Name
Frederick Chatley
1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/05/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
301819
Durham Light Infantry
1st/8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MONTCORNET MILITARY CEMETERY
L. 3.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hemel Hempstead memorials,
Not on the Leverstock Green memorials
Pre War
Frederick Chatley was born in 1892 in St Giles, Bloomsbury, London, the son of Frederick and Emily Chatley.
On the 1901 Census he was living with his widowed mother and siblings Emily and Joseph at 19 New Compton Street, Bloomsbury, where his mother was working as a tin cleaner. The family had moved to no. 1 New Compton Street by the 1911 Census but his sister Emily had married Walter Shires in 1906 and had moved to Surrey. Frederick was then working as a kitchen labourer.
He married Violet Deegan at Holborn Register Office, London on 15 August 1912 and they had a daughter, Violet Margaret born in September 1912 and son Frederick Joseph born April 1914. Sadly his son died of broncho pneumonia on 19 March 1918.
He gave his address on enlistment as 1 Old North Street, Holborn,, London, WC, gave his occupation as kitchen porter and said he had been a member of the RAMC Territorial force.
His widow later gave her address as 3 Adeyfield Cottages, Hemel Hempstead, Herts and Leverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in on 29 November 1915 but was not mobilised until the following June. He served initially with the Kings Royal Rifles Corps, later transferring to the Durham Light Infantry.
He was appointed paid Lance Corporal on 4 May 1917. His battalion fought at Arras in April 1917 and during October and November in the 3rd Battle of Ypres. In March 1918 the Germany Army attacked on the Somme and they were rushed to the front but were soon in retreat. Fighting on the River Lys in April reduced the strength of the battalion and on 27 May the 1st/8th Battalion was destroyed in fighting on the River Aisne. By June the surviving soldiers were sent to other battalions.
He was killed in action on 27 May 1918 during the Battle of the Aisne when his battalion and others of the Durham light Infantry were positioned east of Craonne and were heavily attacked. His death was initially presumed but his body was later found and reburied at Montcornet Military Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His widow Violet received a payment of £11 18s 1d which included a war gratuity of £11.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.durhamatwar.org.uk
