Name
Horace Chalkley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/10/1914
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
9377
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 10 and 11
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Markyate Village Memorial, t John The Baptist Church Memorial, Markyate
Pre War
Horace Chalkley was born in 1890 at Markyate to William Chalkley, straw hat blocker, and Annie, hat machinist, (nee Wright).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Percy William (born 1890), Horace, Harry (born 1901) were living at Hicks Lane, Markyate. Also present was George Wright listed as son (born 1885).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Percy William, Horace, Harry and Frederick (born 1892) were living at Hicks Lanee, Markyate.
On the 1911 Census his parents with Harry and Reginald (born 1906) were living at 13, Hicks Road, Markyate.
Horace enlisted as Private 9377 in the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment about Aug 1908. No Service record was found for him. At some time during his service he was appointed Lance Corporal.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of the Great War in Aug 1914 the 2nd Battalion was stationed at Pretoria, South Africa. He returned to the UK on 19 Sep 1914. The Battalion re-equipped for European conditions and with 21 Brigade &th Division landed at Zeebrugge in early Oct it was deployed to assist in the defence of Antwerp by holding bridges to allow the Belgian Army to retreat. Following this being deployed westwards to the Ypres area for the Battle of Ypres 19 Oct -22 Nov 1914.
The Division took part in the Battles of Langemarck (21-24 Oct) and Gheluvelt (29- £1 Oct). Horace was reported killed in action in the fighting occurring between those engagements on 26 Oct 1914.
His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Menin Gate, Ypres.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 and arrears of £7 10s 5d was paid to his father William. Brother Frederick served as Corporal 9531 in 1st battalion Bedfordshire Regiment and was killed in action on 9 Nov 1914.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Anne & Gordon Mead
