John, a son of Reverend Jeremiah Chaffers-Welsh and his wife Helen, was born in New Zealand about 1887. The family came to Australia in 1890 and moved to ‘Backwood’ Nullamanna near Inverell about 1905. Before the War he had served 3 years with the Australian Light Horse.
John enlisted twice, the first time at Liverpool NSW in April 1915 when he became a Private with the 20th Battalion, D Company. He left Australia on HMAT A35 Berrima two months later and served at Gallipoli where he became ill and was invalided back to Australia in January 1916.
John became a Stock Inspector near Kyogle NSW until re-enlisting in April 1917 and joining the 35th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement. In August he left Australia on HMAT A28 Miltiades arriving in Glasgow, Scotland in October. After three months training he was sent to France in January 1918 and became a Gunner with the 1st Field Artillery Brigade. After being wounded in August he was invalided back to England for treatment of a gunshot wound to his right arm. John returned to Australia in 1919 and was discharged. He married shortly afterwards and lived in the Murwillumbah district until moving to Sydney in the mid 1930s. John died in Sydney in 1957.
An older brother, Cyril, enlisted at Inverell in April 1918. He was a 36 year old Farmer at Nullamanna and had served three years with the Singleton Lancers before coming to the Inverell district. Due to the end of the War, Cyril did not serve overseas. His name is recorded on the Inverell Honor Roll whilst John’s name is recorded on both the Nullamanna and Inverell Honor Rolls.