My Family Tree

Birth GRO 4th qtr 1890
CHATFIELD, Arthur Warden Uckfield 2b 113
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From http://www.kentfallen.com/PDF REPORTS/PEMBURY BAPTIST.pdf
CHATFIELD, ARTHUR WARDEN. Corporal, G/13452. 7th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died Wednesday 6 November 1918. Aged 28.
Born Waldron, Lewis, Sussex. Enlisted Pembury, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Resided Lower Green, Pembury, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Son of Alfred Chatfield of The Chippings, Lower Green, Pembury, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and of the late Mary Jane Chatfield (née Suter). Commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 3, and on the Pembury civic war memorial, also on the Great War memorial plaque which is located in the parish church of St. Peters Upper Church, Hastings Road, Pembury, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.  Arthur is also commemorated on his late mothers’ headstone in the Pembury Non-conformist burial ground Grave Ref: S.282.D "In loving memory of our dear mother Mary Jane Chatfield who died January 29th 1911. At rest. Also of our dear brother Arthur Warden who was reported missing 23rd March 1918."  At the time of the 1901 census, the Chatfield family resided at 1, Sharps Cottages, Lamberhurst, Tonbridge, Kent. Head of the house was 48 year old Maresfield, Sussex native Alfred CHATFIELD, who was employed as an Agricultural Labourer. Arthur formerly served as Private, 421, 2/1st Kent Cyclist Battalion, he enlisted for 4 years in the Territorial Force on Friday 7 May 1909, at which time he stated that he was 18 years and 8 months old, and was an unemployed Chauffer residing at The Chippings, Lower Green, Pembury, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. The day after enlisting in the Territorial Force, Arthur was attested at Tonbridge, Kent for service in the Kent Cyclist Battalion. On Wednesday 8 November 1916 Arthur was appointed to a Lance Corporal in the 2/1st Kent Cyclist Battalion. He embarked and arrived in France on Saturday 16 December 1916, and was initially posted to the 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). On Friday 9 February 1917 Arthur was at Etaples, Pas de Calais when he was transferred to the 7th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) and given the regimental number G/13452. Between Wednesday 21 March 1917 and Thursday 3 May 1917, Arthur served as an Acting Corporal having trained and qualified as a Machine Gunner, and on the latter date he was then promoted to the rank of Corporal. On Wednesday 9 January 1918 Arthur was granted 14 days leave to the United Kingdom. Resulting from the action fought by the 7th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) on Saturday 23 March 1918, it being the third day of the 1918 German Spring Offensive, at least 27 other ranks serving in Arthur’s battalion died, in addition to the fatalities several others were wounded and/or captured and were initially posted as Missing In Action, included amongst those who had been taken prisoner was Arthur. Unfortunately it is unclear exactly when it was that Arthur died whilst he was a prisoner of war of the Germans, and as such his date of death as entered above is the same as that which is shown on his Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemoration details and is an estimated date of death. On Wednesday 7 January 1920, due to the lack of any form of supporting documentation appertaining to Arthur’s exact date of death the Army Council made the decision that for official purposes, it was to be assumed that Arthur had died whilst he was a prisoner of war between Tuesday 6 August 1918 and Wednesday 6 November 1918. Notification of the decision by the Army Council was sent to Arthur’s sister Miss Eva Mary Chatfield (1886 - 1973) of The Chippings, Lower Green, Pembury, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent on Saturday 10 January 1920. Other correspondence regarding Arthur was sent to Thomas Startup who was an Engine Driver and Albert Palmer who was an Insurance Agent, c/o Messer’s Elvy, Robb & Berry (Solicitors) of 49, Mount Pleasant, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. In November 1920 Arthur’s medals were sent to his brother Percy Cyril Chatfield of "Lower Lodge," Blackhurst Lane, Pembury, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, after he had signed a form of guarantee to hand them over to anybody having a prior claim to them. Like his late brother Arthur CHATFIELD, Southborough, Kent native Percy Cyril Chatfield (1893-1953) had also initially served in the Kent Cyclist Battalion and was later transferred to The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) during the Great War.

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