The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Chambers
- First Name:
- Frederick Charles
- Nick Name:
- Fred or Freddie
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX16795
- Company:
- ‘E’ Company, Special Reserve Battalion, No 1 Platoon.
- Enlisted:
- 1.10.1941
- DOB:
- 30.11.1906
- Place of Birth:
- Menzies, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Charles Henry Chambers
- Mothers's Name:
- Myrtle Anne Chambers
- Religion:
- Roman Catholic
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Truck Driver
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Singapore Memorial, Column 136, Age 35.
- Cause of Death:
- Missing believed killed in action
- Place of Death:
- South‐West Bukit Timah
- Date of Death:
- 11.02.1942
General Description
Frederick Charles Chambers enlisted 1 October 1941. As a reinforcement he joined 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion boarding ‘Aquitania’ 15 January 1942 sailing to Singapore on 16 January 1941.
Little more than four months since enlistment, with ‘E’ Company Freddie was reported missing believed KIA on11 February 1942 at South West Bukit Timah during a Japanese ambush. About 88 of the 200 man Company survived. He was 35 years old.
‘E’ Coy suffered large loss of lives. Please read further.
In 1931 Electoral Role Frederick was recorded residing 77 Collins Street, Kalgoorlie with his father Charles and brother Arthur. His occupation truck driver.
His mother Myrtle Anne Chambers died in March 1930 in Kalgoorlie aged 42 years. Her husband Charles Chambers died three years later in 1933 aged 77 years.
Frederick had a sister Eileen and brother Arthur.
His NOK was brother Arthur Vivian Chambers who was two years younger, and enlisted with 2/5th Div Salvage Unit WX14912.
He served
1) Wau New Guinea from 27 October 1942 to 21 September 1943 and then again
2) 2/5th 6th Div Salvage Wewak, New Guinea from 28 November 1944 to 1 October 1945. He was discharged January 1946. Arthur married about 1942 and he died 1974.
The family of Chambers were not officially informed of his death until end of March 1946.
