“William Fraser Chalmers was born at Boort, Victoria in 1897. His parents later moved west to take up residence at 13 Shuffrey Street close to the Fremantle Caledonian Hall and Fremantle Park. William’s father James established the Fremantle Foundry,” which still exists, operating in Beach Street until the early 2000s.
“William was given the middle name of Fraser in memory of his mother, the former Christina Frances Fraser, who was a proud member of that clan. Young Chalmers trained as a fitter and turner and together with his brother, James Meering Chalmers, he joined the Caledonian Soccer Club and was a member of the ‘B’ team which decisively won the 1914 Junior Championship. On 9th August 1915, at the age of 18 years and one month, William enlisted in the AIF and was posted to the 16th Battalion. His brother James would also join the forces. William left Australia on 1st November 1915 and joined his battalion in France. In April of 1917 at the first Battle of Bullecourt, the 16th Battalion became one of the first Allied units to break the Hindenburg Line in an engagement where tanks were first used in battle. Unfortunately most of these new ‘wonder’ weapons broke down and the men of the 16th were surrounded and cut to pieces as they ran out of ammunition. Out of an attacking force of 817 men only 177 managed to fight their way back; one of these was William Chalmers. William received a Citation and was to be awarded the Military Medal unfortunately he was never to see his Medal. Now promoted to Lance Corporal, William moved with the 16th Battalion to the mud and water-filled trenches of the battle that was developing around Messines. Here on 10th August 1917 William Fraser Chalmers was severely wounded and died later that day in the Field Dressing Station. It was two years and one day after he enlisted. He was 20 years old.”
Excerpted from John Williamson’s Soccer Anzacs: The Story of the Caledonian Soccer Club.