In March–April 1918, Shang fought around Dernancourt on the Somme, France, where the 47th Battalion was engaged in the defence of Amiens. In the path of the "heaviest attack ever faced by Australians in this or any war," the 12th Australian Brigade and 13th Australian Brigade faced two and a half divisions of German troops and suffered 1,230 casualties. Despite these losses, the fierce resistance of the 4th Australian Division at Dernancourt and the 3rd Australian Division at Villers-Bretonneux effectively halted the German spring offensive. For his actions around Dernancourt, Shang was recommended for a Bar to his DCM on 8 April 1918. In his recommendation, the commander of the 12th Australian Brigade, Brigadier General John Gellibrand, wrote: