William Stanley Shaw was born in Ballarat, Victoria, was single and a Labourer when he enlisted with the 39th Battalion, Headquarters on 13 March 1916 at the age of 26. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 27 May 1916. He proceeded overseas to France from Southampton on 23 November 1916, but on 3 December he was subject to a field court-martial for inadvertently discharging his weapon and injuring two comrades. The sentence was dropped later that month.

He was appointed the rank of Lance Corporal on 15 June 1917 and was wounded in action whilst in France a month later, suffering a slight gunshot wound to the right side. He was released and re-joined his unit in August 1917. He was wounded a second time in April 1918 and was admitted to the General hospital in France. He again recovered and re-joined his unit. While serving with the 39th Battalion he returned to Australia from England aboard the Rio Padro on 26 June 1919.
Tree No. 2157