Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Henry Chambers (4398) - Biography

Before The War

John Henry Chambers was born in Chatham, England where he grew up and eventually moved to Adelaide, where he lived with his wife Barbara Chambers and his two children at the address of 24 High Street. He lived a normal life and worked as a laborer, doing building work and heavy lifting. He was an Anglican and attended church every Sunday. He was a 43-year-old man who stood at 5-foot 6 with grey hair and a medium complexion with chest measurements of 34 – 35 inches. He weighed 130 pounds with perfect vision. The war started in 1914 and in 1915, he enlisted for war. He got all his vaccinations and passed all of his inspections. He was deemed fit to fight in the war and he embarked his home on the HMAT Shropshire which took him and the 2nd depot battalion to France, where he was then shortly switched to the 27th infantry battalion on arrival in France.

During The War

John Henry Chambers was sent to France with the 27th infantry battalion. After three days staying in France, John Henry Chambers caught influenza and they recorded that he had fallen “in the field” and had been brought back from the barracks to the 3rd Northern General Hospital. After he had gotten better he rejoined the other soldiers on the battlefield. Six months after they arrived, John started to feel pains in his joints, shoulders arms and legs. He was sent to the hospital in June 1916 and was later found to have rheumatism arthritis. He complained of pains in his hips and wrists and after being held in hospital for a week was finally deemed unfit for any further service and they decided to send him home and get him to do home service, meaning administrative work back in Adelaide. Before he left he had requested all of his medals to be posted back to his home on 24 High Street Kensington.

After The War

John Henry Chambers died on the 7th of February 1919 after struggling with rheumatism arthritis. He had joint pain all over his body, including wrists, hips, back, legs and shoulders. The war ended in 1918 and he was done with his administrative job from home and went back to labor. He couldn’t do as much because of his arthritis. A year after the war in 1919 he again caught influenza and died in his home. His wife had to raise their two kids alone, his body was then buried in Payneham cemetery where his grave still remains.

Anzac Spirit

The Anzac Spirit is the qualities shown by all of the Anzacs. John Henry Chambers showed many Anzac qualities, such as faith, courage, bravery and a strong will. John Chambers was a true Anzac and showed his bravery and will power when he didn’t try to go home or run away, or just leave the army once he caught influenza or saw how gruesome war could be. He fought on through tough times and tragedy and stood by his country. From his days waiting on the HMAT to dock in France to the last day of his administrative duties back home. He showed his blatant courage by continuing to fight everyday even with no heroic moment to make people tell stories of him. He defined his own battle and story when he fought for our country side by side with strangers with no military experience under his belt. He fought even through the whole war till he could no longer move without intense pain, even when a normal soldier’s life expectancy was estimated to be around six weeks. He showed loyalty when he fought a war that wasn’t his, a war that our country was brought into when our allies were under attack.

Bibliography

http://www.naa.gov.au

https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au