Albert John Chalmers was born in Manchester on 28 March 1870. He received his qualifications in 1890 at University College, Liverpool, holding the Holt Fellowship. He joined the West African Medical Service, where he served for four years at the Gold Coast Colony, as the assistant colonial surgeon. He was the acting principal medical officer in the colony during the Siege of Kumassi in 1900 when he was mentioned in despatches and subsequently received the Ashanti Medal and clasp for his service.
