Pte. Ernest Bertrand Chilvers MM, 6826 / 242492 1/5 West Riding Regiment & 505188 Labour Corps

[Ivor Anderson]

Pte. Ernest Bertrand Chilvers MM, 6826 / 242492 1/5 West Riding Regiment & 505188 Labour Corps

 

Service Record on Ancestry

Enlisted: 9 November 1914 with 5th Norfolks (6826)

Served in France 28 August 1916 to 19 August 1917

 

MM in London Gazette supplement 29854 on 8/9th December 1916 p.12043, Schedule no. 49548

Citation in Leeds Mercury & Sheffield Daily Telegraph - Thurs. 19 October 1916

“For setting a fine example under trying circumstances in the trenches, during the period of the 17th to the 24th September 1916 near Thiepval.”

Service record says award was for 17-18th Sept.

Military Medal is engraved - 6826 PTE E.B. CHILVERS 1/5 W.RID: R. - T.F.

War Medal and Victory Medal are engraved - 242492  PTE. E.B. CHILVERS. W. RID. R.

 

Gassed (shell) 6 August 1917. Hospital 20-08-1917 to 18 September 1917.

Posted to Depot Ripon 28 September 1917

Transferred to Labour Corps 4 January 1918

Demobilised 8 February 1919

 

Born 25 October 1897 (1939 census)

1901 Census - 45 Tower End, Middleton, Norfolk. Parents Robert & Martha.

1911 Census - Flitcham, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Aged 13, with parents & 3 siblings: Fred, James & Gladys.

Married Gladys Haylett Q4 1923

1939 Census - Lynn Street, Swaffham, Norfolk. Born 25 October 1897. Contractor’s labourer. With wife Gladys b.14-04-1903

                         Awarded 1939 - 1945 Defence Medal is engraved with OBS E.B. CHILVERS  

Died 54 Lynn Street, Swaffham, Norfolk 12 April 1962 at Kelling Hospital, Holt, Norfolk.

Edited 21 June , 2020 by Ivor Anderson

[DaveC]

Hi Ivor

     Hope this is of some use (Bn War Diary)

 

