Name
Herbert William Chedgey
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/07/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18321
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BUSHEY (ST. JAMES) CHURCHYARD
Old Churchyard 1.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Sun Engraving Company Memorial, Watford,
Bushey Memorial, Clay Hill,
St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields
Pre War
Herbert William Chedgey was born in 6 February 1896 in Highgate, Middlesex (Edmonton registration district) and baptised 12 April 1896 at Christ Church, Hornsey. He was the eldest of three children of George and Kate Maria (nee Evans) Chedgey of Bushey, Herts..
George, who was born in 1870 was a jobbing gardener and married Kate Evans 3 October 1893 at Christ Church, Hornsey, Middx. (registered in Edmonton) and the family was subsequently living at 54, Park Road, Bushey.
On the 1901 Census, aged 5 he lived in Bushey, with his parents and no siblings. On the 1911 Census, at school aged 15 he still lived in Bushey, with his parents and two siblings.
Herbert resided in Bushey; had worked for Messrs Andre and Sleigh, and was ultimately buried there on 9 July 1917. His mother, Kate died 1938 in Watford aged 69, and was buried 23 November at St James’, Bushey; George died 1953 in Bushey aged 83, and was buried 15 May, also at St James.
Wartime Service
Herbert joined the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 18321 and served on the Western Front. He died on 5 July 1917.
His pension record states that he died of disease and identifies his dependant as Mrs Kate Maria Chedgey of 54, Park Road, Bushey, with a pension of 5/- from 15/1/18. Her name is subsequently crossed through, annotated deceased and substituted with George.
Herbert died at The County of Middlesex War Hospital, Napsbury, Herts. was buried in St James’ churchyard and is commemorated on the Bushey and St James’ memorials.
The following extract is from the Watford Observer, July 1917:
Soldier’s Funeral:
“The funeral took place at Bushey on Monday of Private H W Chedgey, a son of Mr and Mr G Chedgey of 54 Park Road, who died in Napsbury War Hospital recently, from shell shock. Chedgey, whose age was 21, joined the Bedfordshire Regiment early in the war, and was soon sent to the front. He was wounded in September 1915, but recovered and again volunteered for foreign service.
Before the war he was employed by Messrs Andre and Sleigh. Owing to the expressed wish of the deceased’s parents, he was not accorded full military honours but the coffin was borne by some of his comrades, including C P Bliss of Bushey. The Bushey Special Constabulary was represented by Sub-Inspector F P Bliss, Sergeant P Brook, and Special Constable Clarke and Messrs Andre and Sleigh by Mr R Palmer. Beautiful wreaths were received from members of the deceased’s regiment and his fellow-workers. The Rev H H C Richardson was the officiating clergyman.”
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Herbert’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
