Chalkley was the son of Chalkley and Nellie (Ellen Matilda Vivian) Gould from Redroofs, Broadstone, co. Dorset (daughter of William and Elizabeth Ann Vivian). He was also a great-grandson of Commodore Pearce, R.N., who fought and died with Nelson.
He attended Bournemouth School before going to Armstrong College where he studied mining engineering, receiving his BSc. in 1902.
Chalkley married Lily Ann (Steel) Gould, daughter of Robert Steel of Newcastle-upon-Tyne who previously lived at St. Bedes, Melrose, Roxburghshire. The couple married 30 March 1904 in Whitley Bay, Northumberland. The couple lived in Mount Ryton-on-Tyne, county Durham.
In 1908, at age 28, he boarded the ship Arabic departing from Liverpool and arriving in New York on 25 May. He went on to spend a number of years in the United States at his profession of Mining Engineer. Chalkley returned from America to join the Army in September (October) 1914, and joined the Royal Field Artillery on 1 Nov 1914. He went on to attain the rank of Major in the Royal Field Artillery, 25th Brigade, 115th Battery. He served with the expeditionary force in France and Flanders from August 1915.
Chalkley was killed in action on 9th June 1917 aged 37 in Belgium.