John Shaw (public servant)

Preceded byHoward Macoun Sherrard

Succeeded byRussell Thomas

Preceded byJohn Armstrong (Lord Mayor)

J. A. L. Shaw CBE, DSO


5th Commissioner for Main Roads
In office 20 April 1962 – 25 August 1967
Minister	Pat Hills Pat Morton
Preceded by	Howard Macoun Sherrard
Succeeded by	Russell Thomas
Deputy Chief Commissioner of the City of Sydney
In office 14 November 1967 – 26 September 1969 Serving with Vernon Treatt (Chief), William Pettingell
Preceded by	John Armstrong (Lord Mayor)
Succeeded by	Sir Emmet McDermott (Lord Mayor)

Personal details
Born	(1902-08-26)26 August 1902 Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia
Died	20 April 1983(1983-04-20) (aged 80) Manly, New South Wales, Australia
Resting place	Frenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery
Spouse	Nellie Violet Hicks (m. 1926; died 1974) ^[1]
Children	John Shaw; David Lachlan Shaw
Education	Sydney Technical High School
Alma mater	University of Sydney
Profession	Engineer and public servant
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Citizen Military Forces (1924–40) Second Australian Imperial Force (1940–46)
Years of service	1924–1946
Rank	Major
Unit	2/12th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers
Battles/wars	Second World War Malayan campaign Fall of Singapore
Awards	Distinguished Service Order

John Alexander Lachlan Shaw, CBE, DSO (26 August 1902 – 20 April 1983) was an Australian civil engineer, soldier and New South Wales public servant, who served as the NSW Commissioner for Main Roads from 1962 to 1967.^[2]

Shaw was born on 26 August 1902 in Marrickville, New South Wales, the son of John and Alice Shaw.^[3] He attended Sydney Technical High School and thereafter studied civil engineering at the University of Sydney.^[4] After graduating with honours with a Bachelor of Engineering in civil engineering in 1925, in February 1926 Shaw was recruited as an assistant engineer into the newly established Main Roads Board of New South Wales.^[4]^[5] In 1928 he was included amongst the first six divisional engineer appointments made by the Board, taking up the position of Divisional Engineer of the Lower Northern Division at Tamworth in August 1928.^[5] In May 1932, he was transferred to Newcastle to set up the divisional office of the newly-established Department of Main Roads, and then later was appointed the Metropolitan Engineer based in Sydney. Shaw became a member of the Institution of Engineers (Australia), a member of the Institute of Highway Engineers in London, and a Fellow of the Australian Planning Institute.^[5]

In 1926, Shaw married Nellie Violet Hicks in Chatswood.^[4] Their first child, John Shaw, was born at Manly on 3 April 1927.^[6] A second son, David Lachlan Shaw, was born in Newcastle on 28 October 1932.^[7]

Military service

When the Second World War broke out, Shaw took a leave of absence from the department and enlisted on 8 July 1940 in the 2/12th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers.^[8] 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 in Malaya on 31 January 1942 and was taken prisoner, being held in Changi Prison.^[9] Liberated at the end of the war, he was discharged on 24 January 1946 with the rank of major.^[8] On 6 March 1947 for "Organisation, courage and coolness in Malaya" he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on the recommendation of the commander of the 8th Division, Major General Cecil Callaghan, and the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Vernon Sturdee.^[10]^[11]^[12] He was presented with his award by the Governor-General of Australia, Sir William McKell, on 24 January 1949 at Admiralty House, Sydney.^[13] His award citation reads:

During operations in Malaya in 1942, Major Shaw, the Officer Commanding 2/12 Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers, was responsible for the demolitions between Segamat and Johore Bahru, and, when on Singapore Island, for the destruction of oil stores and the wireless mast at Kranji. During the withdrawal of the 27th Australian Infantry Brigade from Gemas to Singapore he personally supervised all demolitions and remained behind with his detachments when the Infantry had withdrawn to ensure that they were successfully carried out. On most occasions this work had to be carried out under heavy fire. His organisation, courage and coolness under enemy fire were largely responsible for the great success of this work which proved very valuable on many occasions. He was at all times an inspiration and example to his men.^[10]

