Just Another Pair Of Socks

Melton District ANZACS

Frank Walters CHALMER

Personal

Born: 5 June, 1891

Birthplace: Brighton

Parents: Ernest ArthurHenry Chalmer (sometimes Ernest Henry Arthur); Grace Emma Donald (death c. 1945)
Ernest Chalmer: Born c.1863 Wood (Woodend?), Reg. # 23745; Father - Walters Chalmer; Mother Eliza Jane Farange
Grace Emma Donald; born c. 1865, Melbourne; Reg. # 16934; Father Peter Francis Donald; Mother Maria Stewart.

Died: 9 November, 1947

Place of death: East Melbourne

Burial place: Melbourne Crematorium, Melbourne, Victoria

Awards and Honours

  • British War Medal 1914-20
  • Victory Medal

Battalions

8th reinforcements, 59th Battalion(16/05/1916 - 24th Depot Battalion Royal Park,3/38th Battalion {Bendigo})

Events

Enlistment

Regimental Service Number: 3273

Enlistment date: 21 February, 1916 Melbourne

Age at enlistment: 24 years 8 months

Address at enlistment: St Kilda, Victoria

Religion: Church of England

Marital Status: Single

Next of kin: Father: Ernest Henry Arthur Chalmer, Killeen, Grey St., St. Kilda.
02/04/1918 changed to mother; Mrs. G. E. Chalmer, 65 Hotham St., East St. Kilda.

Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 8 inches
Weight: 141 pounds
Complexion: Fresh
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Distinctive marks: Scar Left forearm

Embarkation ship: HMAT A7 Medic.

Rank: Lance Corporal

Return Date: 13 February, 1918

Return Vessel: Llanstephen Castle.

Arrival at Australia: 16 April, 1918.At: Melbourne, Victoria

Discharge Date: 24 May, 1918

War Service Summary

04/04/1916 - B Company, 22nd Battalion, Royal Park
23/06/1916 - To Duntroon
01/07/1916 - 3/38th Battalion, Bendigo
16/12/1916 - Lance Corporal; Embarkation Roll lists rank as Acting Sergeant
18/02/1917 - Disembarked Plymouth; corporal (Temp)
06/03/1917 - Acting Sergeant
19/03/1917 - Private; Acting Corporal without pay
16/09/1917 - Lance Corporal
02/07/1917 - Proceeds to France
03/07/1917 - 59th Battalion; Sick to hospital France 18 days; left arm
16/09/1917 - Lance Corporal
26/09/1917 - Wounded in Action France;
14/10/1917 - Transferred to England
16/10/1917 - Admitted Southern General Hospital; severe wound, left leg
07/11/1917 - Transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford - shell fragment struck left leg below knee no fracture, no puncturing of joint; head of tibia bruised; wound has healed but knee swells up on walking; fluid in knee.
17/11/1917 - Declared unfit for all service for 6 months
21/11/1917 - Discharged hospital to furlough
13/02/1918 - Returned to Australia aboard hospital carrier Llanstephen Castle; traumatic synovitis left knee
22/02/1918 - 26/03 1918 Admitted to ships hospital diphtheria (P 27 Serv. Rec.)
16/04/1918 - Arrived Melbourne
24/05/1918 - Discharged medically unfit

Total service 824 days of which 478 days were abroad.

20/2/1939 Reply in request of results from Officer Training School, Duntroon, 1916 and School of Instruction, Tidworth from British Army authorities (P 19 Serv. Rec.) 13/05/1917 Undertook training at School of Instruction, Tidworth (P 29 Serv. Rec.)
Qualified for Commissioned Rank at Duntroon and Tidworth.

War Service Commemerated

Life After the War

Names of wife & children:
Married 1919: Kathleen Ivy Vinnecombe Reg. # 2899
Children:
Frank Keith dies 1923; Registration # 12521
Helen Mrs Bauer (m. 1945)
Margaret Mrs Cook
Graham

Note WW2 enlistments.

Place/s of residence:
1893; 1895; 1910; 1911 newspapers mention the Chalmer family who own the Economics Store near the Golden Fleece Hotel. Late in 1911 they leave Melton for Melbourne.

January1910 Frank is in Bacchus Marsh; a bank clerk going to a new appointment at Romsey.

20/12/1939 77A Raymond St., Sale (P 19 Serv. Rec.)

