Ancestor Details
Name of Ancestor: James Chambers
Ancestor's date of birth: 01/1882
Ancestor's date of death: 01/07/1915
Cause of Death: Of wounds at Gallipoli
Service Number: 121
Colony or State of enlistment: QLD, Place of Enlistment: Brisbane
Unit: F Company, 7 bn Australian Commonwealth Horse
Rank attained in Boer War: SGT, Date Effective: 24/04/1902
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): GNR, Date Effective: 27/10/1906
Murray Page: 533
Contingent: Third Australian
Ship: Custodian, Date of Sailing: 19/05/1902
Other Boer War Service: Served in the Imperial Light Horse as Trooper #2395 for 213 days.
Memorial details: Name on the Memorial at Lone Pine (no known grave).
Decorations: Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Personal Characteristics: Was listed as a Boundary Rider and stockman prior to enlistment for the Boer War. Described as reckless. Height 1.8 m, weight 60 kg (1903).
Reasons to go and fight: King and Country.
Details of service in war: Sergeant Chambers was serving as a gunner with the permanent Artillery in Victoria in 1901 when he volunteered to serve in South Africa. When his request was refused, he deserted, paid his own way to Druban in South Africa where he joined the Imperial Light Horse as a trooper. He served in the Transvaal and Orange Free State for 231 days. He then returned to Australia and jouned the Australian Commonwealth Horse. With his declared Imperial Light Horse service, he was made a Troop Sergeant. The 7ACH did not see service in South Africa.
Service and life after the Boer War: When he returned fron South Africa, he handed himself in, and was tried for desertion. Eventually he was able to re-joun the permanent Artillery as a gunner. He then worked as a painter, he did not marry. He volunteered for the AIF in World War 1 joining the Service Corps as a gunner in the ammunition train. He died at Galliipoli in July 1915.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Colonel Laurence Creswell Chambers,Whittlesea VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Great nephew
