He was educated at St John the Baptist's School, Thebarton, and Hayward's Academy, Adelaide.

During World War II, he served in the 3rd Field Ambulance in New Guinea, but was soon invalided back to Adelaide.

[1] Chambers' first wife had died in 1943 and in December 1949, he married a divorcee, Salamas Rickman, despite his generally strict Catholicism.

[2] On 27 August he announced his intention to move a motion of no confidence in Evatt's leadership.

[3] However, on 19 September he was expelled from the ALP by the state council of the South Australian branch.