Private William Chandler

William Chandler was the son of Richard, a greengrocer and Margaret (nee Kiley) who had married on 7th September 1879 in St. Martins- in-the fields, Westminster.

By the time William was born in 1893 his parents already had five children: Edward, Richard, David, Margaret and Mary Ann who was born in 1892.

Two years after the birth of William his mother Margaret died aged 32.

William’s father Richard, still employed as a greengrocer remarried at the end of 1900, when he was almost aged 40. His new wife was 22-year-old Phoebe Isabella Rice.

In 1901 William and the family are now living at 24 Salisbury House in Southwark. William’s Eldest sibling, Edward aged 20 is just a couple of years younger than their stepmother, Phoebe.

During 1903 several changes occurred in the Chandler household. Williams Stepmother Phoebe gives birth to a child who is named Bessie. William’s father has a change of occupation. Two marriages take place: Richard (jnr) marries Annie Cooper on 8th March 1903. Their marriage certificate lists his father’s occupation as a Professional and Edward marries Elizabeth Alice Smith later in the year. The family also move from Southwark to Tooting.

By 1911 William now aged 18 is listed as a Property Man. He was still living at home with his father Richard a Property Foreman (Theatrical Properties), Step mother Phoebe and four younger siblings: Bessie, Mildred 7, Percy 4 and Lucy 9 months. Also living with the family are Phoebe’s relatives, a nephew called Frederick Rice aged 8, her father William Rice aged 71 listed as an Army Pensioner and her sister Emma Rice aged 32. The family are living in a five room house at 24 Lyveden Road, Tooting Junction, Colliers Wood.

None of William’s 5 older siblings are living at home. Edward, a florist fruiterer Assistant and his wife Elizabeth have 3 children and are living at 193 Putney Bridge Road, Wandsworth. Richard (Jnr) listed as a Theatrical Property Maker and Annie are living at 100 Great Suffolk Street in Southwark with 4 children. David, working as a Ticket Writer is a Boarder living at 28 Farlton Road, Garrett Lane, Earlsfield. Mary Ann aged 19 was working as a General Domestic servant and living in Kings Norton.

Maggie a Domestic Servant was listed as a visitor living at 41 Defoe Road, Tooting with a family called Dunn. Records show that on 26th July 1913 she marries Leonard William Dunn at Christ Church, Colliers Wood. Her father Richard was recorded as a Property Master.

When war broke out William was aged 21 and still living at 24 Lyvenden Road Colliers Wood. He enlisted in Kingston as a private with the East Surrey Regiment then later transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) 140th Company.

William was killed (presumed dead) in France on 21st May 1916. Records indicate that on the day he died his unit was involved in fighting off a German attack at Vimy Ridge. Hostile artillery had been very active most of that day on their front and support lines.

William was aged 23 when he died and is remembered at Arras memorial cemetery and also at Christ Church, in Colliers Wood (where his sister Maggie married).