Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant Joseph Chambers
Joseph Chambers was born on 26 March 1880 at Bishop Street, Londonderry, the third of ten children of Joseph Chambers, baker and prominent local member of the Orange Order and Apprentice Boys, and his wife Mary Jane (nee Pigott or Pickett).
On 16 February 1901 he enlisted in the 60th (North Irish Horse) Company (New), 17th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry (No.30590), seeing active service in South Africa during the Boer War from March 1901. He was discharged on the termination of hs engagement on 5 August 1902. For further details see here.
Chambers later joined the newly-formed North of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry and transferred to its successor, the North Irish Horse, when it was established on 6 July 1908. He was assigned Regimental number 14, serving in B Squadron (Londonderry).
At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 65 Abercorn Road, Londonderry, with his parents and four of his seven surviving siblings, and working as a post office clerk. His father died the following year. A newspaper article from November 1913 stated that he was renting his widowed mother's house in Abercorn Road and running a sub-post office from the premises.
In April 1914 he was one of four North Irish Horsemen awarded a Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Chambers embarked for France in 1916 or early 1917, probably with a reinforcement draft for the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment.
In September 1917 the 2nd Regiment was dismounted and most of its officers and men were transferred to the 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers – which was re-named the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion. Chambers, like the majority of the men, was transferred on 20 September. He was given a new regimental number – 41522 – and posted to B Company with the rank of sergeant.
Chambers was listed as missing following the 9th Battalion's retreat from St Quentin in the German Spring Offensive of March 1918. However he rejoined on 3 April.
No other record of his service in the war has been located.
The image shows Chambers in 1912. The full picture can be seen here.
This page last updated 6 December 2024.