William Arthur Chamberlain

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Thu, 28/01/2016 - 13:05

First Name:

William

Middle Name:

Arthur

Last Name:

Chamberlain

Mother's Name:

Elizabeth (nee Jones)

Father's Name:

Abraham Chamberlain

Date Enlisted:

Wednesday, September 27, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

38th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Friday, June 12, 1959

Details:

William Chamberlain (Service No 2537) was born in Newcastle, NSW about 1898. At the time of enlistment he was a single 18 year old coach builder from Albion Park, NSW who had served 12 months in 37th Infantry Militia.

He enlisted in Kiama and embarked on HMAT A24 Benalla with 5th Reinforcements, 38th Battalion on 9th November 1916 arriving in England on 9th January 1917. After training in England was sent to France joining the 38th Battalion on the Western Front on 17th September 1917. He saw service through the Flanders campaign and appears to have been uninjured. In 1918 William was fighting on the Somme when on 10th June 1918 he was admitted to hospital suffering from shell shock. He was sent on to hospital for treatment and rest.

William was returned to Australia on 2nd March 1919 and discharged on 2nd June 1919 and married Eveline Curtis in 1921.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, CHAMBERLAIN W A