'The Westmorland Gazette' (8 September 1917)
(Kindly supplied by Sedbergh & District History Society)
[Heading of article not known but does exist]
Sergt. L.C. [C.L.] Chorley, son of Mr. L. Chorley, Sedbergh has received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Lancs. Fusiliers. Mr. Chorley was one of the first who joined the colours from Sedbergh and he has been in the army since August, 1914.
'The Westmorland Gazette' (4 May 1918)
(Kindly supplied by Sedbergh & District History Society)
SEDBERGH
CHORLEY, 2nd Lieut. L.C. Mr. L. Chorley, of the Black Bull Hotel, Sedbergh, is officially notified that his son, 2nd Lieut. L.C. Chorley has been killed in action. Lieut. Chorley, who was in the Lancashire Fusiliers, joined up with other four men from Sedbergh at the outbreak of war, and of the five only one now survives.
'The Westmorland Gazette' (18 May 1918)
(Kindly supplied by Sedbergh & District History Society)
THANKS FOR SYMPATHY
Leonard Chorley and family desire to thank all friends for the many kind letters and expressions of sympathy in their great loss. Len was a good son, a loving brother. We gave him to the Army.
God rest his soul.
Black Bull Hotel, Sedbergh.
'The Westmorland Gazette' (1 June 1918)
(Kindly supplied by Sedbergh & District History Society)
SEDBERGH
On Thursday evening there was a large congregation at Sedbergh Church, when a service was held in memory of 2nd Lieut. C.L. Chorley and Corpl. T. Cragg, recently fallen in the war. The service was taken by the vicar, the Rev. A.H. Walker. The special hymns were 'Now the labourer's task is o'er' and 'On the Resurrection morning.' The 'Dead March' was played at the close of the service by the organist, Mr. A.E. Thorne.
'The Westmorland Gazette' (13 July 1918)
(Kindly supplied by Sedbergh & District History Society)
SEDBERGH
Mr. L. Chorley, of the Bull Hotel, had been officially informed that his son, 2nd Lieut. C.L. Chorley, Lancs. Fusiliers, was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry on the night of 9th-10th April at Givenchy, when with ten men he captured seven machine guns and 40 prisoners, including two officers. He was killed in action on April 25th when leading a storming party in the German trenches. His brother, Pte. R.C. Chorley, West Ridings, has been mentioned in despatches for good work done with General Plumer in Italy. The two brothers joined the army in August, 1914, and went to France in August, 1915.
THE HISTORY OF THE LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS 1914 1918. VOL 1, by Major-General J.C. Latter, C.B.E., M.C.
THE DEFENCE OF GIVENCHY, 9th APRIL, 1918
... Throughout the afternoon, Lieutenant-Colonel Brighten sent parties up, as he could make them available, to help the forward battalions in clearing the trenches of Germans and re-establishing their line... The Windy Corner area was finally cleared; and soon after, a successful counter-attack by the brigade on the left resulted in large numbers of the enemy being driven down to that spot, where the 2nd/5th did much execution. Second-Lieutenant C.L. Chorley behaved very gallantly during this clearing process, killing or capturing several German posts. On one occasion, when leading eight men up a communication trench, he met two machine-gunners who had their guns trained down it; but he forced them to surrender and sent down both of them and their guns...
[Second-Lieutenant C.L. Chorley was awarded the Military Cross after this action.]
A PERIOD OF COMPARATIVE QUIET
... Nothing was more infuriating or likely to breed ill-feeling between units than for a precious piece of ground which had been tenaciously held by one formation, often at the cost of considerable casualties, to be lost by the relieving brigade. But this happened at Givenchy, where the 55th Division's successors lost some very important positions in the craters which had been held on the 9th and 10th April. A small operation for their recapture was organized on the 26th April. At 2.30 p.m. a company from the 2nd/5th Battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel G.S. Brighten, D.S.O.) under Captain L.J. Sutton and one from the 1st/4th King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment attacked under a heavy barrage. The King's Own were successful in gaining their objectives, but the 2nd/5th were less fortunate, partly owing to the barrage not covering two important points on the frontage attacked. Nevertheless, distinguished gallantry was shown by a number of men, particularly by Private N. Turner who, when the advance of his party up a trench was checked, climbed on to the parapet under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire and bombed the Germans back, enabling his platoon to get forward. He was wounded early in the operation, but refused to go back and continued to bring messages to his platoon commander, Second-Lieutenant C.L. Chorley, and supplies of bombs to the forward troops, in spite of heavy shelling and machine-gun fire. Chorley fell mortally wounded, but Turner refused to leave him although the enemy, who had brought up reserves and had begun a counter-attack, were advancing. Indeed Turner, almost single-handed, held the Germans off for some time so as to enable Chorley to be taken back. For nearly six hours altogether from start to finish Turner was engaged in bombing encounters, often at very close quarters. The German counter-attack proved too strong and the company had to fight its way back to its starting point... Private Turner received the Distinguished Conduct Medal...
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
1934
CHORLEY Leonard of 392 Marine-road Morecambe Lancashire died 26 June 1934 Probate Manchester 12 November to Richard Cleasby Chorley civil servant and Walter Chorley retired assistant overseer. Effects £321 8s. 1d.
No comments yet.