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Pte. William John Chalkley
British Army 13th (West Ham) Btn. Essex Regiment
from:20 Belgrave Road, Plaistow
(d.22nd Mar 1918)
William Chalkley was my great uncle. His existence was unknown until the clearance of my late grandfathers house when his death plaque was found. William was born on 23rd November 1892 in Plaistow. His parents were Alfred Albert Chalkley & Emily (May)
On the 15th of January 1916, he enlisted at Canning Town in the Royal West Surrey Regiment as Private, No 7968. After his training he was sent to France and transferred to the 13th (West Ham) Battalion, Essex Regiment as Private, No 33155, and was posted to A Company. In 1917 he suffered with Trench Foot and was admitted to hospital on 26th Feb. Later that year he was wounded and had leave to England. The 13th Battalion ceased to exist on 10th of February 1918 when he and 5 Officers & 129 O.R's joined the 11th (Service) Battalion, Essex Regiment.
He died, shortly after, on 22nd of March 1918, in the Corps Line just North of Morchies, a small villiage North west of Bapaume. The Germans made a pincer attack around this area and his group were overwhelmed. William John has no known grave, and is remembered on the Arras Memorial at Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery, Arras.
On the 25th of October 2014 His name was remembered by a reading at the Tower of London WW1 commemoration Sea of Blood Poppy display, at the 18:30 last post. He was Number 88 on the roll call.
