Name
William Francis Chalkley
1895
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
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
William was born in 1895 in Hitchin and christened in 28 April 1895 at St. Mary’s Church, Hitchin. His parents were Samuel and Minnie Lydia Chalkley (nee Bridges) they married on 8 September 1894 at St Mary’s Church, Hitchin.
In 1901 the family were living at 40 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Samuel (24) and Minnie (23), with Samuel working as a road man and labourer for the District Council. Their children were: William (5), Emily (3) and Kathleen at 10 Months.
William’s mother died in 1904 and his father married Margaret Kate Palmer in 1907.
In 1901, Margaret Kate Palmer was the wife of James Frederick Palmer and they lived at 5 West Alley, Hitchin, with one daughter Winifred Rose (1). Sadly James had died in 1905, two years before she and William’s father. Before then she and James must have had more children, explaining those listed below.
By 1911 the Samuel had his new combined family had moved just one or two doors away at from his home in 1901, 42 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin. Present were Samuel (34) and Margaret Kate (now Chalkley, 32). Samuel was working as a labourer in a lime works. The census recorded they had been married for 3 years with 3 children, all living. Their combined family included: William Chalkley, now 16, working as an errand boy for a confectioner, Emily Chalkley (13), Evelyn Palmer (9), Emily Palmer (6), Albert Chalkley (3), Margaret Chalkley (1), Samuel Chalkley at 6 months.
His father’s second wife, Margaret, William’s stepmother died on 4 December 1911, leaving William’s younger sister Emily in charge of his other younger siblings and half siblings.
William married Eva Bird in 1914. Eva died, probably in about 1915 and after she died he made his home with her mother Mrs Bird who lived at Mossbury Farm, Stevenage and then 36 Kings Road, Hitchin. Although not yet confirmed William and Eva may have had a child because later William’s effects and pension went to his mother-in-law using the term ‘guardian’.
William’s father, Samuel also served and was killed in the war and appears on Hitchin memorials. He volunteered in May 1915 and was killed in Belgium in 19th April 1916.
William volunteered in October 1915, so after his father. Prior to joining the army, he worked for the Hitchin Electric Lighting Company.
Officially William was recorded as born and living in Hitchin when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
William was allocated Regimental Number 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, however as the information was often supplied by the man’s family it is not always reliable. 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.
He has no known grave but is remembered on Bay 5 of the Arras Memorial to the Missing in France.
Additional Information
After his death £4 10s 5d was authorised to go to his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Bird on 15 September 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £5 was authorised to be paid to her on 29 October 1919.
His pension cards record Elizabeth Bird his mother-in-law (and guardian of mother and child) as his dependant, living at Mossbury Farm, Stevenage, updated to 36 Kings Road, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 7s a week from 26 April 1917 to 30 April 1918 and then 10s a week from 1 May 1918. The address was updated again later to 93 Campers Road, Letchworth when an award was refused 19 September 1923.
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
SDITGW incorrectly gives his Regimental Number as 15606.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
