Frederick Leslie Chettle MM BZ/4448

Nelson Battalion Royal Naval Division 1897 - 1961

His medals were mislaid in the 1930's so if you have them please get in touch!

Record of Military Service

Full Name - Frederick Leslie Chettle
Date of Birth - 19 February 1896 (according to Navy Records)*
Religion - Church of England
Civil Employment - Shoe Hand

Entered in the Bristol Division of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve 19th October 1915 and placed in the Royal Naval Division.
The Royal Naval Division were men belonging to the Reserves of the Royal Navy who were surplus to requirements on board ships but held on land bases for any special purpose for which they might me needed by the Admiralty. They were used throughout the First Worlds War and were included among the famous divisions of the British army, although still retaining their naval origins and practices.

Personal Description of Entry -

Height - 5ft 3 ½"
Chest - 32 ½"
Hair - Black
Eyes - Grey
Complexion - Dark
Official Service Number - RNVR Bristol BZ/4448
Address - 12 Lorrimer Road Aylestone Leicester.
Next of Kin - (Father) Frederick William Chettle.
(*Note actual date of birth was 19 February 1897)


30 October 1915 - Attached to 4th Battalion Royal Naval Division and posted Signal school.

3 January 1916 - Transferred from Signal School to 4th Battalion.

23 February 1916 - Drafted from 4th Battalion Depot to 3rd Reserve Battalion Blandford and onto 2nd Hawke Battalion Blandford.

10 July 1916 - Transferred to Nelson Battalion British Expeditionary Forces as Signaller and disembarked at Boulogne.

12 July 1916 - Joined Base Depot.

26 August 1916 - Left Base Depot.

28 August 1916 - Joined Nelson Battalion.

25 May 1917 - Awarded Military Medal for Bravery in the Field. ("ran the line at Gavrelle")

During the hand to hand fighting that took place at close quarters in the small village of Gavrelle in France Frederick Chettle constantly "ran the line". This involved running out under fire to repair the wire so that signals could be maintained between the officers and the men.


Signallers of the RND with "the wire" as Frederick had when he "ran the line".

9 July 1917 - Award published in the London Gazette. Pg 6827

30 July 1917 - Military Medal received from medal branch Woolwich

5 September 1917 / 15 September 1917 - Granted leave to United Kingdom with ration allowance

22 February 1918 - Joined 7th Entrenching Battalion

14 March 1918 - Cross Posted from Nelson Battalion to Hawke Battalion. Left 7th Entrenching Battalion for Hawke Battalion

15 March 1918 - Joined Hawke Battalion

4 April 1918 - To 149th Field Ambulance Station

5 April 1918 - Admitted to 26 General Hospital Etaples with infection of middle ear

7 April 1918 - Admitted to 24 General Hospital Etaples

9 May 1918 - Admitted to 6 Convalescent Depot Etaples

11 May 1918 - Discharged to Brigade Depot Etaples

17 May 1918 - Joined "L" Infantry Brigade Depot Calias

24 May 1918 - Discharged to United Kingdom surplus B class

27 May 1918 - Taken on strength of Regimental Depot

5 June 1918 - Military Medal forwarded to Lord Chamberlains office for presentation at Aldershot

8 June 1918 - Military Medal presented by His Majesty the King at Aldershot

27 August 1918 - Granted agricultural furlough to Perth

18 October 1918 - Awarded First Conduct Badge

23 November 1918 - Taken off strength at Regimental Depot on transfer to Naval Depot Devonport

6 December 1918 - Absence. In respect of this rating is cancelled

14 March 1919 - War Gratuity to Admiralty General

Rating Held: Ordinary Seaman 19 October 1915
Able Bodied Seaman 19 January 1916

Character: Very Good


The Royal Naval Division Recruiting Poster
Note the height requirements.
Frederick Chettle was just 5ft 3/2” and ended up a Signaller.

 
 
 
  2024 Chris Chettle