Total Pageviews

Chamberlain, William James

Private William 'Bill' Chamberlain was a member of the 17th's Brigade's 2/6 Battalion, Service No. VX35976, POW No. 4024.  He was captured in Crete.

From the AWM website: In early April, the 2/6th, with the rest of the 6th Division, deployed to Greece to resist the anticipated German invasion. For the 2/6th, the Greek campaign was essentially one long withdrawal through a series of rearguard positions, beginning on 16 April. In the last days of the campaign its companies were dispersed by higher command; some were subsequently evacuated by sea between 26 and 29 April, but approximately a quarter of the battalion was left behind and taken prisoner. Some of the evacuees were landed on Crete and, after fighting with the 17th Brigade Composite Battalion, many of these men were also captured.

Bill was born in Port Fairy, Victoria on 4 Dec 1918. He was living at Port Fairy in Victoria when he enlisted in Geelong on 6 Nov 1939. Post-war he worked for a dairy company in Reservoir East, Victoria. He died in Wangaratta, Victoria on 31 May 1990 aged 71.


On Bill's left is Wally Keast who also came from Port Fairy.

No comments:

Post a Comment