Name
Leonard Chalk (DCM)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/03/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Serjeant
43051
Northamptonshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Distinguished Conduct Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 54 to 56.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Abbots Langley Village Memorial
Biography
Leonard Chalk was one of four brothers that joined up at the start of the War. He was born in the autumn of 1888 at Abbots Langley, the eldest of five sons and three daughters of George and Sarah Chalk of Asylum Road. Three of Leonard’s four brothers served during the Great War – Arthur, Royal and Alfred (known as Harry). Harry had emigrated to Canada and served with the Canadian Forces.
In the 1911 Census Leonard was recorded working as a Sweet Maker at a Cocoa Factory. He was first recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in October 1914, serving with the Bedfordshire’s having enlisted at Watford. By May 1915 he had been transferred to the 8th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. His Medal Roll noted that he entered the France and Flanders Theatre of War on 30th August1915. The April 1916 Parish Magazine noted that Leonard had been wounded. Leonard was wounded either during March when the 8th Bedford’s had been in and out of the trenches to the east of Ypres, and had suffered a few casualties each day, or on 20th April when the Germans bombarded their trenches, round Turco Farm and then attacked the British lines. The casualties were 32 killed, 97 missing presumed dead, and 65 wounded. The Bedford’s were relieved by the 2nd Yorks and Lancs. Abbots Langley man Walter Owen served with this battalion.
By January 1917 Leonard had transferred to 6th Bedfordshire, and by the time that he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for action in August 1917, he was serving with the 6th Northamptonshire’s. He received his DCM for “conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has performed valuable work as an instructor out of the line, and during the recent operations, when all the officers of the company had become casualties, he gave proof of qualities of bold initiative and quick resource. He is a most reliable NCO and has done consistent good work with his company”.
Leonard was killed in action on 22nd March 1918 defending a bridge over the St Quentin Canal during the German Spring Offensive, which had started the day before. The Offensive claimed the lives of four other men from Abbots Langley – Edward James Mullins, Joseph Belsham, Ernest Roome and Frederick Puddefoot.
The May 1918 edition of the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine reported
“With deep regret we add more names to our long Roll of Honour of those who have died for the cause of freedom and honour. Sergeant Leonard Chalk was one of four brothers who joined at the beginning of the War, or so soon as their age permitted them, and he has served with great distinction, receiving the D.C.M last August for distinguished bravery. He was one of the old Abbots Langley Football Club, which in the days before the War distinguished itself by the matches which it won and the sportsmanlike way in which it won them, and this same pluck and coolness he afterwards carried into the sterner battle The sympathy of all will be extended to his widowed mother.”
Leonard’s brothers Arthur, Alfred (Harry) and Royal Chalk all survived the War.
Leonard Chalk was commemorated the Pozieres Memorial, and the Abbots Langley War Memorial. Edward Mullins from Abbots Langley was also commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
