CHABREL, Victor William
| Service Number: | 307 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 August 1914, Morphettville, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 1st Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Brighton, Sussex, England, 20 July 1890 |
| Home Town: | Broken Hill, Broken Hill Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Natural causes, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, 28 August 1975, aged 85 years |
| Cemetery: |
Toowoomba Garden of Remembrance | Cemetery & Crematorium Cremated |
| Memorials: | Glenelg and District WW1 & WW2 Honour Board, St Peters - St Peter's College Honour Board, Unley South Park Bowling Club Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 307, 10th Infantry Battalion, Morphettville, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 307, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 307, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Adelaide | |
| 13 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 1st Pioneer Battalion | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement 307, 1st Pioneer Battalion | |
| 21 Feb 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 307, 1st Pioneer Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Victor William Chabrel was born on 20 July 1890 in Brighton, Sussex, England, however, his family moved to Australia at an unknown time. Chabrel’s hometown was Broken Hill, New South Wales where he worked as a Miner. Victor's brothers Francis George and Cyprien Edwin also served in WW1.
Victor Chabrel enlisted on 24 August 1914 at the age of 24 years and 1 month. In his attestation papers, Victor William Chabrel was described as 5 ft 8 inches, weighing 154 pounds (roughly 70kg) with a dark skin complexion and blue eyes. Chabrel embarked on the HMAT Ascanius A11, 20th of October 1914 for Egypt. He fought at Gallipoli with the 10th battlaion until he was treated for an infrection in August of 1915 in Malta. He returned to duty in Egypt and was transferred to the 1st Pioneer Battalion.
Chabrel proceeded to France disembarking at Marseilles 2nd April 1916. During the battle of Pozieres, the members of the 1st pioneer battalion would have to construct trenches, roads and carry supplies amongst the chaos with near no protection and when a shell destroyed something they would have to go to the danger zone to repair it.
Chabrel’s first visit to the hospital in France was in September 1916 due to constipation where he spent 21 days in hospital before returning to battle. Just 2 months after this Chabrel was back into the hospital in November, this time for trench feet, a condition which is caused by being exposed to wet and muddy floor long periods of time. he recovered and spent time at base to convalesce. During this period he was punished for being absent and was punished forfeiting a few days of salary.
On the 22nd March 1917 Chabrel went to hospital with an infection where he spent 62 days in hospital. He was attached to base for duty until January 1918 when he proceeded to join his unit in France. Chabrel was appointed Lance Corporal on 20th May 1918. In May he was treated in hospital this time with Torticollis and then spent time at a convalescence depot to fully recover. He rejoined his unit in August.
Chabrel with returned to Australia thanks to 1914 Special leave in October 1918. He arrived back in December and moved back to Broken Hill. In 1926 he married Evan V.M Ronald in Broken Hill. They remained in Broken Hill for many years before moving to Maranoa in Queensland. Chabrel died in Queensland 28th August 1975 and was buried at Toowoomba Garden of Remembrance.
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