4th		The Battalion moved to HEDAUVILLE and was accommodated in bivouacs at P.34.C.4.10.		Ref Map 57D SE
4th to 14th		The Battn engaged in reorganising itself.
15th to 16th September 1916		The Battn left HEDAUVILLE for MARTINSART WOOD at 4pm.  The men had teas in the Wood and then marched by Platoons from MARTINSART WOOD, commencing at 10.30pm, to CRUCIFIX CORNER (W.11.d.9.1) where they were met by Guides from 6th Yorkshire Regt.  The Battn relieved the 6th West Yorkshire Regt (32nd Bde, 11 Division) in the LEIPZIG SALIENT and OLD BRITISH LINE.  The relief was carried out quietly without any untoward incident and completed by 4.30am on the 16th.  The disposition of companies was as follows:  C Coy in LEIPZIG SALIENT (old German line) from R31.C.7.6 - 45.  D Coy OLD BRITISH FRONT LINE from and including FIFTH AVENUE, R.31.C.1.5 to THIEPVAL AVENUE R.31.A.1.5.  A Coy in AUTHVILLE VILLAGE, Q.36.C.4.2.  B Coy - 2 Platoons in AUTHVILLE VILLAGE and 2 Platoons on the SOUTH BLUFF W.6A.3.2.  Battn HQ was established at CAMPBELL POST, Q.36.c.10.2.
16th		Battn was ordered by the Brigade to occupy a trench running from R.19.c.7.6 through Point 58 to old FRONT GERMAN LINE.  C Coy took this trench at 6.30pm but was unable to hold it as it was a mere mass of shell holes and German shelling was so intense as to prevent them consolidating.  Many casualties were sustained and after two attempts at consolidation it was decided to abandon the operation.  There was a lively bombing encounter up the OLD GERMAN FRONT LINE, about Point 4.7, in which we had the advantage  The Battn had rather a trying night and there was a great deal of shelling over the whole of the Battalion sector.
17th		5 wounded Germans, including 2 officers, were brought in from no-mans-land by C Coy during the morning.  It was a fairly quiet day.  The 147th Bde was ordered t attack the German Line R.31.s.9.1 through r.31.c.9.6, including trench to 72 to R.31.c.4.7.  By 12 noon C Coy 5th W Rid Regt was relieved by a company of 7th W Rid Regt from R.31.c.7.8 to FIFTH AVENUE.  C Coy then went into LEMBERG TRENCH.  The 7th W Rid Regt carried out the attack at 6.30pm.  They did it with 3 assaulting companies, one company in close support and C Coy, 5th Battn, in reserve.  The attack was preceded by a short, intense artillery bombardment and by Stokes Mortars.  The 4th Battn provided working and carrying parties.  The attack was entirely successful and the 7th Battn got far beyond their objective and finally took up the line R31.a.6.6, R.31.c.3.4, R.31.b.0.3.  Many Germans were killed and very few prisoners taken.
18th		The Battn relieved the 7th Battn in the line.  Our A Coy took over the line R.31.c.3.4 to R.31.a.6.6 - R.31.a.5.5 - R.31.a.61/2.51/2.  B Coy took over approximately R.31.b.0.3, R.31.a.8.3, R.31.a.7.2, R.31.a.9.1.  C Coy remained in its old line R.31.c.7.8 - 68 -76 58 - 45 to FIFTH AVENUE inclusive to THIEPVAL AVENUE in the OLD BRITISH LINE.  The situation throughout the day was quiet on the whole.  At 10pm the Royal Engineers blew up the end of the RUSSIAN SAP called INVERARY TUNNEL, stretching from about R.31.a.4.3 near the OLD GERMAN LINE.  After it was blown up it was joined up to the OLD GERMAN LINE by a working party of D Coy and formed a valuable means of communications.
19th September 1916		Enemy artillery was much more active and they shelled our front line O.3.91.72.42 intermittently throughout the day.  Retaliation was asked for several times during the day.  A patrol was sent out from A Coy and they ascertained that the first German post was about 30 yards in front of R.31.a.5.5.  The night was a very disturbing one.  Between 9pm and 12 midnight the enemy shelled heavily on our right front and on point R31.a.9.1, and between points R.31.a.9.1 and R.31.d.4.8.
20th		At 2.30am there was a short, intense bombardment of the German line which appeared to be opposite our right front, followed by a large amount of rifle and machine gun fire on both sides.  OC A Coy sent a disquieting message about 3.30am to the effect that his men were done up & owing to the very large new element he found it difficult to control them and that they were decidedly frightened.  This necessitated a similar message to the Brigade.  During the day things were much quieter.  At night D Coy relieved A Coy with two platoons.  A rather quiet night was spent.  The last 3 days had been very wet and misty.
21st   1916		Another quiet day.  At night the Battn was relieved by 4th W Rid Regt.  On relief the Battn went into Bde Support and was accommodated as follows:  A Coy SOUTH BLUFF (W.6.A); B Coy in German dugouts about points R.31.c.5.2, R.31.c.4.0.  D Coy in AUCHUILLE VILLAGE.  Battn HQ was established in a German dugout at R.31.c.3.1.
22nd & 23rd		The Battn was engaged in supplying very large working parties for the purpose of consolidating the new front line & improving and opening out communication trenches.
24th		The Battn was relieved by the 11th Royal Fusiliers.  On relief the Battn marched to HEDAUVILLE for the night.
25th		Starting at 9.30am the Battn marched to HALLOY.  A halt was made in the fields near THIEVRES to enable the men to rest and have dinners.  The men’s feet were all in very bad condition & a great many fell out.  The Battn reached billets at HALLOY about 6pm.		Ref map LENS Sheet 11 1/100,000
26th & 27th		At HALLOY.  Most of the time was spent in smartening the men up.
28th		The Battn marched to St AMAND, where we were held in Brigade Reserve.
29th - 30th		Smartening up and training of the men was carried out.   H A S STANTON Lt Col Comdg 5th W Rid Regt.
September 1916		APPENDICES   DRAFTS JOINED DURING SEP 1916:   Officers: Capt Sykes F A              2 Sep 16 2Lt Floyd C S 2Lt Waite F H     2Lt Hirst J W                 18 Sep 16 2Lt Robinson A W 2Lt Lees H W 2Lt Mackie W G 2Lt Ellis C G H 2Lt Mollett B 2Lt Crocker J 2Lt Patchett N 2Lt Booth H 2Lt Walton J C 2Lt Smets L J 2Lt Stansfield S B   2Lt Darragh M S            22 Sep 16 2Lt Smith H 2Lt Machin B 2Lt Baker F P 2Lt Yates W 2Lt Forty H J 2Lt Melton A F   Other Ranks:   6 Sep      73 7 Sep      34 9 Sep      70 10 Sep     29 10 Sep     20 12 Sep    109 20 Sep      15 23 Sep      10                 360
		CASUALTIES: 2Lt Smith G H Capt Stott A B 2Lt Conacher P G   Lt McLintock A 2Lt Whitlam L                Lt Sharp A N                  2Lt Gledhill G R 2 Lt Riley J R N 2Lt Rush C W   2Lt Lumb E 2Lt Sykes E T 2Lt Da Costa R M 2Lt Taylor H 2Lt Black D 2Lt Harris E W Lt Haigh J M 2Lt Watkinson E G 2Lt Brown R H 2Lt Hutton T W M 2Lt Black D   Officers Transferred:   2Lt Collinge W     Other Ranks:   Missing Killed Wounded Gassed Shell Shock Accidental Injuries	To England - sick - 28 Sep To England - sick - 23 Aug To England  - sick - 25 Aug   Missing - 3 Sep             Wounded - 3 Sep  England 5 Sep Wounded - 3 Sep  England 5 Sep Wounded - 3 Sep  England 5 Sep   Retd 12 Sep remained at duty Wounded - 16 Sep Wounded - 16 Sep  Retd 23 Sep remained on duty To England - sick - 4 Sep                “            - 27 Sep       Transferred to Machine Gun School, Grantham, 7 Sep.       158   21 292     1   17    5   494
September 1916		PROMOTIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND REVERSIONS:   2Lt Da Costa R M to be Temp Capt whilst cmdg a Coy d/17 Aug 2Lt Sykes E T to be Temp Capt whilst comdg a Coy 4 - 14 Aug inclusive 2Lt Sykes E T to be Temp Lt d/15 Aug   2Lt Watkinson E G to be Temp Capt whilst cmdg a Coy vice 2Lt Da Costa R M who relinquishes the temp rank of Capt d/4 Sep. 2Lt McLintock A relinquishes the temp rank of Capt d/4 Sep. 2Lt Broadbent A V to be Temp Capt whilst cmdg a Coy d/14 Sep. 2Lt Fisher J H appointed Acting Transport Officer vice 2Lt Collinge d/8 Sep. 2Lt Floyd C S appointed Lewis Gun Officer vice 2Lt Cockill J B d/23 Sep.		Vide London Gazette d/4 Sep 16
	d/1 Sep       d/25 Sep         d/27 Sep	HONOURS AND AWARDS:   The undermentioned have been awarded the MILITARY MEDAL for bravery in the Field:   2107 Cpl Ferguson A     D Coy 1553 LSgt Holdsworth F   B Coy 2923 Sgt Lee E    C Coy 4150 Pte Thomas H   C Coy 2201 Cpl Schofield G A   B Coy 5958 Pte Rowlandson A   D Coy 7122 Pte Short J   C Coy 53972 Pte Pearson W   C Coy 3136 Pte Mitchell G H   C Coy 2298 Pte Lancaster H   C Coy 3610 LCpl Smith N   A Coy 3291 Pte Kaye E   A Coy 3594 Pte Garside J   D Coy 4246 Pte Smith R S   D Coy 3451 Pte North   D Coy 6759 Pte Thomas W   D Coy 2664 Sgt Gardner C H   D Coy 6829 Pte Saunders W   D Coy 6826 Pte Chilvers N B   D Coy 6775 Pte Flowers F   D Coy 6834 Pte Turner H L   A Coy 6822 Pte Wasey E   A Coy 6818 Pte Leggett V S   A Coy 3251 Pte Armitage A   D Coy 2123 Cpl Allen W B   A Coy 2380 LCpl Caine F   A Coy

