William Austin Chandler

A Private with the 2nd Battalion, William died on 18th of June 1917 at the age of 34. 

William was born at Lowestoft in 1883, a son of George William and Eliza Chandler. His family lived at 16 Thurston Road, but have not been found in the 1891 and 1901 censuses. 

On 14 October 1905, William married Florence Alice Read at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley. William was a labourer and they both lived at Kirkley. In 1911 they lived at ‘rear of 41’ Thurston Road, and William was an assistant bailiff at the County Court. Later Florence lived at 11 Southwell Road.

William enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 2933, and was posted to the 1/4th Battalion in France. He was renumbered 202801 before being posted to the 2nd Battalion. 

On 1 June 1917 the 2nd Battalion moved from Denier to Arras. On June 12 they took over trenches near Monchy-le-Preux and during the night of the 13th moved to positions in readiness for an attack on Infantry Hill. The attack began at 7.30 a.m. on the 14th. Within an hour the trench system of Infantry Hill was in British hands. Later in the day the Germans laid down a barrage and made a counter-attack, but the Battalion held their positions. Another attack, on the 18th, led to the Battalion sustaining heavy casualties in the Hook and Long trenches. 

The Battalion's casualties for 12 to 19 June 1917 were: 
Officers: six killed, six wounded
Other ranks: 56 killed, 183 wounded, 2 missing

William was killed in action on 18 June.