Robert Theophilus Chamberlin (Robert S. Chamberlain)

This name is on Holy Trinity war memorial, Clapham Common

mistakenly listed on the memorial as "Robert S. Chamberlain"

Corporal, Machine Gun Corps, Service no. 81628; formerly 1422, London Regiment

Killed in action on 4 October 1917, aged 22

Born in Stoke Newington, lived in Clapham Park

CWGC: "Son of George Albert and Minnie Wilmot Chamberlin, of 30, Rosebery Rd., Clapham Park, London. Born at Islington. Printer's Apprentice. Volunteered for Active Service at the outbreak of war."

Remembered at Cement House Cemetery, Langemark-Poelkapelle, West-Vlaanderen., Belgium

Information from British Army Service Records

Joined 1912, aged 17, at New Street, Kennington (now Braganza Street)

Previously a compositor's apprentice, employed by Spottiswoode of 5 New Street Square, London E.C. The memorial there includes an "R.T. Chamberlain", a corporal in the 24th Battalion County of London Regiment.

Lived in 22 Doddington Grove, Walworth, south-east London

5 feet 5 1/4 inches

Chest 33 1/2 inches plus 2 1/2

Vision "sufficient" - 6/12 6/9

GSW right knee 25 May 1917

GSW head 24 May 1917

Served 4 years and 11 days

18 November 1912 HOME (to 14 March 1914)

3 August 1913 At Worthing (to 17 August 1913)

13 March 1915 FRANCE (to 1 June 1915)

26 March 1915 Erysipelas - transferred to Canadian Casualty

26 April 1915 GSW left knee - admitted to 4th Casualty Clearing Station

27 April 1915 transferred to 3rd ambulance train

1 June 1915 transferred to HS St Patrick -> Eastern General Hospital

2 June 1915 HOME (to 16 July 1915)

16 June 1915 transferred to Dartford Convalescent Home

24 July 1915 rejoined unit direct from Dartford

17 July 1915 FRANCE (to 2 June 1916)

24 May 1916 GSW left hand

2 June 1916 HOME (transferred to England)

3 June to 31 August 1916 admitted Welsh Metropolitan War Hospital, Whitchurch near Cardiff from - "good recovery"

? FRANCE

29 October 1916 appointed unpaid Lance Corporal

4 October 1917 KIA

W.5080 1 May 1919, signed by Arthur Dalton, Rector of Clapham

Unmarried

Parents George Albert Chamberlain and Minnie Wilmot Chamberlain, 20 Rosebery Road, Clapham Park

One brother: Frederick Leslie Chamberlain, 21

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 the Chamberlin family, who are often listed as Chamberlain, lived in six rooms at 12 Oakden Street, Kennington. Robert Theophilus Chamberlin, then 15, was working as a compositor's apprentice. His only sibling, Frederick Leslie Chamberlin, was a 13-year-old schoolboy. His father, George Albert Chamberlin, 41, was a compositor from Whitchurch in Hampshire; his mother Minnie WIlmot Chamberlin, 43, was from St Johns Wood, north-west London. There was a boarder: Ralph Thomas Wardle, a single 62-year-old cheesemonger's assistant from Stepney, east London.