Surf Life Saving Association New South Wales gold medal: John 'Jack' Chalmers

Nine carat gold medal showing on the obverse two men operating a life saving reel belt. Beneath is an engraved scroll 'CHAMPIONSHIP 1919-20'. The reverse has 'SURF LIFE SAVING ASSN. OF N.S.W. around the rim with 'PRESENTED TO' and engraving 'J. Chalmers. North Bondi L.S. Club. within a laurel wreath in the centre. Beneath is an engraved scroll 'ALARM REEL BELT'.

Private John ‘Jack’ Chalmers was born in New Zealand in 1894. He enlisted in the AIF in 1915 and embarked with the 7th reinforcements of the 25th Battalion, but upon arrival in Egypt was transferred to the newly established 47th Battalion. The battalion's first battle was at Pozières.

Chalmers suffered from trench foot on the Western Front and was invalided to England in 1917, where he met and married Jessie Alice Courtenay. He rejoined his unit later that year and fought at Messines and Passchendaele. He was then transferred to the 45th Battalion, where he served for the rest of the war.

After the war, Chalmers and his wife settled in Sydney. Chalmers joined the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club. In 1921, he won belt races at several beaches around Sydney and won the Australian Lifesaving Belt Championship in 1922.

On 4 February 1922, Chalmers was awarded the Albert Medal for rescuing a swimmer during a shark attack at Coogee Beach. Although the swimmer subsequently died from his injuries, Chalmers’s bravery in rescuing him was recognised.

The Albert Medal was discontinued in 1971 and recipients were invited to exchange the award for the George Cross. Chalmers travelled to London for the investiture at Buckingham Palace on 12 July 1972.