[PRC]

47 minutes ago, Ivor Anderson said:

Service Record on Ancestry

Enlisted: 9 November 1914 with 5th Norfolks (6826)

 

47 minutes ago, Ivor Anderson said:

Military Medal is engraved - 6826 PTE E.B. CHILVERS 1/5 W.RID: R. - T.F.

 

It would appear to be a major co-incidence if his service number with the 2/5th Norfolks and 1/5 West Riding were identical. Unfortunately I can't see anything in the surviving records that clearly indicates what his Norfolk Regiment service number was. The nearest is a crossed through number on his Medical History Sheet.

 

 

Best guess would be "3234".

 

The nearest service number match I've had cause to research and who has surviving service records was Thomas George Burgess who enlisted into the 2/5th on the 26th October 1914. He was issued with service number 3222.

 

5710 was the number he was issued with on being transferred as part of a draft to the 5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and sent out to France. However on reaching the Infantry Base Depot looks like they were then compulsorarily transferred to the West Riding Regiment. The 1/5th West Ridings being a Territorial Force unit, Ernest would have been included in the Territorial Force renumbering at the start of 1917, hence the change from 6826 to 242492.

 

Hope that helps,

Peter

 

 

[Ivor Anderson]

Thank you both for the additional information. His MM group recently sold on ebay (neither bought nor sold by me) for £411. I was intrigued by the fact that his service record, the war diary and a clear newspaper copy of the citation had survived. MM index card from the NA, ref. WO-372-23-90259:

 

 

Edited 21 June , 2020 by Ivor Anderson
Additional information

[JOVE23]

So I take it the MM Citations were divorced from the individual award holders' files at some point (when everything still existed), or were they always separated?

[Ivor Anderson]

I presume that the MC & MM index cards were held separately from the MM citations (which were destroyed in WW2 bombing). Not sure if they were within the same building?

This is the edge inscription of E. C. Chilvers' MM. The medal had been heavily polished and edge knocked over the years:

 

Edited 22 June , 2020 by Ivor Anderson