Pupils of Gordon’s Boys Home who died in the Great War 1914-1919 No. 2274
Arthur Ernest Chittenden was born in Wynberg, South Africa on the 3rd September 1894, the son of Charles and (thought to be) Annie (nee Taylor) - who married in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1890.
In 1901 Arthur was living in York Rd., Farnborough with his widower father Charles (an Army Pay Clerk) and brothers Charles Alexander - born in Nova Scotia, and Albert A.- born in Jamaica. His father an “Assessor for the Army Pay Office” married Alice Gregory (nee Searle), a widow, on the 6th April 1905 in Farnborough. In 1901 Alice, a widow, was also living in York Rd, with 3 children.
In 1911 Charles, (now a Messenger in the Army Pay Department), Alice and Ethel, her daughter were living at 6 Weston Rd., Aldershot. On the 1911 census Arthur was aged 16 and at Gordon’s learning to be a “Saddler”. He arrived in 1908 and left in 1911.
He enlisted at Woking into the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queens Bays) and given the Regimental Number 6190 which was allotted in about August 1911.
The 2/Dragoon Guards were in Aldershot when war was declared, and as part of the 1st Cavalry Brigade, Cavalry Division, went to France as part of the BEF. On the 16th September the Cavalry Division became the 1st Cavalry Division.
The Division took part in most of the early major actions of the war where cavalry was used as a mounted mobile force after which they were used “dismounted” as infantrymen, until the final stages in 1918; 1914: The Battle of Mons (23 August, with subsequent Action of Elouges and Rearguard Action of Solesmes) The Battle of Le Cateau (26 August, with subsequent Rearguard Affair of Etreux, Affair of Nery and Rearguard Actions of Villers-Cotterets) The Battle of the Marne The Battle of the Aisne (12 - 15 September and subsequent Actions on the Aisne Heights) The Battles of Ypres 1914 ("First Ypres") 1915: Winter Operations 1914-15 The Battles of Ypres 1915 ("Second Ypres")
The following is extracted from Sir John French’s dispatch to the War Office dated15th June 1915:
On the night of the 12th-13th the line was re-organised, the centre Division retiring into Army Reserve to rest, and their places being taken in the trenches by the two Cavalry Divisions ; the Artillery and Engineers of the centre Division forming with them what was known as the ' Cavalry Force ' under the command of General De Lisle.
On the 13th the various reliefs having been completed without incident, the heaviest bombardment yet experienced broke out at 4.30 a.m., and continued with little intermission throughout the day. At about 7.45 .a.m. the Cavalry Brigade astride the railway, having suffered very severely, and their trenches having been obliterated, fell back about 800 yards. The North Somerset Yeomanry on the right of the Brigade, although also suffering severely, hung on to their trenches throughout the day, and actually advanced and attacked the enemy with the bayonet.
The Brigade on its right also maintained its position; as did also the Cavalry Division, except the left squadron. which, when reduced to sixteen men, fell back. The 2nd Essex Regiment, realising the situation, promptly charged and retook the trench, holding it till relieved by the Cavalry.
Pupils of Gordon’s Boys Home who died in the Great War 1914-1919 No. 2274
Meanwhile a counter-attack by two Cavalry Brigades was launched at 2.30 p.m., and succeeded in spite of very heavy shrapnel and rifle fire, in regaining the original line of trenches, turning out the Germans who had entered it, and in some cases pursuing them for some distance. But a very heavy shell fire was again opened on them, and they were again compelled to retire to an irregular line in rear, principally the craters of shell holes. The enemy in their counter-attack suffered very severe losses.
The fighting in other parts of the line was little less severe. The 1st East Lancashire Regiment were shelled out of their trenches, but their support company and the 2nd Essex Regiment, again acting on their own initiative, won them back. The enemy penetrated into the farm at the north-east corner of the line, but the 1st Rifle Brigade, after a severe struggle, expelled them. The 1st Hampshire Regiment also repelled an attack, and killed every German who got within fifty yards of their trenches. The 5th London Regiment, despite very heavy casualties, maintained their position unfalteringly. At the southern end of the line the left Brigade was once again heavily shelled, as indeed was the whole front. At the end of a very hard day's fighting our line remained in its former position, with the exception of the short distance lost by one Cavalry Division. Later, the line was pushed forward, and a new line was dug in a less exposed position, slightly in rear of that originally held. The night passed quietly. I
It was on this day, the 13th May 1915 that 32 members of the Regiment were killed, two being Corporal Saddlers and of those one was Arthur who was “killed in action”.
Only five have known graves, the others being remembered on the Menen Gate Memorial.
His father received his “effects” of £24-14s-11d on the 20th October 1915, and on the 30th October 1919 his War Gratuity of £6.
Arthur was awarded the 1914 Star (with clasp) and the Victory and British War Medals which his father would receive, and also the Death Plaque and Scroll.
His brother Charles Alexander was also a Corporal Sadler, with the Army Service Corp, and although he married, his medals were returned by Royal Hospital Chelsea on the 15th March 1962 after he died.
Sources: 1, 2, 3(C), 5, 6(C), 7(a, b & c), 9, 11, 13 & 14
References 1. UK, Soldiers Died in WW1 (Details, often including place of enlistment) 2. Commonwealth War Graves Commission (Cemetery or Memorial) & relatives? 3. 1901 census (Military (M) or (C)) 4. 1901 census (Gordon Boys Home - Age only) 5. 1911 census (Gordon Boys Home - Age, place of birth and Trade) 6. 1911 census (Military (M) or Civilian. (C)). 7. Army Medal Card 7(a) - Rolls 7(b) - Effects 7(c) 8. Naval and marines medal roll 9. www.1914-1918 or Long Long Trail (Division, Regiment & Battalion dispositions) 10. Service Record (some survived WW2 blitz - various state of damage) 11. Reference literature (Specific) Sir John French’s dispatch to the War Office dated 15th June 1915 12. National Archive Naval Records. 13. Army Service Numbers 1881-1914 - Paul Noble (Blog) 14. Gordon’s Records (a) The Children’s Society (b)