Private James Edgar Chambers
James Edgar Chambers Jr. was born 1918 in Toronto, Ontario Canada to his parents James A. Chambers Sr. and Evelyn M. Callow. James Sr. was from the U.S.A. and immigrated to Canada and served in the Canadian military during World War 1. James Sr. was 22 years old when he met Evelyn, who was 16 at the time of their marriage and they settled in the Toronto area. They married in December 1917. James was raised by his grandparents in Toronto.
World War II was in full momentum when James decided to enlist in the army. After he completed his basic training when he heard about the Paratroopers that paid a little more and only accepted the best-qualified men. James decided to request a transfer. James passed all the rigorous physical testing and was sent to the parachute school in Ringway, England. On October 18, 1943, James graduated from the parachute school and is now a proud paratrooper and accepted into the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. James would remain in England and begin training with the 6th Airborne Division for the next 7 months in preparation for their next mission. James was well prepared and now part of C Coy when he parachuted into Normandy on June 6, 1944. James was met with a fierce firefight and wounded that same day.
After the war, James moved to Scotland. He met a young lady named Helen Roberta Allen in Scotland, who also served during WWII in the British Army. They married a short time later and began their family, having two daughters, Freda born in 1958, and Jane-Evelyn born in 1962.
James worked as a Foreman Steel Erector and worked on civil engineering projects, including the forth road bridge and the Ben Cruachan Hydroelectric Dam where he died from his injuries during a rock fall accident in 1963.
If you have taken the time to read about Private James Edgar Chambers, then you have kept his memory alive. We Thank You for that.
Information and pictures were provided by Maxine Thomson.
Sten MkV Submachine Gun
The Sten submachine gun can be found in several models, the one pictured here is a Sten MKV, produced for the Paratroopers. It was an inexpensive firearm to produce, costing less than $10.00 per unit. It chambered a 9mm cartridge with a firing rate of 550 rounds per minute and an effective range of 100 yards. Also shown is a magazine pouch or bandolier that allowed a soldier to carry additional 30-round magazines. Private Mar trained and carried a similar Sten MkV Submachine gun during his service in Europe.
