Alfred George Chambers died from the effects of gas on this day in 1917
Alfred George Chambers was born on 6 December 1897 in Leeds. His parents were Alfred George Chambers, a fitter of railway wagons and carriages, and Annie née Devine
In 1901, he lived with his mother and younger sister, Agnes, at 107 Cardigan Mount in Burley near Headingley, Leeds.
He was educated at the Holy Family Roman Catholic School, a thirty minute walk from his home.
IN 1911, he lived with his parents, sister Agnes and younger brother, Peter, at 15 Second Avenue, New Wortley in Leeds. He had another younger brother, William, born in 1901, who may have died young.
Although only 13 years old, Alfred is described as "a fitter of railway wagons and carriages" like his father. He was employed as a Die Sinker at the Leeds Forge Company.
On the 6 September 1913, Alfred joined the Territorial Force and, in August 1914, he was called up.
Various military documents, including his Pension records, refer to him as 'Albert'.
From 16 April 1915, he served with the Battalion in France and Flanders.
On 18 July 1917, the Battalion marched to Nieuport to relieve the 16/Northumberland Fusiliers. The War Diary records that, on the 20th, "Nieuport was shelled almost continuously and it was difficult to move about. Working parties were furnished at night". It goes on to say
"On the night of the 21/22nd, Nieuport was subjected to severe bombardments of gas shells mixed with High Explosives thus causing the gas shells to be mistaken for duds. The wind was warm and ideal for gas shells. About midnight, many men became sick and started vomiting and, in consequence, could not keep their box respirators on. Undoubtedly, many casualties were caused by the mixture of H.E with the gas shells. The main symptoms were intense pain in the eyes, conjunctivitis, vomiting of the sea-sick type, diarrhoea and abdominal pain, skin erythema. Later on, it was found that bronchitis developed in a number of cases turning, in some instances, into broncho-pneumonia...…. About 7am on the 22nd, the men's eyes became so affected that blindness came on. Every officer and man with the Battalion in Nieuport was affected and, with the exception of 4 officers and 40 men, had to be sent to hospital on the 22nd".
On 26 July 1917, Alfred died from the gas poisoning at No. 2 Canadian General Hospital in Le Treport.
His CO wrote:-
"I am writing first to express my deepest sympathy with you in your great trouble, and to tell you how well your boy had done out here, and what a loss his death will mean to the company. I knew him for a long time, and always admired him for sticking to the work out here. Although he was so young, he proved a very good N.C.O. in charge of his Lewis Gun team, and on that account, too, we are very sorry to lose him".
Alfred is buried at Mont Huon Military Cemetery in Le Treport.
305194 Lance Corporal Alfred George Chambers 1/8th (Territorial) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales' Own)