John Frederick Chudley was killed in action on this day in 1915
John Frederick Chudley was born on 8 September 1875 in Sydenham. He was the eldest son of John Chudley and his wife, Lydia née Hattam. He had two younger brothers and two younger sisters.
He was educated at St Mary's School, Brook Green, London.
In 1894, aged 19, he enlisted in 1st Royal Fusiliers (Volunteers) and served during the Second Boer War (1899–1902). A composite Service Company from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Royal Fusiliers Volunteer Battalions joined the 2nd Royal Fusiliers in May 1900, serving in the Western Transvaal. They were heavily involved in guerrilla warfare, which involved extensive marching and guarding blockhouse lines in the Transvaal and Orange Free State.
They also participated in the hunt for Christiaan de Wet, the commander-in-chief of the Orange Free State forces.
John received the Queen's Medal with four clasps.
On 29 January 1910, John married Charlotte Susannah née Mortimer at St Paul's Church in Wimbledon. In 1911, they lived at 40, Heythorp Street, Southfields in London. John was a packer and stock-keeper for a Masonic Jeweller, a company that his father and one of his brothers also worked for.
On 13 April 1912, John and Charlotte had a daughter named Doris.
On 1 January 1909, he was awarded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, a United Kingdom award for long service in the Territorial Force.
As a reservist, he re enlisted at Fitzroy Square London in 1914 and volunteered for overseas duty. On 10 March 1915, the battalion went to France, initially positioned in the Neuve Chapelle area. By May, they were in the trenches near Merville, in particular at La Gorgue and Rue Bacquerot, south of Laventie.
On 12 June 1915, John died of wounds caused by an explosion of a bomb in the trenches. The Battalion War Diary merely reported the 12th as "Very quiet during 24 hours". He was buried in Merville Communal Cemetery.
His Company Commander, Captain Glover wrote:
"I personally have known the Sergeant-Major for nearly thirteen years, and a soldier with a keener sense of duty, and a man straighter in all dealings, I have never met. By his death I have lost a friend and a comrade, and one who has never failed me in any circumstances."
330 Company Sergeant-Major John Frederick Chudley 1st Battalion (Royal Fusiliers), The London Regiment (T.F.)