A MOST INTERESTING & INTRIGUING
1914 Star & Bar "Gas Casualty / P.O.W." Trio.


To:
9472 Cpl J.C. CHETWYND.1st Yorkshire & Lancashire Regt.

MISSING PRESUMED DEAD at FREZENBERG, 8th May 1915.

(Actually died of gas or wounds as P.O.W. at Hameln in Germany)

[BIOGRAPHY]
John Chetwynd was a Welshman born at LLANGEDWYN in Denbyshire who enlisted into the regular army on 11th May 1909. Prior to enlistment he was a single man who had worked for 16 months as an "Engine Cleaner" at the Great Western Railway Locomotive Depot at Worcester. (His reference papers are included) and as a printer. He was the son of Edward J & Mrs S.G.Chetwynd who both appear to have worked at Llandilo Graban School, Erwood, Radnorshire. One of seven children, he had four brothers, one of whom, Sgt E.G.Chetwynd was serving in the 3rd Yorks & Lancs Regt based at Salisbury, and two sisters.

[ARMY CONDUCT HISTORY]
He was given 3 days 'Confined to Barracks' in January 1910 for having a rusty bolt head on his weapon during guard musket parade. He was also Reprimanded on 23rd November 1912 for "irregular conduct in town & loitering on the footpath" and for then "making an improper remark to the garrison military police" (NOT RECOMMENDED! )

He entered France on 9th September 1914 and as part of the B.E.F. and took part in many of the early actions of the war. He is shown as being 'wounded slightly' in 1914. In the spring of 1915 he was still with the 1st Yorks & Lancs Regt and on the 8th May went into action on the first day of the Battle of FREZENBERG Ridge.

The German gas attack of the 22nd April was the very first time that gas had been used and the British troops had no real defence. The Germans had then used gas very widely over the next few days and it was again used during this battle. John Chetwynd and his unit fought bravely during the battle which produced many hundreds of casualties from artillery & gas.

[MISSING IN ACTION]
Clearly at the time of roll call, John Chetwynd was missing from his unit and as a result he was originally assumed as 'missing presumed dead'. However, his surviving and immensely interesting papers confirm that he had in fact been taken prisoner between 8th & 12th May 1915. He was probably found in an incapacitated condition on the battlefield, and his file states that he was "Presumed P.O.W. on 10th May".

Further information in the German P.O.W. papers confirms that he died at Hameln, Germany and that a report of his death as "actual date not shown' had been made (List 29492 (0103/5536) by the German authorities via the U.S. Embassy in early May 1915. John's entry on the medal roll says: "Died while P.O.W. 8th May 1915" . In reality his actual death was almost certainly a few days later from artillery wounds or the effects of gas and despite his death in the hands of the Germans he has no known grave. For British military purposes and having no known grave he was clearly classed as "Killed in Action" and is remembered with eternal honour on the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium.

[BATTLE OF FREZENBERG, 8th–13th May 1915]
The German attack began on 8 May with a massive bombardment of the 83rd Brigade who were positioned in newly dug and shallow trenches on the forward slope of the ridge, and the first and second enemy infantry assaults were repelled by the British survivors. However, the third German assault of the morning pushed the defenders back. Although the neighbouring 80th Brigade repulsed the attack, the 84th Brigade was pushed back; this left a 2-mile gap in the line. The Germans were prevented from advancing further by Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI)'s counter-attacks and a night move by the 10th Brigade. The PPCLI held the line at a steep cost; their 700-man force were reduced to 150, who were in no shape to fight. After this, their unofficial motto—"Holding up the whole damn line"—is still used today.

A HIGHLY DESIRABLE & UNUSUAL EARLY CASUALTY. With some really excellent, comprehensive and quite rarely surviving service & P.O.W. papers & M.I.C. etc.
Medals practically "Mint" with original "Mint" Ribbons.

£595 (RESERVED)