Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Emanuel Ralph Chenoweth was born on the 17th November 1897 in Bald Hills, South Australia. He was the youngest child of Philip Chenoweth and Mary Ann Yates. Emanuel was the youngest of nine siblings: Gordon Phillip, Lloyd James, Charles Edwin, Leah Matilda, Jessie Mary, Bertha Winifred, Lilia Grace and Rosa May Chenoweth. Emanuel stood at 5 foot 2 inches, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and dark hair. He worked as labourer prior to enlisting in the war and was part of the Methodist religion.

On October 4th 1915, at the age of 17 and 11 months, Emanuel enlisted to go to war and was ranked as a private. Two of Emanuel’s older brothers, Gordon and Lloyd, had both also served in World War 1 and remarkably had service numbers differing by one digit. Emanuel joined the 17th reinforcements, 10th battalion. Emanuel was sent to Mitcham Camp where he spent five months training hard doing field patrols, bayonet fighting, bomb throwing and trench digging to prepare himself for war. The camp accommodated over 4,000 soldiers. On the 25th March 1916, Emanuel embarked from Adelaide to England on the H.M.A.T A.9 Shropshire.

Once arriving in England, from approximately 24th March to 22nd December 1916, Emanuel trained in the 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington Camp. However, while training in England Emanuel fell ill and was admitted “Sick to Fargo Hospital”. Fargo Hospital was close to Durrington Camp where Emanuel trained. It was a 1,200-bed military hospital that was built just before the outbreak of the war in 1914. On 10th January 1917 Emanuel was discharged from hospital and marched back to the training camp. Just over a month later, on the 10th January 1917, Emanuel got sick again and was admitted to Tidworth Military Hospital. Tidworth Military Hospital was built in 1907 and had between 200 to 300 beds. On the 23rd February 1917 Emanuel was discharged and went back to training.

Shortly afterwards on the 31st March 1917 Emanuel became ill and this time was diagnosed with Mumps. Mumps is a viral infection that primarily affects saliva-producing glands that are located near your ears. Mumps often go away on their own within two weeks however Mumps can be very serious.  In Emanuel’s case, he spent just under 19 days in hospital being treated and was discharged from hospital to go back and train. On the 23rd July 1917 Emanuel was again sent sick to Delhi Hospital. He was discharged again and marched back into camp on the 28th July 1917.

On the 27th August 1917, due to being medically unfit with  Headaches, Emanuel Embarked NZHT 82 from England for return to Australia. Emanuel was discharged from the army on the 3rd November 1917.

After the war, Emanuel married Olive Hiet Stone on the 10th of November 1928 in Methodist Manse Church, Gawler West, South Australia. Together Emanuel and Olive had four children called Leslie Charles, Valda Olive, Barry Ralph and Jocelyn Mary Chenoweth. Emanuel died at the age of 73 on the 27th of July 1972 in Elizabeth, South Australia.

Even though Emanuel did not ‘fight’ in the battles while he was doing service, it doesn’t mean that he showed any less of the Anzac spirit than someone who did ‘fight’. Emanuel enlisted to go to war at the young age of 17. Emanuel enlisted following his two older brother’s footsteps, who were at war at the time he had enlisted. Emanuel went to training camp like every other solider and trained to become the best that he could. Shortly after arriving in England Emanuel fell ill. He continued to be plagued with frequent illness throughout his training days in England. However, every time he went back to camp training hard, showing and extraordinary amount of courage and perseverance. Emanuel was unfortunate to have been struck down with mumps and it is possible that this illness resulted in longer term headaches that ultimately saw him discharged. Even though Emanuel was not face the enemy he showed great loyalty to his country for putting his hand up to take part in the army, as well as for taking the risk that he might lose his life to help save his country.

Bibliography

CHENOWETH, Emanuel Ralph n.d., Australia, accessed 12 March 2019, <https://vwma.org.au>.

The AIF Project 2016, Australia, accessed 12 March 2019, <https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/search>.

Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War n.d., First World War Embarkation Rolls, Australia, accessed 12 March 2019, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/awm4/>.

Emanuel Ralph Chenoweth n.d., First World War Embarkation Rolls, Australia, accessed 12 March 2019, <https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?roll=First%20World%20War%20Embarkation%20Roll&people_preferred_name=Emanuel%20Chenoweth%20>.

Emanuel Ralph Chenoweth n.d., accessed 12 March 2019, <https://sarcib.ww1.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/soldier/emanuel-ralph-chenoweth>.

RecordSearch 2019, Australia, accessed 12 March 2019, <https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=3241031&isAv=N>.

Mitcham Army Camp n.d., accessed 14 March 2019, <https://www.mitchamcouncil.sa.gov.au/mitchamarmycamp>.

This link was irrelevant to my research regarding Emanuel and his time at war. This is because the source contains information about fallen soldiers, however, he was not killed during his time at war

COMMEMORATING THE FALLEN 2019, accessed 14 March 2019, <http://www.cwgc.org/fin>.

RecordSearch 2019, accessed 14 March 2019, <https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx>.

Mumps 2018, accessed 14 March 2019, <https://beta.health.gov.au/health-topics/mumps>.

British War Medal 1914-18, William K Leiper; Royal Mint 2019, Photograph, Royal Mint, accessed 14 March 2019, <https://ehive.com/collections/3977/objects/979771/