Name
Samuel Chalkley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/04/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
20892
Bedfordshire Regiment
8nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ESSEX FARM CEMETERY
Sp. Mem. B. 8.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Their glory shall not be blotted out
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Born in Hitchin around 1877 and christened 23 May 1877. His parents were Joseph and Caroline Chalkley.
In 1891 the family were living at 1891 50 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin. Present were parents: Joseph (46) and Caroline (43), with Joseph working as a labourer. Their children were: Herbert (21), Joseph (16), Samuel (14), George (12), William Francis (8) and Lizzie (4).
In 1894 Samuel married Minnie Lydia Bridges on 8 September 1894.
In 1901 the Samuel (24) and Minnie (23) were now living at 40 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin, Samuel was working as a roadman labourer with District Council. Their children were: William (5), Emily (3) and Kathleen at just 10 months old.
Minnie died June 1904
Cautionary note: The following is believed to be accurate, however the fate of James Frederick Palmer has not been established so more corroboration would provide more certainty.
1901
By 1911 Samuel (34) would have been a widower, however he was found with a wife named Margaret Kate (32) and the following children: William (16), Emily (13), Evelyn May (9 and surname Palmer). Emily May (6 and surname Palmer), Albert John (3), Margaret Kate (1) and Samuel 6 months. They were living at 42 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin and Samuel was working as a labourer In Lime Works. They were recorded as married for 3 years with 3 children all living so that would be a marriage circa 1908. A marriage between Samuel Chalkley and Margaret Kate Palmer was found in 1907.
To support this birth records were found for Evelyn May and Emily May Palmer, in the above 1911 census to parents James Frederick and Margaret Kate Palmer. Also in that census crossed out was a married of 7 years with 7 children, which would seem to tie in with his first marriage to Minnie.
Another child, Edith Lily Chalkley was born on 19 September 1911 and sadly, Margaret, Samuel’s second wife died on 4 December 1911,
Samuel was officially recorded as born and lived in Hitchin when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
Samuel was allocated the Regimental Number 20892. He had volunteered in May 1915 and went to the Western Front in February 1916. He was in the 8th Battalion of the Bedfords when he was fatally shot in action at Ypres.
On the 15th April 1916 the Battalion moved up to the line in the Mortaldje Salient from Poperinghe. A heavy German attack on the evening of the 19th April took place at the ‘Duck's Bill’ on very boggy ground which resulted in numerous casualties. ‘B’ and ‘D’ Companies were especially involved with shellfire and later in hand to hand fighting. During the day the Germans were using flame-throwers. The Bedfords sustained about 200 casualties on that day.
Died Boezinge, Arrondissement Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium.
He was buried in the Essex Farm Cemetery in Belgium and is remembered there on Special Memorial B8 with the inscription "Known to be buried in this cemetery". His gravestone also bears the private inscription "Their glory shall not be blotted out''.
Additional Information
After his death £10 2s 9d was authorised to go to daughter Emily on 25 July 1916 and later a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her on 9 September 1919.
His pension cards record that Samuel’s wife died 3 October 1911 and Miss Emily Chalkley was listed as living at 42 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin, and guardian to the following children: Albert John (b 19/1/1908), Margaret Kate (b 3/7/1909), Samuel (b 9/9/1910) and Edith Lily (b 19/9/1911). She was she was awarded a pension of 20s a week – motherless rate - from 6 November 1916.
Emily was his oldest daughter by his first wife, Minnie. Emily would have been about 18 when he died, and now responsible for he three half-siblings. After the pension award Emily was listed as married becoming Emily Abbiss, probably marrying John F Abbiss in 1919, presumably he took on the children too.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
