Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"OBITUARY. LIEUT.-COL. CHISHOLM. Outstanding Military Career. Loyal Service to Empire

A life loyally and unselfishly devoted to the service of his country, in peace and war closed yesterday with the death at Hobart, of Lieut.-Col. James Duncan Walter Chisholm, V.D., for many years associated with the military forces in Tasmania, and the possessor of a distinguished war record. The late Col. Chisholm was born in Tasmania on March 5, 1873. He was educated at the Hutchins School, and after leaving school entered the business house of S. T. Chancellor, wine and spirit merchants. From there he went to the firm of A. G. Webster and Sons Ltd., and for five years was accountant of the Devonport branch. For about a year prior to the outbreak of war in 1914 he was with Russell Allport and Co. Ltd., engineers, at Hobart. Col. Chisholm began his military career with the Southern Tasmanian Volunteer Artillery, with which he served for nearly 13 years, rising from the rank of gunner to that of sergeant. He was appointed second lieutenant in the Tasmanian Rangers in April, 1909, and a lieutenant in the 93rd Infantry (Derwent Regiment), in 1912, rising to the rank of captain in 1916. In October of that year he was called up for duty in connection with training at the Australian Imperial Force Camp at Claremont, and was appointed camp adjutant in January, 1916. In March of the same year he was appointed captain in the A.I.F., and allotted to the 40th Battalion, sailing for France in May. Col. Chisholm commanded "A" Company of the 40th with distinction during its war service. He was twice wounded and was mentioned in despatches for meritorious conduct in the field. He served with the 40th in France until October, 1918. After the war he continued his military career in Tasmania. In 1922 he was promoted to the rank of major, and in 1927 to that of lieut.-colonel, and appointed to the command of the 40th Battalion Australian Military Forces, at Hobart. He relinquished that command in March, 1929, and was placed on the retired list. In 1917 he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces' Officers' decoration.

REPATRIATION ACTIVITY.

Since 1919 the late Col. Chisholm had also been connected with the Repatriation Department. During that year he was placed in charge of the assistance section, and in 1920 he took temporary charge of the Launceston sub-branch. In 1926 he was appointed officer in charge of the joint pensions and medical sections, and when those sections were separated some months later he was placed in charge of the medical and general section, which position he occupied until he retired from the service in May of this year owing to prolonged and serious ill-health. The late Col. Chisholm had a stroke in 1935, and his illness dated from that period. He died at the Repatriation Hospital. The late Col Chisholm was also a member of the department's Purchase and Contract Board, a member of the State Repatriation Board for Tasmania, and also acted at various times as Deputy Commissioner of the department in
Tasmania. He was a man of wide interests. He was President and secretary of the 40th Battalion Association for some time, and actively interested in the Tasmanian Rifle Association, and was one of the founders of the Devonport Rifle Club. He was a member of TocH, and was interested in all youth movements. He was a keen follower of the British code of football, and of sport generally. He was a member of the Mersey, and a Past Master of the Tasmanian Union and Hutchins Old Boys' Masonic Lodges, and a member of the Protestant Alliance Lodge. Col. Chisholm was the last male of the Chisholm Clan of Erchless Castle near Inverness, North Scotland. He is survived by his wife and daughter Keir, and four sisters. Mesdames W. H. Philp (Hobart), J. Freeman (Lindisfarne), R. E. Grove (Bellerive) and H. P. Belton (Bagdad). A service will be held at St. David's Cathedral, Hobart, at 10 a.m. tomorrow, after which the cortege will move to Cornelian Bay Cemetery for the interment.

STRIKING TRIBUTE.

The Commissioner of Police (Col. J. E. C. Lord), formerly commanding the 40th Battalion, A.I.F., when informed of the death of Col. Chisholm yesterday, said his passing would be regretted by his comrades and by a very wide circle of friends. "He was a good soldier, a true friend, and a very fine type of gentleman - than which nothing higher can be said of any man," said Col. Lord. At a meeting of the Tasmanian Rifle Association last night reference was made to the death of Col. Chisholm. It was stated that he was an old member of the association and always took a keen interest in its activities. - from the Hobart Mercury, Tuesday 17 November 1936, page 4 (nla.gov.au)