Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born 29 April 1871 at Nowra, NSW
Husband of Ada CHASELING
Of St. Peter's Rectory, Neutral Bay, NSW
Aged 45 years
Enlisted 01 June 1915 for Voyage Only
Embarked 20 August 1915 per 'HMAT Shropshire' from Sydney, NSW
Enlisted 01 February 1916 for Voyage Only
Embarked 24 August 1916 per 'HMAT Anchies' from Sydney, NSW
​Pay rate of 19s 0d after embarkation
Returned to Australia 08 October 1919

EARLY MARRIED LIFE
Mrs. Chaseling commenced her married life with her eloquent clerical husband in Albury on the first day of 1890.The ceremony was performed at St.Matthew's Anglican Church, and now there are three children as a result of the marriage, two of them married. In those days Rev. Chaseling was no richer than the average young parson, being dependent upon his stipend for his livelihood. His wife, the sister of a well-known police Inspector now retired, was a willing help-mate. Their home and the location of the parson's spirited labors was changed to Neutral Bay, then but a struggling parish.Mrs. Chaseling, in order to help in the struggle to get together the furniture necessary for the home, took in boarders, and so swelled the family funds. Rev. Chasellng worked hard and so did his wife. He has a gifted, eloquent tongue and so succeeded in gathering around him an enthusiastic flock. So for years the pair struggled on together, both deeply interested in their work. A church worthy of the standing of the parish which had grown up on the other northern shores of the harbor was needed. Two relatives of Mrs. Chasellng came to the rescue and put up the first guarantees which made possible the building of the handsome church now known as St.Peters. Neutral Boy North. And there from the pulpit each Sunday Rev. James Herbert Chaseling delighted the congregation with the eloquence with which he propounded the simple lessons of Christlanity. So for years the pastor and his wife lived with their family as happily as the average man and wife — and they were both respected in the local community.

THE WAR AND AFTER
War came and disturbed the even tenor of the parson's home as It did the homes of so ninny other men. He enlisted . Some of the returned men may remember Padre Major Chaseling on transport duty. The war over he returned to his home, his family and his parochial duties. In February, 1924, the parson and his wife agreed to sublet furnished their home in Milltary-road, he going to live at one address and she at another. Still this did not indicate any rift in the lute of their marital life. Shortly before this a rich father and an elderly unmarried daughter became parishioners of St. Peters. Mrs. Chaseling discovered that, unknown to her the parson had booked his passage for a trip to Singapore In company with these two, and a married daughter of the Chaseling family with her husband. It was necessary for the parson to obtain his wife's permission for his passport. This she signed, thinking that it was merely to operate for that special trip to last only seven weeks. Away sailed the clergyman to Singapore, while his wife went to reside with her daughter-in-law In Cremorne. It was Mrs. Chaseling's wish to live in their home In Military Road. but her husband refused on the plea that he could not afford to pay the rent of the house. As his wife could not afford a holiday trip to Singapore, she could not do other than remain on the North Shore with an occasional ferry trip to town.The eloquent clergyman returned — but not to his wife. He stayed at a boarding house in Wycombe Road, Neutral Bay. The atmosphere of a small parish on the North Shore could not have appealed to his vivid imagination on his return, for in October of the same year he sailed off again with the wealthy, but elderly parishioner, who was accompanied by his daughter. This was a more ambitious trip, field of sight-seeing. The tour took in Honolulu, Japan, China. Singapore, Manila, and they sailed back into Sydney Harbour in October 1925. They had been away exactly 12 months. When they returned, Mrs. Chaseling was living In the old home in Military Road, and expected the Rector to return there.But her expectations were not realized, for the touring parson took up his residence elsewhere — at the home of the elderly wealthy parishioner. And he has been there ever since. The father died some months ago, and about that time Mr. Chaseling's married daughter and her husband took up residence in the house.

The Rector has a big Cole motor car in which he could be seen driving around the parish. For the last two years he has not shown any income from the parish. Mrs. Chaseling has been receiving £15/1C/S per month from the parish stipend, the remainder going to the parson, who has been acting as locum ror the Rector.The reverend gentleman suggested that, for health reasons, he should take a trip, preferably to America. And when Mrs. Chaseling demurred at signing the passport for this trip, she received through her solictors the following letter, which was sent by the parson's legal advisers, and purported to have been composed by Hector Chaseling: -- 'Mosman, Saturday. 'Dear Mr. ? The following facts I submit for your guidance: --'(1) On Thursday last, at the advice of Dr. Pawlett— my medical adviser—I consulted a throat specialist. Dr.Dunn, of Macquarie-street. After an examination he reported to Dr. Pawlett the necessity for an operation of so serious nature that the doctor advised me not to undergo It, as the chances of my surviving It were very remote Indeed. 'There fore, if I am prevented from consulting the only doctor who has made Improvement without operation I must continue just to grow worse, and be unable for any duty, and therefore unable to earn or provide for Mrs. Chaseling at all.'(2) Under the circumstances It will be necessary, as consent for a passport to seek medical aid is refused, to reduce the allowance now made to £2 per week, as from the first day of May next.'If I am prevented from earning so that I have no hope of repaying what might be loaned to me to seek a cure, then I refuse to borrow, and funds are running low.' If the matter is not settled by the first of May I will be compelled to instruct my banker to this effect. We will then defendany action she may bring for increased maintenance. 'Further, as a proof of our sincerity, you might make application for the immediate delivery of my books and pictures, and if Immediate settlement is refused, begin whatever action Is necessary to recover furniture.
CONDITIONAL OFFER 'If settlement Is effected next week 1 will place In your hands a sufficient amount to provide for Mrs. Chaseling for a period of two years--this. of course, -being a condition that you hand it over when the passport Is In my hands, and an agreement Is signed by Mrs. Chaseling containing the terms I have already Indicated.' As my throat Is a matter of life and death to me, would you please communicate to Mrs. Chaseling's solicitors what I have said here, and say that this is my last word on the subject.'Unless immediate settlement is made I withdraw all offers, and will instruct my banker to pay to Mrs. Chaseling an amount of £2 per week henceforth .'If 1 am compelled to remain here as I have resigned my parish, then she will have to bear the responsibility of n position she has created.. '.'If the matter is settled within tills week her allowance will continue at £3 per week: it not, the negotiations art) at an end so far as I am concerned.'Faithfully yours;- 'J. H. CHASBLING' P.S.— If I am compelled to remain here, as I cannot afford the rent of the house Mrs. Chaseling now occupies, I propose to rent a cheaper house in another suburb, and remove the furniture there to provide a home for Mrs. Chaaellne.'

Truth, Sydney, Sunday 13 June 1926 page 1