Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Before the war
Edwin Cyprien Chabrel was born on the 11th of November 1891 in Calcutta, India. He was baptised on the 25th of December in 1891. He was one of five children. His siblings were called Cecil Claud Marceli, Madeline Ada, May, and Helen Marjory, and his parents were Annie Madeleine Johnson and Muro Marcelin John Chabrel. At some stage the family immigrated to South Australia and lived at Glenelg in Adelaide.

Edwin enlisted at 23 years and 2 months and was assigned to the Australian Imperial Forces on the 22nd of October in 1914 at Morphettville, South Australia. Prior to this, he worked as Clerk. He was described as 5 feet 8 inches tall with fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. Upon enlistment he was single, and his father was his nominated next of kin. During the war he married Mavis Clare Chabrel from Weymouth

Training for war
Edwin was initially appointed to the 9th Light Horse Regiment, but was transferred to the 16th Infantry Battalion 21st December 1914.

He trained with the 4th Brigade which consisted of the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th Infantry Battalions in Broadmeadows, Victoria. Edwin embarked for Egypt on the 22nd of December, 1914. The soldiers had a brief stop in Albany, WA as many of the troops were recruited from WA. They reached Alexandria, Egypt on the 1st of February 1915 and disembarked on the 3rd of February and arrived at camp on the 4th.

They moved to training camps in Cairo where they worked for eight hours a day, six days a week. They trained in drills and manoeuvres intended to simulate the warfare they were heading into. After extensive training he embarked for Gallipoli on the 12th of April in 1915, arriving early on the 25th of April 1915.

He was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 2nd August 1915 and soon after on the 8th he was evacuated on the Delta Hospital ship to be treated at the 7th Australian General Hospital. He had received a gunshot wound to his right wrist. On the 11th of August he was transferred to the British Red Cross Hospital in Montazah, Egypt. On the 23rd of September in 1915 he was transferred to the Glyempoulo Hospital for his battle wound.

On the 27th of October in 1915 he embarked from Alexandria on the HMT Canada to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. The 16th Infantry Battalion also fought in the reorganisation and expansion of the Australian Imperial Force in Egypt. This took place between January and March of 1916 and was critical for the training and regrouping of the forces before being sent to the Western Front. This was important in order to prepare for the warfare they would face and to maintain the strength of the Australian Imperial Forces.

On the 9th of March in 1916 he was discharged from the hospital and rejoined the forces at the Reorganisation and Expansion of the AIF. On the 6th of May 1916 he was promoted to a Corporal. This promotion involved greater responsibilities including being fully in charge of a section, handling severe discipline, making tactical decisions, mentoring and evaluating the promotion of other soldiers, administrative duties and having more advanced equipment.

On the 9th of May 1916 he was listed as suffering from exhaustion; however, there are no details of treatment. On the 19th of May 1916 he was admitted to the 1st Generation Hospital in Heliopolis, however he was deemed fit for duty on the same day. From the 13th to the 19th of June 1916, he returned to fighting with the Battalion.

The Battle of Pozieres took place from the 23rd of July to the 3rd of September in 1916. This was a part of the Somme offensive and they experienced many casualties. There was intense artillery bombardment and machine gun fire, so they were required to hold important positions throughout the war and suffered many losses as a result.

On the 17th of February 1917, Edwin marched into the 4th Training Battalion 1&2 Camps Godford from the 4th Brigade Headquarters in France. On the 13th of March 1917 Edwin became an Acting Acting Orderly Room Sergeant which involved office work, paperwork and record management in the military camp.

Edwin reverted to an Lance Corpoal on the 21st of April 1917 and on the 24th of May he was finally awarded the permanent grade of Corporal.

On the 27th of December in 1917 Edwin declared his true name was Edwin Cyprien Chabrel rather than Edwin Gilbert Chabrel.

After the war
Edwin was discharged on the 1st of February 1918 due to a medical condition. In total, he served for 3 years and 169 days, 3 years and 92 days of which were abroad. Edwin received medals for his war service. These included the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Star Medal.

After his return, Edwin and his wife Mavis Clare Chabrel welcomed their son Eric Cyprien Chabrel on the 26th of April 1919 at Miss Greenslade’s Private Hospital. On the 12th of December in 1940, Edwin was divorced by his wife against his wishes as stated in a newspaper report: “Edwin Gilbert Chabrel, clerk of Mary Street, St Leonards against Mavis Clare Chabrel of Military Road, Mosman NSW on grounds of desertion.”

A published news article shows he settled in Glenelg and became a part of the sailing club. It is stated that he was supporting a major sailing event. Edwin died of natural causes in 1972 and now lies in his grave at Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia – Sanctuary Cross/Wall 54/B00. He is honoured also in war memorials in South Australia.

Written By Lola Whiteman 

Reference List

4th Australian Infantry Brigade 2025, Awm.gov.au, viewed 20 March 2025, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U56014>.

16th Australian Infantry Battalion 2016, Awm.gov.au.

‘AWM4 23/33/5 - January - February 1915’ 2025, Awm.gov.au, viewed 20 March 2025, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1343418?image=3>.

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2023, Familysearch.org.