Thomas CHAMBERLAIN

Thomas CHAMBERLAIN Update Details

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CHAMBERLAIN, Thomas

Service Number:	362
Enlisted:	Not yet discovered
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen
Born:	Queensland, Australia, 1882
Home Town:	Barcaldine, Barcaldine, Queensland
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Not yet discovered
Died:	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1960, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Barcaldine Cemetery, Queensland Plot 117 Section 1
Memorials:

1 Oct 1899:	Involvement Private, 362, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen
6 Mar 1901:	Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 362, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 488 notes 5th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 6 Mar 1901 aboard Templemore arriving Port Elizabeth 1 Apr 1901.
5 May 1902:	Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 362, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 491 notes 5th QIB embarked at Cape Town 27 Mar 1902 aboard St Andrew returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 30 Apr 1902, disbanded 5 May 1902.

Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey

When Thomas Chamberlain enlisted in 1901 in the 5th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 16 Mar 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as his parents, Barcaldine. In the original Nominal Roll for the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent, held by National Archives, it notes his N.O.K. as his mother Mrs. E. Chamberlain, Barcaldine. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 29, his address is recorded as c/- I. Chamberlain, Barcaldine.

Thomas Chamberlain was born about 1882 in Queensland, a son to Isaac Chamberlain and Ellen Chamberlain (nee Carroll). It appears his family relocated from Barcaldine to Sydney in about 1908, and either prior to, or after that, Thomas had moved to New Zealand.

An article in The Morning Bulletin, 30 Jan 1948, notes his parents' ashes were interred at Barcaldine after they had died in Sydney, Isaac in 1936 and Ellen in 1941, to fulfill their wish to be buried with one of their children who had passed while they were living in Barcaldine. They were married in 1882 at Barcaldine, with their children born there, and obviously had a strong affinity with the area having relocated their family to Sydney around 1908.

When his father and mother passed, Thomas "Tom", was recorded on their respective funeral notices as living in New Zealand. He obviously returned to Sydney at some point following their passing and he too passed in Sydney in 1960. It appears he also had the same wish to be buried with his family in Barcaldine and it appears that occurred in 1961.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 501; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks, Bk 3 p. 29; National Archives Australia- B 5172 Nominal Roll of 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent Queensland Defence Force for service in South Africa, p. 6; newspaper articles- see links).

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