Chamberlain, Irwin John

Chief Signalman Irwin Chamberlain – Royal Australian Navy

Irwin John Chamberlain was born in Fremantle WA in 1892 to Charles and Harriet Chamberlain. He was one of six children, with Harold John being born in 1884; Eunice May in 1886; Charles Gordon in 1889; Glyn Roy in 1894 and Effie Harriet in 1898. The family lived at 42 Price Street South Fremantle. (later renumbered to 2 Price Street).

Irwin had a love of the ocean from a young age which was only natural as his father was a boat builder and also worked for the Harbour and Lights Department in Fremantle. Irwin was educated in Fremantle and during this time he joined the Naval Cadets. He continued this service after leaving school when he joined the Naval Reserve.

At the outbreak of the Great War Irwin was called up for Naval Duty around Fremantle Harbour and he continued this service into 1915. On the 19^th November 1915 Irwin was killed in an explosion on a naval launch in the Harbour. The following article in the Western Mail describes what happened.

“A sad fatality occurred at Fremantle shortly after 8pm on Friday, the victim being a naval reservist named Irwin John Chamberlain aged 23 years. Deceased was doing duty alone on the District Naval Officer’s launch which was moored at Victoria Quay near “B” Shed, when by some means at present unexplained an explosion occurred, and in an instant the launch was in flames. Chamberlain was seen splashing about in the River next to the launch, and a man named John Paton and the members of the crew of the Lady Forrest went to his rescue without success, for he sank. The body was not recovered until 930pm when WPC Clarke, with dragging appliances brought the remains to the surface near midstream. Deceased was regarded as a competent seaman, and had risen to the rating of a leading signaller. He was however a rather heavy smoker, and it is thought in some way he allowed a naked light to come in contact with the benzene which was used for the engine. It is surmised that the force of the explosion blew him overboard and rendered him unconscious. When the body was recovered the head, face and hands were found to have been badly burnt. Although the hull of the launch was practically undamaged, the internal fittings and machinery suffered considerably.”

The funeral for Irwin was held on Sunday the 21^st November 1915 and was attended by a large crowd including many of his fellow sailors from the Royal Australian Navy Volunteer Reserve. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot MON A 0330 in the Church of England section.

Surprisingly Irwin was never included in the Imperial war Graves Commission lists of war dead. In June 2011 an application was made for Irwin’s name to be included on the Commonwealth War Graves Commissions’ database. This was accepted in December 2011 and Chief Signalman Irwin John Chamberlain’s name is now listed among the Australian war dead of the First World War.

Irwin’s Brother Charles Gordon Chamberlain (No.3174) enlisted in the AIF on the 2^nd August 1915 and went away with reinforcements to the 16^th Battalion AIF. He was transferred to the 4^th Pioneer Battalion and saw service with them from 1916-1918. He rose to the rank of Warrant Officer and in September 1918 was recommended for distinction. He did not receive a medal but was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s despatches of November 1918. Charles Gordon Chamberlain returned home to WA in 1919.