Chambers, William John

4797 Driver William John Chambers - 3rd Field Artillery Brigade

William John Chambers was born in Toodyay WA in 1892 to John and Rose Chambers. He had two siblings, Alma in 1894 and Frank in 1898.

The family moved to Fremantle after his birth and took up residence at 28 Curedale Street South Fremantle (later renumbered 14 Curedale). William completed his education in Fremantle and after leaving school took up work as a draper.

During his time at school William served in the cadets and then saw further service with the 11th Australian Garrison Artillery of the Citizens Military Forces.

On the 28th April 1915 William enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was passed as fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording William's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 7 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 150lbs;

Chest Measurement - 36-38 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Brown.

After his successful enlistment William was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 7th Reinforcements to the 11th battalion AIF. He only spent ten days with this group and was then transferred to the 7th Reinforcements to the 1st Australian Division Ammunition Column. As the Artillery reinforcements were being trained in Victoria, William was transferred there to complete his training. 

On the 10th August 1915 William and his reinforcement group embarked from Port Melbourne on the transport ship RMS Persia. The ship then set sail for Egypt. On arrival, William was sent to the AIF Reinforcement camp and on the 7th October 1915 was taken on strength of No.2 Section of the 1st Australian Division Ammunition Column.

The Australian Artillery Batteries were then on Gallipoli but with the Dardanelles soon to be evacuated, William was retained for duty in Egypt. He served in Egypt with his unit for the next five months.

While in Egypt William took the opportunity to have a photo taken with a mate in front of the pyramids which was then published in the West Australian in 1916. (Photo Below)

On the 24th March 1916 William and his unit departed for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 2nd April 1916. The men were then entrained north for the Armentieres sector.

On the 13th April 1916 William was then transferred to the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade for temporary attachment, but returned to the 1st DAC on the 3rd May 1916.

After spending the first few months of service in the Armentieres region, the Australians were then sent to the Somme battlefield. William's unit kept the artillery batteries supplied with ammunition during the massive bombardments that were taking place. William often came under heavy artillery fire from the German guns but had come through unscathed.

On the 22nd August 1916 William was transferred for duty to the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade. The unit were then transferred to the Ypres front in Belgium where they spent several weeks. In November 1916 they then returned to the Somme battlefield where they would spend the 1916/17 French winter.

The freezing conditions had an adverse affect on the health of the men, and on the 9th February 1917 William was evacuated to hospital as he was suffering from influenza. On admittance to hospital he was also found to be suffering from trench foot. He was initially assigned to the 3rd Canadian general Hospital but was then transferred to the 25th General Hospital. William was here till the 6th April 1917 when he was transferred back to the Australian Base Depot Camp at Etaples.

He had a few weeks here and then rejoined his unit on the 22nd April 1917. The 3rd FA Brigade were then in the midst of providing fire support for the Lagnicourt and Bullecourt sections of the front.

In July 1917 the 3rd FA Brigade was transferred for duty to the Messines front in Belgium. William was then given leave to the UK for two weeks. He was declared an illegal absentee when he did not report back to his unit, however while he was in Ireland he fell ill and was admitted to King George V Military hospital. He was initially diagnosed as NYD or 'not yet determined' but it seems he was suffering from trench fever and influenza. It appears he was very ill as he was in this hospital from the 23rd July 1917 to the 20th September 1917. William was then sent to the 1st Australian Hospital at Harefield where he spent another nine days. He was then given a two week furlough and was then due to report for duty to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth on the 13th October 1917. However he reported two days late on the 15th October 1917 and was charged with being absent without leave, and as a punishment was confined to camp for ten days and was fined three days pay.

On the 24th November 1917 William was transferred to No.4 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott. He was given a job as Driver at this camp while he regained his full health. On the 6th December 1917 hew as transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell where he continued this role. He was here for the next few months, but on the 15th March 1918 William was transferred to the Artillery Training Depot at Heytesbury.

William spent two weeks at this camp and then on the 1st April 1918 was sent back to France. He was taken back on strength of the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade on the 9th April 1918. This unit was then in northern France providing fire support for the infantry around Merris, Meteren and Strazeele. William served with them in this sector for the next few months. While on duty in July 1918 he suffered an injury to his wrist and was sent to the 16th General Hospital at Le Treport. He was here till the 7th August 1918 when he was transferred to the 1st Convalescent Depot Camp. He spent three weeks here before being returned to the Australian Base Depot Camp. He then was sent to his unit rejoining the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade on the 1st September 1918.

After leaving them near Merris in northern France in July, the 3rd FAB were now situated further south on the Peronne front on the Somme River. At this stage of the war the Germans were retreating under constant attacks, so the 3rd FAB were continuously moving forward to supply fire support for the infantry. The 3rd FAB were in action through to October 1918, but on the 8th October William was evacuated as he was suffering from influenza. He was evacuated to the 9th General Hospital and after a few weeks was transferred to the 1st Convalescent Camp. While not fully recovered, the hospitals were being overwhelmed with influenza cases, so William had been transferred to the convalescent camp where he was still receiving medical care.

He remained in this convalescent camp in France till February 1919. On the 24th February he returned to the Base Depot Camp. He spent the next month here and was then returned to England on the 24th March 1919.

On Arrival in England, his service was not yet over as William reported for duty to AIF HQ and was assigned for work with the AIF Sports Officer. He organised sports for the men in camps waiting to be sent home to Australia. William was on this duty till July 1919. He was then given two weeks leave and after this was over reported back for duty and was assigned for duty as a driver at the Tilbury Docks. He was on this duty for a few weeks before he was assigned a berth on a transport ship home, leaving England on the 5th September 1919 aboard the transport ship Plassy. He disembarked in Fremantle on the 17th October 1919.

William was discharged from the AIF on the 17th December 1919.

William returned to live in Fremantle and in 1923 he married to Gladys Ada Newson in Beaconsfield.

He then joined the WA Police Service and was appointed to be a constable. The family then moved to Maylands in 1926, residing at Fourth Avenue.

They were there through to the 1930's before moving to Swan Street Guildford in 1937. During this time William was still with the police. 

During World War Two he was then posted to the country town of  Quairading which is in the WA Wheatbelt.

By 1954 William was back in Perth, living at Fourth Avenue Mt Lawley. He lived here for the remainder of his life, dying on the 20th December 1967 aged 75. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.