CHALMERS, James
| Service Number: | 37414 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 February 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 7th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Galton, Queensland, Australia, 5 September 1889 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Public Accountant |
| Died: | GSWs to back, King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London, England, United Kingdom, 25 August 1918, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, England, United Kingdom Brookwood Military Cemetery (Plot IV, Row B, Grave No. 7), Surrey, England |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Feb 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 37414, Field Artillery Brigades | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Nov 1917: | Involvement Gunner, 37414, Field Artillery Brigades, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Sydney embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Nov 1917: | Embarked Gunner, 37414, Field Artillery Brigades, HMAT Port Sydney, Sydney | |
| 29 Jun 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Gunner, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column | |
| 27 Jul 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Gunner, 7th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 9 Aug 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Gunner, 37414, 7th Field Artillery Brigade, The Battle of Amiens, GSW to back, penetrating abdomen/fractured spine DoW England. | |
| 25 Aug 1918: | Involvement Gunner, 37414, 7th Field Artillery Brigade, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 37414 awm_unit: 7th Australian Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Gunner awm_died_date: 1918-08-25 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 25th August…… James Chalmers was born at Galton, Queensland in 1889. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 20th February, 1917 as a 27 year old, single, Public Accountant from Hotel Carlton, Sydney, NSW.
Gunner James Chalmers was appointed as Voyage Only Corporal & embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Port Sydney (A15) on 5th November, 1917 with the Field Artillery, 30th Reinforcements.
Voyage Only Corporal James Chalmers was written up for an Offence at Colombo on 28th November, 1917. He was reported as A.W.L. (absent without leave) from 5.30 pm on 26th November, 1917 until 12 noon on 27th November, 1917. He was reduced to permanent rank of Gunner & forfeited 2 days’ pay by order of Lt. Colonel F. J. Alverson.
Gunner Chalmers was admitted to Ship’s Hospital on 8th December, 1917 & was discharged from Ship’s Hospital on 12th December, 1917. He disembarked at Suez on 12th December, 1917.
Gunner Chalmers embarked from Alexandria on 18th December, 1917. He disembarked at Taranto on 22nd December, 1917 & was written up for an Offence at Taranto – on 25th December, 1917 - while in Isolation Camp he was found beyond the limit fixed by Camp Order & without a pass or written leave from his Commanding Officer. He was awarded 10 days Field Punishment by Lt. Colonel F. J. Alverson.
Gunner Chalmers disembarked at Southampton, England on 5th January, 1918 & was posted to R.B.A.A. (Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery) at Heytesbury, Wiltshire, England from Australia on 5th January, 1918.
Gunner Chalmers proceeded to France on 4th June, 1918 & joined 3rd D.A.C. (Divisional Artillery Column) on 4th July, 1918. He was transferred to 7th F.A.B. (Field Artillery Brigade) on 23rd July, 1918 & was taken on strength of 26th Battery, 7th F.A.B on 23rd July, 1918.
Gunner James Chalmers was wounded in action on 8th August, 1918. He was admitted to Field Ambulance on 8th August, 1918 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Back then transferred to Casualty Clearing Station. From there he was transferred to Ambulance Train & admitted to Hospital at Wimereux, France on 10th August, 1918.
Gunner Chalmers was invalided to England on 12th August, 1918 on Hospital Ship “St. Denis” with G.S.W & Fractured Spine.
Gunner Chalmers was admitted to King George Hospital, London, England on 12th August, 1918 with G.S.W (gunshot wounds) to back – penetrating abdomen. He was reported as dangerously ill.
Gunner James Chalmers died at 8.55 am on 25th August, 1918 at King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London, England from wounds received in action – G.S.W Spine & Paraplegia.
He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England – Australian Military Burial Ground where around 360 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
*******[Note: The CWGC headstone for Gunner Chalmers has the incorrect year of death. CWGC were advised at the time of researching – August 2021 of the error.]
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/c.html
Click images to start slideshow.