Name
Arthur Chalkley
1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/11/1917
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/21208
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL
Panel 3
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Parchment in St Martin's Church, Preston, Plaque in St Martin's Church, Preston, Not on the Hitchin war memorials
Pre War
Arthur Chalkley was born in Hitchin in 1880 the son of William and Amy Chalkley. On the 1881 Census the family were living at Bethel Lane, Hitchin where his father was working as a Brickmaker. They remained in Hitchin in 1891 but had moved to 2 Warrens Yard and his father was then working as a Coal Porter.
On the 1901 Census he was listed as a visitor at the Claridge family home in Ley Green, Kings Walden and working as a farm drover of sheep. He married Harriet Claridge on 5 July 1903 at Kings Walden, Herts and they had one son William Henry, born early in 1903 at Ley Green, Kings Walden.
On the 1911 Census Arthur was living at Back Lane, Preston with his wife and son and working as a Stockman on a farm. They also had a daughter Mary who was born on 26 April 1913.
Wartime Service
Arthur enlisted in Hitchin and joined the 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).
He was presumed dead and killed in action on 30 November 1917 during the Battle of Lateau Wood. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, France. He is one of 50 soldiers from the 6th Battalion of The Buffs named on the memorial who died on the same day.
Additional Information
His widow Harriet received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £5 8s 2d. She also received a pension of £1 0s 5d a week for herself and her child.
(N.B. There is another Arthur Chalkley. He served as Private 4393 with the 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment and died in 1916. He lived in Little Munden, Herts and is commemorated on the Memorial in All Saints Church, Little Munden.)
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
