Description
Queen’s South Africa Medal, 5 bars, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, KSA, 2 bars, SA 1901, SA 1902, WW1 Pair of British War and Victory Medal, Corporal Lot Hinchcliffe Chawner, 28th Field Battery R.F.A. later Chauffeur Driver in ASC Transport, a Leicester man.
QSA Officially impressed: “73008 Corl L. Chawner. 28:B, R.F.A.” Early issue large style impressing with ghost dates
KSA Officially impressed: “73008 Corpl L. Chawner. R.F.A.”
British War Medal officially impressed: “M2-076411 G.H. Chawner. A.S.C.” Note unusual difference in initials as issued
Victory Medal Officially impressed: “M2-076411 L. Chawner. A.S.C.”
All clasps to QSA and KSA confirmed on the medal roll, also only entitled to WW1 Pair for overseas service in during First World War as an older ASC volunteer.
Provenance, a small note with the group states it was purchased for $72 on 14th December 1989.
Mr Lot Hinchcliffe Chawner, was born circa 1871 in St Margarets, Leicester, Leicestershire.
The son of Hosiery Hand, Joseph Chawner and Harriet Chawner.
When he was 17 years old and employed in “Hosiery” he enlisted with the local 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment of Militia on 12th April 1888.
Once he turned 18 years old, he left Hosiery and the Militia behind to sign up for full time Army service with the Royal Artillery on 30th April 1889.
Unfortunately, barely a month later he deserted the regiment, and was some months later caught having fraudulently enlisted with the King’s Royal Rifles, he deserted in late June 1889, was recovered and Court Martialled in November and later returned from Prison to Duty, back with the Royal Field Artillery as a Driver on 13th December 1889.
A report reads he is: “In confinement for fraudulent enlistment while belonging to the RA in which he served as 73008 L Chawner and deserted on 28/6/1889. Tried by Regimental Court Martial and Sentenced to 28 Days of Hard Labour and stoppages.” Placed in Prison from 15th Nov 1889 until 13th Dec 1889.
He then first joined the Royal Field Artillery on 22nd December 1889 as a Driver on 22nd December 1889.
Appointed Acting Bombardier on 19th May 1895, Promoted Bombardier on 23rd June 1896.
Transferred to Army Reserve on 25th Jan 1898.
Recalled from Reserve for Emergency Service in Boer War on 13th Nov 1899.
Promoted Corporal in South Africa on 29th May 1901.
Served through entirety of Boer War in South Africa, to return home to discharge on 8th September 1902 back to the reserves, receiving his South African War Gratuity of £19.12.0 on 31st August 1902.
After the war was over, he settled back home with his pension to Leicester, and lived at 20 Biddulph Street, Leicester City Centre.
Having spent some years in the Royal Artillery as a Driver, he found work as a Driver and Chauffeur in civilian life.
By 1911, he was working as a Domestic Coachman in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, with his wife Julia and 5 children.
At the age of 44, working as a Chauffeur, he signed up for wartime service on 27th April 1915, with the Army Service Corps Motor Transport.
Attested at Nottingham on 28th April 1915, appointed Acting Corporal, 26th June 1915, with ASC MT 338 Company.
Joined the 338 M.T. Coy ASC Auth Part II under Orders No 1, 17th May 1915 as a Pte.
Saw service at home from 27th April 1915 to 19th December 1915.
Overseas service with the Expeditionary Force Med (338 Coy) from 20th December 1915 to 17th December 1917.
On Board Ship from 18th December 1917 to 10th January 1918.
Finished service at home from 11th Jan 1918 to 26th June 1919.
His papers are stamped with the award of the WW1 Pair, it appears he missed the 1914-15 Star application window by a few days.
338 Company ASC MT: Formed April 1915. 22nd Division. Later served in Egypt with 10th (Irish) Division and Salonika as army troops under GHQ command.
In 1919, he married Edith M. Thomas in Oakham, Rutland.
He then returned to live back in Leicester, where he died aged 59 during 1931.
In 1922, He was called into court when working as a Leicester Lorry Driver, to give evidence of having possible run over a man and killed him, he was identified as he was driving a 4 ton lorry with his initials “W.H.C.” on the back and Leicester, however he was cleared.
“A BUMP
It appeared that the Lorry, which weighed 4 tons, belonged to Benjamin Cort, of Leicester, and was driven throgh Walsgrave on the day named, by Lot Hinchcliffe Chawner, who was accompanied by Mr Cort.
Chawner told the Coroner that he did not recall seeing a cyclist near the bridge in Walsgrave. He remembered a bump on the near hind wheel somwhere between Walsgrave and Coventry, but concluded that the wheel had struck a large stone of dropped into a bad pothole. He estimated his speed at Walsgrave bridge at 12 or 13 miles and hour, Mr Cort Corroborated.
The Jury found that death was due to a fracture of the base of the skull sustained by Thomas being knocked down by some motor vehicle, but the evidence before them was insufficient to show how the collision occurred.”
