Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

PRIVATE JAMES HENRY CHATTAWAY

“Son of Henry and Clara Ellen Chattaway; husband of Caroline Dewell Chattaway, of Nowra, New South Wales, Australia.”

The inclusion of locality by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission can often be misleading and bear little relevance to the deceased, as is the case here.

Born in Mount Druitt, James was the eldest of four children. The Chattaway’s were regarded as “a pioneering family in the Illabo district. For years his parents held property interests in the locality.” As such, James and his siblings’ attended schools at Illabo, Junee and Wagga Wagga. An athletic type, James “was a good cricketer, footballer, and tennis player” which flowed through into adulthood, particularly his interest in football.

Employed by the NSW Railway Department for many years, James was working as a station boundary rider at the outbreak of World War Two. On the 8th June 1940, James enlisted in Junee and is noted as being one of the Junee district's earliest enlistments. He would retake his oath in July when he marched into the Recruit Reception Depot (R.R.D.) at Wagga. After eleven weeks training, James was transferred to the 2/13 Battalion as they prepared to embark for the Middle East.

While under training, James had been granted a period of leave which allowed him to travel home and, on the 24th August 1940, James and his sweetheart, Caroline Phillis, were married in the St. John’s Church of England at Wagga. His brother, Frank, acting as best man. On the 19th October, James sailed from Sydney with his unit.

“Private James Chattaway, of Illabo, a member of the A.I.F., who was killed in action, is the second soldier from Junee and district to be killed since the commencement of the present hostilities…When the news came through on Saturday last it profoundly shocked Junee and district, where Private Chattaway was well and favorably known. Mrs. Chattaway, sen. and Mrs. James Chattaway were in Wagga at the time, and had to be recalled. It is understood from reports available that Private Chattaway was killed at Tobruk, the besieged Libyan desert stronghold, on June 22nd.”

Further newspaper articles indicated that James had been “serving on a Bren carrier at Tobruk when he was killed” and that “he had been recommended for promotion.”

James' sacrifice was honoured by his local community with the inclusion of CHATTAWAY, J. on the Junee War Memorial Clock Tower. His is the second name listed on the World War 2 - 1939-1945 plaque.

And the link to Nowra? James’ widow was a school teacher and at the time circular and war grave information was being collated, Caroline Chattaway was employed at the Nowra Intermediate High School. She passed away in 1952.

Trove:
1929 'THEFT FROM GOODS SHED', Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1911 - 1954), 26 March, p. 6. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143112321
1940 'SOCIAL NEWS[?] WOMEN’S ITEMS', Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW : 1934 - 1935; 1938 - 1953), 29 August, p. 2. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article255022281
1941 'PERSONAL', Cootamundra Herald (NSW : 1877 - 1954), 16 July, p. 3. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article144140313
1941 'SECOND JUNEE DISTRICT SOLDIER KILLED', The Gundagai Independent (NSW : 1928 - 1954), 17 July, p. 2. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article265159816
1941 'TOWN'S THREE WAR HEROES', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 19 July, p. 2. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167490372 
1941 'WITH THE FORCES', Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1911 - 1954), 18 November, p. 2. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143991938 
1952 'Family Notices', Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1911 - 1954), 9 May, p. 2. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article145623304