Name
William Francis Chalkley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/04/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
25606
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
His grandmother lived at 42, Hitchin Hill, Hitchin. He had lived with his mother-in-law, Mrs Bird of Mossbury, Stevenage, after his wife died in 1915. His father was Samuel Chalkley who was killed on the 19th April 1916.
Prior to joining the army, he worked for the Hitchin Electric Lighting Company. Born and resident in Hitchin, he volunteered in October 1915 in Bedford.
Wartime Service
William was allocated Regimental Number 15606. The CWGC shows it as ‘25606’. He was sent to the Western Front in December 1916 and fought on the Somme. He was killed in action at Arras.
According to ‘Soldiers died’ database he was in the 6th Bedfords but the National Roll states that he was in the 4th Bedfords. He was killed by shrapnel.
It is difficult to know which version is correct as the two Battalions were in the same area. The 4th Battalion attacked and captured Gavrelle on the 23rd but was counterattacked and severely shelled on the 24th and drove the enemy off. It was relieved on the 25th.
The 6th Battalion was also in trenches fighting in the Arras sector at the time and although the 25th was quiet this doesn't mean that there were no casualties.
The Hertfordshire Express reported that he had been killed by shrapnel
He has no known grave, but is remembered on Bay 5 of the Arras Memorial to the Missing in France.
Additional Information
William is also commemorated on the headstone of Walter Bird and Eva Crissie Chalkley. William's part of the inscription reads:
WILLIAM FRANCIS CHALKLEY KILLED IN ACTION XXX?
APRIL 25TH 1917 AGED 22 YEARS
APRIL 25TH 1917 AGED 22 YEARS
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
