Warrant Officer Class II Battery Sergeant Major Arthur George Chandler Royal Artillery
The Man Arthur George Chandler was born on Tuesday 8th December 1914 in Sherborne, Dorset, son of George, a Gardener and Ellen Elizabeth nee Hills. Arthur’s parents had only married on 13th December 1913 and were living at, or in the grounds of The Manor House, Sherborne, thus this is probably where he was born.
Following his education Arthur followed in his father’s footsteps who had now become a Poultry Farmer and on 28th March 1938 enlisted into the Territorial Army, Royal Artillery with service number 881226 at Maidstone.
His address was given as The Apiary, Kingswood, Chart Sutton, Maidstone and the 1939 Register shows his parents at the same address, together with Ellen’s mother, also Ellen aged 81 and George listed as a Special Constable in Kent County Constabulary. Arthur had by that time already been called up and embodied and not listed.
Arthur attended his anti-gas training at Porton Down on 11th December 1939 and promoted to War Substantive Warrant Officer Class II Battery Sergeant Major on 21st February 1942. He was posted with the 15th Field Regiment RA seeing service in India, the Middle East and finally Italy. He later served in the 6th British Armoured Division, although it is unknown if fought at the Battle of Kasserine Pass.
For his war service Arthur was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 with a Mention in Despatches for services in The Mediterranean Theatre, shown in the London Gazette of 23rd May 1946. He was also awarded his Efficiency Meda ‘Territorial’ in Army Order 69 of 1946. He was released from the Army on 25th February 1946 and transferred to the Z Class Reserve.
Arthur joined the Kent Branch of the Royal Artillery Association on 6th March 1946 and married Lily Alice Judge during the third quarter of 1947 aged 33. It appears they had no children, although he did have God Children – Sally Ann Chandler, Philip James Chandler, Judith Helen Chandler and Brian John Newland.
In September 1963 he was found guilty of careless driving at the junction of Camden Road and Victoria Road, where he had driven into the path of a motorcyclist, he pleaded guilty and it was noted this was his first driving offence in 30 years of driving.
Nothing further is known of Arthur, except he passed 23rd March 1984 in Maidstone, Kent aged 69, Lily lived a further 13 years, passing away in 1997.
Following his education Arthur followed in his father’s footsteps who had now become a Poultry Farmer and on 28th March 1938 enlisted into the Territorial Army, Royal Artillery with service number 881226 at Maidstone.
His address was given as The Apiary, Kingswood, Chart Sutton, Maidstone and the 1939 Register shows his parents at the same address, together with Ellen’s mother, also Ellen aged 81 and George listed as a Special Constable in Kent County Constabulary. Arthur had by that time already been called up and embodied and not listed.
Arthur attended his anti-gas training at Porton Down on 11th December 1939 and promoted to War Substantive Warrant Officer Class II Battery Sergeant Major on 21st February 1942. He was posted with the 15th Field Regiment RA seeing service in India, the Middle East and finally Italy. He later served in the 6th British Armoured Division, although it is unknown if fought at the Battle of Kasserine Pass.
For his war service Arthur was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 with a Mention in Despatches for services in The Mediterranean Theatre, shown in the London Gazette of 23rd May 1946. He was also awarded his Efficiency Meda ‘Territorial’ in Army Order 69 of 1946. He was released from the Army on 25th February 1946 and transferred to the Z Class Reserve.
Arthur joined the Kent Branch of the Royal Artillery Association on 6th March 1946 and married Lily Alice Judge during the third quarter of 1947 aged 33. It appears they had no children, although he did have God Children – Sally Ann Chandler, Philip James Chandler, Judith Helen Chandler and Brian John Newland.
In September 1963 he was found guilty of careless driving at the junction of Camden Road and Victoria Road, where he had driven into the path of a motorcyclist, he pleaded guilty and it was noted this was his first driving offence in 30 years of driving.
Nothing further is known of Arthur, except he passed 23rd March 1984 in Maidstone, Kent aged 69, Lily lived a further 13 years, passing away in 1997.
The Story The medals awarded to Arthur George Chandler were acquired from Dave Walters of the Birmingham Medal Society and of interest because of the Mediterranean MiD, Efficiency Medal combination together with paperwork including the MiD certificate. Although it took some weeks to make the final decision.
Because of the paperwork, research on Ancestry.UK was straightforward enabling a brief biography to be pieced together.
Because of the paperwork, research on Ancestry.UK was straightforward enabling a brief biography to be pieced together.
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Italy Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Medal: 881226. W.O.CL.2.. A.G.CHANDLER. R.A.
This page last updated 26 Nov 23
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