Jack Chamberlain (sportsman)

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Jack Chamberlain

| image = Jack Chamberlain.jpg

| caption = John (Jack) Chamberlain,

with his youngest daughter, Annette

| fullname = John Aloysius Chamberlain

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1884|8|29}}

| birth_place = Glanville, South Australia

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1941|4|1|1884|8|29}}

| death_place = Leabrook, South Australia

| originalteam = Paddington Football Club

| height =

| weight =

| position =

| statsend = 1914

| years1 = 1904, 1906–07

| club1 = Perth

| games_goals1 = 16 (?)

| years2 = 1908–09, 1914

| club2 = Norwood

| games_goals2 = 17 (32)

| careerhighlights =

}}

John Aloysius Chamberlain (29 August 1884 – 1 April 1941) was an Australian sportsman who played Australian rules football, cricket and rugby union at a high level.

Family

The son of Edmund Chamberlain (1827–1891),[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/208577775 Deaths: Chamberlain, The (Adelaide) Express and Telegraph, (Wednesday, 18 November 1891), p.4.] and Mary Ann Chamberlain (-1916), John Aloysius Chamberlain was born in Glanville, South Australia on 29 August 1884.

He married Vera Evelyn Ellen Sedgley (1898–1982) on 7 February 1920.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/165672877 Marriages: Chamberlain—Sedgley, The (Adelaide) Observer, (Saturday, 28 February 1920), p.27.] They had three daughters: twins,[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131920472/11357133 Fine Form By Twins In Tennis Contests, The (Adelaide) News, (Thursday, 15 December 1938), p.4]; [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131971463 W.A.A.A.F. III, The (Adelaide) News, (Monday, 1 December 1941), p.4]; [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/47701290 What is Happening in Your Home State: South Australia: The First Twin Sisters, Army News, (Thursday, 14 September 1944), p.2]; [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/187504109 Twin Sisters are Members of WAAF, The (Brisbane) Telegraph, (Saturday, 23 June 1945), p.5.] Helen,[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/156649538 To be Married on October 17, The Newcastle Sun, (Tuesday, 9 October 1945), p.11.] and Joan Mary,[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/128347039 Today's Bride, The (Adelaide) News, (Tuesday, 5 March 1946), p.5]; [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/48694567 Thompson-Chamberlain Wedding, The (Adelaide) Advertiser, (Wednesday, 6 March 1946), p.4.] and their younger sister, Annette.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/128478937 Permanent Wave at Four!, The (Adelaide) News, (Friday, 8 December 1933), p.8]; [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/50201636 April Bride, The (Adelaide) Advertiser, (Thursday, 16 March 1950), p.10]; [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/130339033/11138777 Chapel Bride in Magnolia Satin, The (Adelaide) News, (Saturday, 15 April 1950) p.8.]

Two of his brothers, Cornelius and Leonard, were also gifted sportsmen, who also league football with Norwood and first-class cricket for South Australia.[http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/15/15851/15851.html Cornelius Chamberlain] at CricketArchive[http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/15/15853/15853.html Leonard Chamberlain] at CricketArchive

Employment

He was employed by the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company for 27 years, and for four years or so, was stationed overseas at various locations in East Asia, including Singapore, Cochin-China, and the Cocos Islands.

In late 1929, he moved to Eudunda, and took over the license of the Royal Hotel.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129070105 Leaving for Eudunda: Mr. J.A. Chamberlain, Sportsman, The (Adelaide) News, (Wednesday, 25 September 1929), p.3.][https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/215182214 East Midland Licensing District, (Friday, 15 November 1929), p.3.] He left Eudunda and moved to Leabrook, in Adelaide in late 1940.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92392526 Heard at Eudunda, The (Adelaide) Chronicle, (Thursday 25 July 1940), p.46.]

Sport

=Cricket=

Chamberlain played cricket in the summer and played one first-class match for Western Australia against New South Wales in March 1907.[http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/15/15852/First-Class_Matches.html First-class matches played by John Chamberlain] at CricketArchive

Chamberlain played for Norwood initially in 1909; but, during the year, he was relocated to Singapore through his work with the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company. While in Singapore he played rugby union and represented the Crown colony in fixtures again the Malay State.The Advertiser, "[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37200487 Versatile Jack Chamberlain]", 24 August 1923. p. 20

While serving in Singapore, he played for the Straits Settlements cricket team, appearing in four matches against the Federated Malay States between 1910 and 1913.[http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/15/15852/Other_matches.html Other matches played by John Chamberlain] at CricketArchive

=Soccer=

He took up soccer when he moved to Perth in 1904; but gave it away in 1906 to play Australian Rules Football for Perth.

=Australian Rules football=

After spending some time in Tasmania, Chamberlain moved to Sydney at the age of 17 and played Australian rules football for Paddington. During this time, he twice represented New South Wales at interstate football.

Although initially playing soccer on his move to Perth in 1904, he abandoned soccer in 1906 and began playing Australian Rules once more with the Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football Association.

In 1908 he signed with the Norwood Football Club in the South Australian Football League. Playing as a forward, Chamberlain kicked 30 goals to top his club's goalkicking and fall just three short of league leader John Mathison from Port Adelaide.

He participated in the 1908 Challenge Final, which Norwood lost narrowly, and represented South Australia in that year's Melbourne Carnival.The Mercury, "[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12685909 The South Australian Team]", 13 August 1908. p.7. Due to his employment transfer to Singapore, he only played for part of the 1909 season. In 1914, while on leave,[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/63804993 Football: Jack Chamberlain Coming Home, The (Adelaide) Mail, (Saturday, 12 July 1913), p.3.] Chamberlain played again with Norwood.

=Rugby Union=

While in Singapore he played rugby union and represented the Crown colony in fixtures against the Malay State.The Advertiser, "[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37200487 Versatile Jack Chamberlain]", 24 August 1923. p.20

=Lawn bowls=

In later life, Chamberlain played lawn bowls at a high level for many years with the Toorak Bowling Club (in Toorak Gardens, South Australia).[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/132043382 Played Most Sports: Record of Mr. J.A. Chamberlain, The (Adelaide) News, (Wednesday, 17 February 1926), p.2.] In 1926, he won the South Australian single bowls championship;[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/166332982 Bowls Championship, The (Adelaide) Observer, (Saturday, 20 February 1926), p.21.] and, in 1930, having moved to Eudunda, Chamberlain won the South Australian country singles bowls championship.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/128990371/11065727 Country Champion, The (Adelaide) News, (Wednesday, 23 April 1930), p.3]; [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/128990381 Country Bowls: J.A. Chamberlain Champion, The (Adelaide) News, (Wednesday, 23 April 1930), p.3.]

Death

He died (suddenly) at his home in Leabrook, South Australia on 1 April 1941.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/47859332 Deaths: Chamberlain, The (Adelaide) Advertiser, (Thursday, 3 April 1941), p.8]; [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92405656 Deaths: Chamberlain, The (Adelaide) Chronicle, (Thursday, 10 April 1941), p.20.][https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92405544 Mr. J.A. Chamberlain, The (Adelaide) Chronicle, (Thursday, 10 April 1941), p.2.]