Name
Charles Chalkley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/05/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
4/5723
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GUARDS CEMETERY, WINDY CORNER, CUINCHY
IV. H. 14.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial,
St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin,
Holy Saviour Church Memorial, Hitchin,
Diocese - Book of Remembrance, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans,
Diocese of St Albans - ROH, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans,
St Faith's Church War Memorial, Walsworth
Pre War
On the St. Faith's Church War Memorial, he is mentioned with the initial ‘G’, but it is almost certainly the same man.
Charles was born in Hitchin around 1881 and his parents were William and Amy Chalkley (possibly née Barker) married in 1864.
In 1881 the family were living at Bethel Lane, Hitchin. Present were parents: William (41) and Amy (38), with x and working as a brick maker. Their children were: William (14), Elizabeth (6). Arthur (1) and Charles at just 1 month. Sarah Barker, sister in law was also present.
In 1891 the family were living at 3 Warren’s Yard, Hitchin. Present were parents: William and Amy, with William now working as a coal porter. Their children were as listed above.
Charles has not been found with certainty in 1911, but may be the Charles lists as brother-in-law, living with the Gray family at 14 Anderson Row, Hitchin and workimg as a bricklayer’s labourer.
Charles married Ellen Ball in January 1907 and the had children: George Frederick (b 15/3/1907), Harold Walter (b 12/1/1910).
By 1911 the Charles (27) and Ellen (26) were living at 5 Exchange Yard, Hitchin, Charles now working as a coal porter. Present were both children listed above.
Another child, Dorothy Rose was born 7 February 1915.
Officially recorded as born and living in Hitchin when he enlisted in Hatfield, Herts.
Wartime Service
Charles was allocated Regimental Number 4/5723. He served in the 2nd Battalion and was killed in action.
His ser vice record has not been found, but he went to France on 11 November 1914. To go this early means that he was a Territorial who volunteered for overseas service, or already in the Regular army or had been serving and was recalled from the Reserve. For Charles one of former two seems most likely.
At the time of his death the Battalion occupied trenches in the Indian Village sector to the east of Bethune and northeast of Festubert. The ground was badly waterlogged and in the attacks, wounded men drowned in the mud and water in the trenches. In a week's fighting in the trenches 50% of the Battalion were killed or wounded.
He is buried in the Guards Cemetery, Cuinchy, France in Plot 4, Row H, Grave 14.
Additional Information
After his death £5 7s 2d was authorised to go to his widow on 5 November 1915 and later a war gratuity of £4 was authorised to be paid to her on 1 January 1920.
His pension cards record Ellen Chalkley his widow as his next of kin with 3 children, no address is shown. She was awarded a pension of 21s a week from 6 December 1915.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, Cilla Dyson David C Baines, Jonty Wild