Occupations:
Electoral Rolls show:
1914: Foster, Bank Clerk
1924: Macalister St. Sale; Occupation: Auctioneer; with wife
1936: 61 Macalister St. Sale; Occupation: Auctioneer ; with wife
1943: 33 Macalister St. Sale; Occupation: Auctioneer; with wife Kathleen Ivy; with Margaret Fitzallen Chalmer, physiotherapist

Date of death:
09/11/1947 - East Melbourne Registration #11952

Place of burial:
Melbourne Crematorium

Other relevant information:
Parents addresses:
Economics Store, Melton, Killeen, Grey St., St. Kilda - 1916
65 Hotham St., East St. Kilda 1918
32 Grandview Road, North Brighton 1945

Brother: Laurence Hamer Steward Chalmer, formerly of No. 4 Haig street, Caulfield, but now of Otira road, Caulfield, metallurgical chemist,

Additional Information

The Bacchus Marsh Express
Saturday 24 October 1903, P 3

MELTON (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
THE contests in the musical and elocutionary competitions under the auspices of the Melton branch of the A.N.A. were held last Friday, 16th inst., in the Mechanics' hall. Some of the items had a large number of competitors listed.
Mr. H. Gleeson, of Melbourne, was the judge; and the President, Cr. E. C. Kinnersly, conducted; Mr.R.A. Crouch, M.H.R., presented the awards. The results were as follows:

Recitation (under 14 years)-Frank Chalmer, 1; Gerald Little, 2; Roy Simpson, hon. mention.

Song with chorus of 6 voices (16 years)-Miss Rosa Wade, 1; Frank Chalmer, 2; Gerhard and Gottfried Jonjebloed, hon. mention.
..
Piano solo, "Little Soldiers," Miss M. M'Pherson; song, "Why must we say good bye," Miss Dickson; song, "The wrecker's light," Mr. Neilson; recitation, "The alarm," Master F. Chalmer; song,"Summer showers," ..

The Bacchus Marsh Express
Saturday 8 January 1910, P 4

In a court case: Frank Chalmers, clerk at the National bank, said that Patrick Valiance had no account at the branch.
The Bacchus Marsh Express
Saturday 3 September 1910, P 2

The final dance of the Bacchus Marsh Iolanthe Quadrille Club took place on Friday, 26th ult., and was a brilliant success. The hall and supper room were very tastefully decorated, and Briglia's band excelled themselves.
He proposed a very hearty vote of thanks to the ladies, and to the Secretary, Mr. F.W. Chalmer, who said in reply that the ladies made all the success.

The Bacchus Marsh Express
Saturday 14 January 1911, P 2

Mr. F. W. Chalmer has been promoted to the position of teller at Romsey branch of the National Bank. His friends in Bacchus Marsh intend making him a presentation. Mr. Macdonald succeeds Mr.. Chalmer.

The Bacchus Marsh Express
Saturday 11 November 1911, P 2

We have been asked to state that Mr. and Mrs. Chalmer, of the Economic store, intend leaving for Melbourne, and will shortly advertise their property for sale.

The Argus
Thursday 22 October 1936, P 8

BACWILL LIQUID GAUGE PTY. LTD to acquire from Leonard Bernard Bacon or from said L B Bacon and Frank Walter Chalmer letters patent (Commonwealth of Australia) No 28 899 of 1930 in respect of an invention being a gauge and indicator device for petrol and other liquids. Capital 6 000. Subscribers - Leonard Bacon, Frank Walters Chalmer

The Argus
Saturday 24 November 1945 p 10

CHALMERBAUER.Helen, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Chalmer, of Sale, to Flight-Lieut. Vyvyan Bauer, only son of Mr. L. Bauer and the late Mrs. Bauer, Broken Hill.

The Argus
Monday 10 November 1947 p 13

CHALMER. - On November 9, at private hospital. Melbourne. Frank Walters Chalmer, of Sale, beloved husband of Kathleen Ivy, and loved father of Margaret (Mrs. F. H. Cook), Helen (Mrs. V. G. Bauer), and Graham.

The Argus
Wednesday 22 August 1945, P 14

GRACE EMMA CHALMER, Formerly of 65 Hotham Street, East St. Kilda, Married Woman, but Late of 32 Grandview Road, North Brighton, Widow, Deceased. - After 14 clear days Frank Walters Chalmer (in the said will described as Frank Walter Chalmer), of Sale, stock & station agent, and
Laurence Hamer Steward Chalmer, formerly of No. 4 Haig street, Caulfield, but now of Otira road, Caulfield, metallurgical chemist, the executors appointed by deceased's will, dated 22nd December, 1925, will APPLY to the Supreme Court for PROBATE of this WILL. R. M. ROLLAND. solicitor. 57C Raymond street. Sale.

Sources

Australian War Memorial
Service Record
Newspaper accounts
Family sources