William Arthur Chambers
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Arthur Chambers was born in 1886 in Saundby lived with his parents John and Elizabeth Chambers and brothers and sisters at The Gables Farm, Saundby. He became a soldier rather late in his life, as he was thirty three years old when he died in the war. Perhaps he was conscripted under the Military Service Act of 1916, which made it lawful that men between the ages of 18 and 45 years could be conscripted into the Army or Navy (there was no separate Air Force before 1918). A Memorial Lectern, made of oak, was commissioned by his family, and used in Saundby Church where Arthur Chambers was christened and was formerly a member of the congregation.
Arthur, as he was known to his family, became T3/027121 Driver (Private) Chambers W A with the 3rd Motor Transport Company, Army Service Corps which was part of the 30th Infantry Division, in France. His Company was based behind the front lines near the town of Armentieres. He became ill with bronchitis in the winter of 1918 and died of brocho-pneumonia in a monastry being used as an Army Field Hospital on the 8th November 1918, three days before the war ended. Arthur Chambers is buried in 'Y Farm' Military Cemetery, at the village of Bois-Grenier; Row A, Grave No 30. It is perhaps significant that many of the one hundred and twenty one soldiers buried in ‘Y Farm’ Military cemetery died of pneumonia or bronchitis, according to the War Graves Register, probably in the nearby Field Hospital, from the effects of cold and wet weather, wet clothing, and living out in the open; rather than from wounds. Arthur’s sisters visited his grave in the 1920s, placed flowers on it and took a photograph of the wooden cross. Some years later a second visit was made, by which time the wooden cross had been replaced by a white headstone.His family relatives still have a photograph of Arthur Chambers in Army Service Corps uniform, also the bronze Memorial Plaque inscribed with his name, and a letter of condolence from King George V, sent to the families of those who died in the First World War.
Information on William Arthur Chambers has been provided courtesy of the Beckingham and Saundby Local History group . CWGC - Son of John and Elizabeth Chambers, of "The Gables," Saundby, Gainsborough The lectern given by Mr and Mrs Chambers in memory of their son was transferred from Saundby St Martin of Tours parish church, which closed in 1973, to the neighbouring parish church of St Martin of Tours, Bole. Saundby church was transferred to the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. The lectern was returned to Saundby church for one day on 6 September 1998 when the first service in 25 years was held in the church.
