CHAMBERS, Leslie Norman Alec

CHAMBERS, Leslie Norman Alec – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 5
RANK : Lieutenant
UNIT : 3rd Machine Gun Battalion
ENLISTMENT DATE : 19/01/1916
AGE : 23
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Brisbane, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Roma, Queensland
RELIGION : Presbyterian
OCCUPATION : Clerk
DATE OF DEATH : 15/10/1972
PLACE OF BURIAL : Brisbane, Queensland

MEMORIALS : Loch Lomond Honour Roll 1914-1918, Warwick War Memorial Gates, Commercial Banking Company of Sydney WWI Honour Roll, Brisbane St Andrew’s Uniting Church Honour Roll

View Veteran’s Service File : CHAMBERS, Leslie Norman Alec

NOTES : Leslie Norman Alex Chambers known known as Alec, the sixth son of Oliver Cromwell and Ellen (nee Bosher) Chambers was born in Roma, Queensland in 1894. The Chambers originally came from Nhill in Victoria and by the time they settled on their farm called Balmah at Elbow Valley, the family consisted of ten children, seven sons and three daughters. Alec and his brother Stuart attended the small Loch Lomond primary school. Both boys enjoyed playing football and in 1910, Alec was the captain of the school team.

Alec and three of his brothers, Arthur Frank Chambers Major MID, Howard Oliver Chambers 764, and Stuart Chambers 4, enlisted during the First World War. Alec and Stuart enlisted within days of each other. Tragically, Arthur and Stuart both died overseas during their service.

Alec embarked from Sydney onboard HMAT Borda on 5^th June 1916 bound for Alexandria. He spent some time in Southhampton in England before proceeding to France at the end of 1916. A bout of mumps saw him hospitalized at Rouen.

In 1918 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and quickly rose through the ranks until he gained his promotion to Lieutenant on 1 October 1918. Alec returned to Australia onboard HMAT Themistocles and received his discharge from the Army on 26^th September 1919.

Once home he worked for a while on a farm with his brother Howard in Mackay before moving to Brisbane to work as a Commission Agent. Alec married Evelyn Mary Waghorne on 2 June 1941 at The Manse, Highgate Hill in Brisbane.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.