the 14th of August.He embarked on the 23rd of December 1916 from Melbourne on the ship HMT Orontes. He was part of the 14 Machine Gun Company - 9th Reinforcements.
While fighting overseas Bill wrote a diary. The diary is now held in Canberra at the War Memorial. A transcription of the diary can be found at this link.
For Australia, as for many nations, the First World War remains the most costly conflict in terms of deaths and casualties. From a population of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted, of which over 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.
For Australia, as for many nations, the First World War remains the most costly conflict in terms of deaths and casualties. From a population of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted, of which over 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.
He worked as an engineer at Cockatoo Island and also for the Railway Department.
Bill worked at the Chullora Railway Workshops. These were major workshops for the repair and heavy maintenance of locomotives and rolling stock for the New South Wales Government Railways.
It was built on site at Chullora over 485 acres adjoining the main Sydney marshalling yards at Enfield. The decision to build a new workshop was made because of the inadequacy of the existing facilities at Eveleigh Railway Workshops and the decision to electrify the Sydney metropolitan network.
Bill worked at the Chullora Railway Workshops. These were major workshops for the repair and heavy maintenance of locomotives and rolling stock for the New South Wales Government Railways.
It was built on site at Chullora over 485 acres adjoining the main Sydney marshalling yards at Enfield. The decision to build a new workshop was made because of the inadequacy of the existing facilities at Eveleigh Railway Workshops and the decision to electrify the Sydney metropolitan network.
He married Louise Alice Buchanan on the 14th of February 1920 at the Dulwich Hill Methodist Church in Sydney. She was known as Alice.
They had 3 children; Morris Sommerville Shave, in 1922, Roy Arthur Lyle Shave, in 1924, and Elva Alice Grace Shave, in 1927. Their first child Morris died at birth on the 24th of October 1922.
Alice passed away on the 2nd of March 1976 aged 86 years.
On the 25th of November 1979, Bill celebrated his 90th birthday.
William died on the 11th of February 1980 in Sydney aged 90 years.