Name
William Trant Chambers
8th January 1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/06/1915
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Major
Royal Field Artillery
1st Div. H.Q.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Mentioned in Despatches
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHOCQUES MILITARY CEMETERY
I. B. 15.
France
Headstone Inscription
Until The Day Breaks
UK & Other Memorials
Bengeo School Memorial – Location to be confirmed, Farnborough, Hants WW1, Cdr C D Bennett Memorial, Brompton, Greater London
Pre War
William Trant Chambers was born on 8th January 1882, in Swansea, Glamorganshire, Wales, to parents Charles Campbell and Susan (nee Bath). In 1891 he was living at 37 Gordon Road, West Ealing, Middx. with both parents and two brothers Ivor Campbell and Robert Lambert, his father is listed as a merchant.
Educated at Bengeo School and Bradfield College on a scholarship, William went to Royal Military Academy in 1899 and was gazetted as Aug 1900 as second Lieutenant Royal Field Artillery. He had service in India and was acting as Adjutant 12 Howitzer Brigade RFA from Nov 1910 to Nov 1912. The 1911 census has William, aged 29, stationed at the Minden Barracks, Deep Cut, Farnborough, Hants, as Lieutenant in the 12th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
He was promoted to Captain sometime in 1912.
He married Lisa Gladys Pardoe in 1913.
Wartime Service
Embarked for France to the BEF 18th August 1914 as Staff Captain in 1st Division HQ, promoted to Major in Dec 1914.
Mentioned in despatches 31 May 1915 by Lord French.
Severely wounded on 01 Jun 1915 at Bouve and died the following day in Hospital at Choques.
Additional Information
His widow, Mrs L Gladys Chambers 22 Abingdon Mansions, Abingdon Road. Kensington, London, ordered his headstone inscription: "Until The Day Breaks". Probate records state he left £3343.17s.11d to his brothers. His brother Ivor Campbell Chambers served with the Militia in South Africa 1902 passed for Officer in Loyal North Lancs Regt 1904 and served on War office Staff WW1. Listed in Soldiers Effects Register as W T Chambers, his War Gratuity was paid to both Captain Ivor Campbell Chambers and Robert Lambert Chambers.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Ann Hacke, Terry & Glenis Collins, Paul Johnson
