Ernest Chatwin

Lance Sereant Ernest Chatwin had been serving with the South Staffordshire Regiment for 12 years prior to the outbreak of the war and had seen service in South Africa. He re enlisted at the outbreak of the war and served with service number 3966 in the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment before being transferred to his old regiment. He landed in France on 2nd February 1915 and was awarded a Military Medal for his actions at Festubert on 16th May 1915. He was killed in action on 1st July 1916 on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France The award of his Military Medal was announced on 19th February 1917 in the London Gazette.

Lance Sergeant Ernest Chatwin, 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, was praised for his bravery at Festubert on 16th May 1915 and was published on 2nd July 1915 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “PRAISE FOR A BRAVE MAN. “MANSFIELD MAN’S GALLANTRY AT THE WAR. “Another Mansfield soldier, Lance-Corporal E. Chatwin, of the 1st Staffords, whose wife resides at 16, Harcourt-street, has received special mention for his bravery whilst in action, having been the recipient of the following commendation from Major-General H. P. Gough, commanding the 7th Division: “Your commanding officer and brigade commander have informed me that you have distinguished yourself by conspicuous bravery in the field on 16th-18th May, 1915. I have read their reports, and have forwarded them to higher authority for recognition. Promotion and decorations cannot be given in every case, but I should like you to know that your gallant action is recognised, and how greatly it is appreciated.” “No information of Lance-corporal Chatwin's bravery has reached Mansfield, but it is believed that he distinguished himself at Festubert, where the South Staffords made a heroic charge. Chatwin has been in the South Staffords for 12 years, and went through the South African war. He joined the Notts. and Derbys in August last, but was transferred to his old regiment.” Married to a Staffordshire woman, news of his bravery was reported there also. in the Tamworth Herald published 17th July 1915 :- “GALLANTRY RECOGNISED. “Lance-Corporal E. Chatwin, of the 1st South Staffordshire Regiment, who is known in Tamworth, has received the following commendation from Major-General H. P. Gough, commanding the 7th Division: “Your C.O. and Brigade Commander have informed me that you have distinguished yourself by conspicuous bravery in the field on 16th-18th May, 1915. I have read their reports, and have forwarded them to higher authority for recognition. Promotion and decorations cannot be given in every case, but I should like you to know that your gallant action is recognised and how greatly it is appreciated.” Above reports are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918