Chamberlain, John
No.420 – Sergeant John Chamberlain – 11th Battalion AIF
John Chamberlain was born in Croydon Surrey England on 16th June 1882 to William and Mary Chamberlain. John was educated at the Mitcham Rd School in Surrey England and after leaving school he joined up with the Royal Navy. He joined on the 16th June 1900 and served till the 3rd October 1909. The 1901 census listed John at Gibraltar. John spent these years in the Royal Navy based at Gibraltar and sailing across the world’s ocean’s. In 1909 he was released short of his twelve years service and secured employment with a Mr. R Chapman. After serving his time he came to Western Australia in 1909 when he was 25 years old. After his arrival he took up work on the Fremantle wharf as a Lumper and was living at 4 Ellen Street Fremantle.
On the 14th August 1914 in Fremantle, John went to the Fremantle Drill Hall to enlist. He was given a medical examination by Dr. Brennan of Fremantle Hospital and his physical attributes were recorded as;
Height - 5 feet 10 ¾ inches;
Weight - 11 stone;
Chest Measurement - 36 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - brown.
Religious denomination - Wesleyan;
Distinctive Marks - He had various tattoos on his body from the time he spent in the Royal Navy.
After he was passed as fit John was assigned to the original D Company of the 11th Battalion with the regimental No.420 and the rank of Sergeant. He was assigned to No.13 Section of No.8 Platoon. The 11th Battalion trained at Blackboy Hill Camp till late October as on the 2nd November 1914 they embarked from Fremantle Harbour on the H.M.A.T. “Ascanius”.
After their arrival in Egypt the 11th Battalion set up camp at Mena. While here, their 8 company system was changed into 4 Companies with the result that John’s D Company combined with C Company to form new “B” Company. The next few months would be spent in hard training. On the 2nd March 1915 the 11th Battalion, as part of the 3rd Brigade departed Egypt and headed for Lemnos Island. They were based here for preparation of a landing on the Turkish Coast. Of the three infantry brigades, the 3rd was judged the most experienced in training and capability and was therefore chosen to make the initial landing. While at Lemnos they practiced disembarking from their ships into the whalers as well as training on the island and going for route marches. In April they were joined by other Australian, New Zealand, British and French troops.
On April 25th 1915 the landing took place, with the 11th Battalion landing in the area from Plugges Plateau to out along North Beach. The men made their way inland as best they could through the rugged country. Turkish resistance increased throughout the day particularly along the vital heights of the 2nd Ridge. John’s section pushed inland and after the first day nothing more was seen of him though varied reports were received.
No.421 Cpl Jim Durward of the 11th stated that the men of John’s section were,
“last seen on the left flank of the line about 1 ½ miles in from the beach at Anzac Cove. This was about as far as the line penetrated, though a good many individuals got a bit further. Of these only a small proportion returned, some of them not till the next day. Sgt Chamberlain, the platoon Sergeant, who is also missing, was with them when I saw them last.”
No.488 Private H.S. Truran was interviewed by the Red Cross and it was stated that;
“Sgt Chamberlain went in advance of his men in the attack on April 25th to try and see something of the enemy’s position and was lost in a sudden Turkish attack. Witness heard from his company officers afterwards that Chamberlain is a prisoner in Constantinople. Everyone in the Company believes this to be the case and he (witness) believes the information came originally from the American Consul.”
Unfortunately, no news of John as a prisoner was passed on though it is known that Turkish troops did not take prisoners that first day as the handful of men that were captured survived only due to the intervention of Turkish officers.
Nothing more was heard about John and therefore was listed as missing. A Court of Inquiry was held at Fletre in France in April 1916 and John was finally declared as Killed in Action. John is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.
John’s Sister Annie Appleford moved to WA after his death and resided for a while at 79 Steven St Beaconsfield before moving to Collie. She received John’s effects and medals.