ARTHUR JOHN CHANDLER
Born: 9th April 1900, Ipswich.
Died: 10th June 1940; age: 40; MPK after bombing raid.
Residence: 43, Orwell Road, Ipswich.
Occupation: Iron Moulder.
Enlistment Details: Location: Chatham; Date: 12th November 1918 – signed up for 12 years. Occupation: Iron Moulder; Height: 5ft & 5 1/2ins, fresh complexion, brown eyes & brown hair. Tattooed on both arms.
Service:
Pembroke II – Stoker II – 12th November 1918
Pembroke II – Stoker II – 17th March 1919 – 8th April 1919
Glory I – Stoker II – 9th April 1919 – 31st October 1919
Pembroke II – Stoker II – 10th November 1919 – 13th January 1920
Victorious – Stoker II – 14th January 1920
Victorious – Stoker I – February 1920 – 15th April 1920
Pembroke II – Stoker I – 16th April 1920 – 14th May 1920
Actaeon – Stoker I – 15th May 1920 – 31st December 1920
Pembroke II – Stoker I – 1st January 1921 – 6th December 1921
Cordelia – Stoker I – 7th December 1921 – 8th August 1922
Cambrian – Stoker I – 9th August 1922 – 30th September 1923
Pembroke II – Stoker I – 1st October 1923 – 14th November 1923
Birmingham – Stoker I – 15th November 1923 – 19th April 1926
Pembroke II – Stoker I – 20th April 1926 – 10th January 1927
Ganges – Stoker I – 11th January 1927 – 21st June 1928
Pembroke II – Stoker I – 22nd June 1928 – 3rd July 1928
Pembroke II – Stoker I – 4th July 1928.
Character – Very Good.
Rank: Stoker; Service Number: C/K 55106.
Regiment: Royal Navy, H.M.S. ‘Boadicea’
Grave Reference:
E.52.7.
Hampshire.
Next of Kin: Husband of E.M. Chandler, of Ipswich.
CENSUS
1901 11, Champion Cottages, Foxhall Road, Ipswich.
Arthur was a year old and living with his parents at the home of his uncle.
Charles French, 31, a Coal Carter, born Ipswich.
(Jack) Arthur John Chandler, 26, a General Foundry Labourer – Smith’s Shop, born Rushmere St. Andrew, Suffolk.
Charlotte Chandler (nee Lloyd), 24, born Ipswich.
Charles’s father Henry French, 70, a Quay Labourer, born Ipswich.
1911 390, Spring Road, Ipswich.
Arthur was 11 years old he was living with his parents & siblings.
Arthur, 38, a Labourer Foundry – Ransome, Sims & Jefferies.
Charlotte, 34.
Henry Logan Chandler, 10, born Ipswich.
Kate Violet Chandler, 8, born Ipswich.
Ivy Katherine Chandler, 5, born Ipswich.
Charles James Chandler, 10 months, born Ipswich.
The census recorded that Arthur’s 3 year old brother, Walter Chandler was in the East Suffolk & Ipswich Hospital, Anglesea Road, Ipswich.
In 1926, Arthur married Emma May Lyas, born 1898, Stowmarket, Suffolk. They had 2 children:
Basil Edward Chandler. born 1928, Ipswich.
Renee Olive Chandler, born September 1930, Ipswich.
ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939
Arthur’s wife, Emma and children were living at their family home 43, Orwell Road, Ipswich.
Arthur was not the only Ipswich man onboard H.M.S Boadicea, his Captain Frederick Hawkins and petty officer James Cocker were both from Ipswich, but were both to perish on the 13th June 1944 following the D-Day landings.
10th June 1940
On the 8th June, H.M.S. ‘Boadicea’ received orders to sail to assist in the evacuation of British troops. She was in the company of H.M.S. ‘Ambuscade’ and H.M.S. ‘Bulldog.’ They arrived off St. Valery-en-Caux on the 10th June, and rescued British and French soldiers, plus French civilians including their children and two dogs. At 17:37hrs, nine German 18 JU 87 Stukas suddenly emerged from cloud, they divided into three sections. H.M.S. ‘Boadicea’ was attacked and took three direct hits. Arthur was 1 of 8 men killed outright when a bomb released at 300ft went straight down the ships funnel into the boiler room.
Heavy fog appeared and the German bombers left. H.M.S. ‘Boadicea’ was immobilised, her engines flooded and wrecked she laid helpless. She was towed back to the harbour by H.M.S. ‘Ambuscade.’
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