Name
William Herbert Chandler
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
96573
Royal Garrison Artillery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
William Chandler was born at Grays, Essex in the winter of 1888, and at the time of the 1911 Census he lived with his wife Amy, two sons and brother in law, Lewis Ashby at 22 Adrian Road, Abbots Langley. He had married Amy Ashby on 10th October 1908 at Abbots Langley. A daughter and another son were born between 1914 and 1916. William was employed as a Grocer’s Salesman, but by the time he enlisted in June 1916 he was employed as an Attendant at the Asylum.
William attested on 9th June 1916, and was posted as a Gunner to the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). His Service Record indicated that he was sent to France on 2nd December 1916, and served with the British Expeditionary Force until 17th April 1919. The National Roll of The Great War noted that during his service on the Western Front he took part in the battles of Vimy Ridge, Messines, Ypres, Passchendaele, Cambrai and the Somme.
He was listed in the Absent Voter Records for Autumn 1918 and Spring 1919, serving as a Private with the Royal Garrison Artillery, and still living at 22 Adrian Road, Abbots Langley. William returned home from France on17th April 1919, and was demobilised on 15th May.
A letter in his Service Record from the Ministry of Pensions indicated that in October 1919 he was granted a Disability Allowance of fifteen shillings a week, to be reviewed after nine months, due to being classified 20% disabled due to rheumatism.
William Chandler survived the War. His former lodger and brother in law, Lewis Ashby was killed in action. Of his other brothers in law, Thomas Ashby died as a result of his wounds, but Walter Henry Ashby survived.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