Department of Main Roads

Later career and legacy

References

↑ "Personal Notices – Deaths". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 December 1974. p. 24. SHAW, Nellie Violet. — December 24, 1974 (at hospital), of Addison Road, Manly, beloved wife of John, loved mother of John and David, and fond grandmother of their children. Aged 75 years.
↑ "Former main roads chief dies, aged 81". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 April 1983. p. 8.
↑ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 27 August 1902. p. 1. Retrieved 9 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Roads Australia – John Shaw". Roads Australia. Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
1 2 3 4 5 6 "Department of Main Roads New South Wales Annual Report 1966-67". OpenGov NSW. State of New South Wales. 2 October 1967. p. 18. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
↑ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 6 April 1927. p. 16. Retrieved 9 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 12 November 1932. p. 12. Retrieved 9 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
1 2 World War II Nominal Roll: Archived 16 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine Shaw, John Alexander Lachlan – Army Service
↑ "Prisoners of War – J A L Shaw". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
1 2 NAA: B883 Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939–1947 – NX34966 – SHAW JOHN ALEXANDER LACHLAN, accessed 9 September 2023.
↑ "Maj John Alexander Lachlan SHAW – Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (Imperial)". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. 6 March 1947. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
↑ "No. 37898". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 4 March 1947. p. 1089.
↑ "DSO award record" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
↑ "Mr. J. A. L. Shaw Chief Road Engineer". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. New South Wales, Australia. 21 August 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 9 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "New Assistant Road Chief". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. No. 24, 006. New South Wales, Australia. 15 September 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 3 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "TRANSPORT (DIVISION OF FUNCTIONS) ACT, 1932–1952". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 168. New South Wales, Australia. 25 September 1953. p. 3075. Retrieved 3 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "TRANSPORT (DIVISION OF FUNCTIONS) ACT, 1932, AS AMENDED". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 92. New South Wales, Australia. 12 August 1960. p. 2477. Retrieved 3 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "TRANSPORT (DIVISION OF FUNCTIONS) ACT, 1932–1960, AS AMENDED". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 40. New South Wales, Australia. 27 April 1962. p. 1144. Retrieved 3 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Main Roads, Journal of the Department of Main Roads" (PDF). OpenGov NSW. State of New South Wales. June 1962. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
↑ "No. 43854". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 31 December 1965. p. 23.
↑ "Mr John Alexander Lachlan SHAW – The Order of the British Empire – Commander (Civil) (Imperial)". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. 12 June 1966. Retrieved 9 September 2023. Commissioner of Main Roads – New South Wales
↑ "LIST OF CORONATION MEDAL AWARDS". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 2 June 1953. p. 6. Retrieved 18 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Commissioners for Sydney named". The Canberra Times. Vol. 42, no. 11, 829. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 26 October 1967. p. 3. Retrieved 3 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT (CITY OF SYDNEY BOUNDARIES) ACT, 1967.—PROCLAMATION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 114. New South Wales, Australia. 27 October 1967. p. 3908. Retrieved 3 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "The Men Who Will Control Sydney". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 October 1967. p. 1. John Alexander Lachlan Shaw – Part time. Salary, $2,500. Allowance $750 and $14 a half-day spent on official business. Mr Shaw is 65, is married and has two sons, both professional engineers. He lives in New Street, Balgowlah. Mr Shaw was Commissioner for Main Roads from 1962 until his retirement last month.
↑ "Man of the Year Award". International Road Federation. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
↑ "Sydney County Council – Ordinary Election". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 1969. p. 61.
↑ "New man at SCC speaks for himself". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 January 1971. p. 3.
↑ "Personal Notices – Deaths". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 April 1983. p. 33. SHAW, John Alexander Lachlan, C.B.E., D.S.O., B.E. – April 20, 1983, at hospital, of Manly, dearly loved husband of the late Nellie Violet Shaw, and loved father and father-in-law of John (deceased) and Jill, David and Janice, devoted grandfather of Douglas and Hamish, loved brother of Lal, and Edna (deceased). Aged 80 years.
↑ "Personal Notices – Funerals". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 April 1983. p. 32.
↑ "Engineering prizes" (PDF). University of Sydney. Retrieved 13 January 2010.

Government offices

Preceded by

Howard Macoun Sherrard

Assistant Commissioner for Main Roads
1953–1962

Succeeded by

Russell Thomas

Commissioner for Main Roads
1962–1967

Civic offices

Preceded by

John Armstrong

as Lord Mayor of Sydney

Deputy Chief Commissioner of the City of Sydney
1967–1969
With: Treatt, Pettingell

Succeeded by

Sir Emmet McDermott

as Lord Mayor of Sydney

Government offices

Preceded by

Kath Anderson
Keith Joseph Murphy
Reginald Arthur Triggs

Councillor of the Sydney County Council
1st Constituency
1969–1971

Succeeded by

Lynn Arnold

Preceded by

George Ivan Ferris

Chairman of the Sydney County Council
1970–1971

Succeeded by

George Ivan Ferris

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