Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Claude Edward CHANCELLOR

Military Medal

‘Word was received in Bendigo yesterday that Signaller ClaudeChancellor, son of Mr. and Mrs Chancellor, of Thistle Street, has been awarded the Military Medal for meritorious services at the front. The brave young soldier, who is only, about 20 years of age, left Bendigo at Easter, 1916. His elder brother, Hilbert, was one of the first of the Bendigo young men enlisted shortly after the war began.' [1]

The above news report appeared in the Bendigoian newspaper on November 6, 1917. Although Claude Chancellor’s name is listed along with a number of other AIF names in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette in 1918 for receiving the Military Medal there is no individual recommendation reflecting an individual deed or action that he was responsible for. AWM records indicate the medal was awarded to Claude and a number of other Sappers and NCOs for their work at the Ypres Offensive from October 4-10, 1917.  

Nearly a year later the Melbourne Herald of September 28, 1918 prints a letter and photograph of 3rd Division Signal Engineers who have won distinction. In this letter, a Sergeant E. Miliken, D.C.M from Warrnambool writes home to his family that Corporal C. E Chancellor, was awarded the Military Medal as sapper on January 25 this year. (1918) [2]

The Division Signals Company was tasked with providing communications from the Headquarters to those of subordinate formations. This would be by a combination of telephone (requiring the laying of line) and limited radio towards the end of WW1. Laying line was one of the most hazardous jobs in the front line.  The "Linies" had to move above ground carrying a reel of wire. They could often be the only moving thing on the battlefield and thus attracted fire - both small arms and even artillery fire. Hence the task was often performed at night, with the added risk of getting disorientated on the battlefield. The "linies" also had the unenviable task of locating and repairing breaks in the line.[3]     Claude Chancellor was the son of a Mine Manager and metallurgist Norman Chancellor of Barnard Street. The Chancellor family possibly followed the fortunes of gold across State as Claude was born in the historic gold mining town of Walhalla in Gippsland and his older brother Hilbert was born in Ballarat. Now they were living in Bendigo.

Claude attended the Bendigo High School and passed the Public Service examination in April 1914 and then proceeded to join the staff of the State War Council in Melbourne as a Clerk residing in Melbourne[4]. Claude’s older brother Hilbert had signed on to Light Horse in August 1914 just weeks after war was declared.

Claude enlisted in Melbourne on January 27, 1916 just as the Government launched a fresh drive to boost recruitment of 50,000 more men.[5] Being educated and connected with his work possibly aided Claude in joining the Third Division Signalling Corp. He would go into training at the Signal School at the Broadmeadow’s camp for over ten moths. He embarked on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 25 May 1916 reaching England nearly two months later; he would be in active service in France by February 1917. He was promoted to Corporal in early 1918 serving till he returned to Australia in July 1919.

SERVICE DETAILS:  

Service Number: 10596

Born: Walhalla, Victoria    

Address on Enlistment: 192 Barnard, Bendigo

School: Bendigo High School

Enlistment Date: 27 January, 1916

Age at Enlistment: 18

Occupation: Clerk

Embarkation: HMAT A11 Ascanius on 25 May 1916
Served: Western Front.

Unit: Signal Engineers Corp, 3rd Division

Final Rank:  Corporal

Fate Returned to Australia 1 July 1919

MM Medal Source: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 27 June 1918 on page 1389 at position 59

'On 4th October, 1917, during the operations on BROODSEINDE RIDGE east of YPRES.

The attack commenced at 6am October 4, 1917 after rain  commenced falling the day before. Coincidentally, the Germans planned an attack for exactly the same time. At 5.20am the German artillery opened up and then at 6am the Australian artillery started, both in preparation for impending attacks. After both troops emerged from their trenches to commence attacking to their surprise they found the enemy doing exactly the same. The Australians managed to recover from the shock quicker than their opponents as the Australian machine gunners opened up and cut the German lines to pieces. The Germans broke and the Australians managed to capture the ridge. The triumph at Broodseinde presented the Allied High Command with an opportunity, perhaps in the upcoming spring, of breaking the German hold.[6]

[1] Bendigoian newspaper on November 6, 1917 P.
[2] Melbourne Herald, September 18, 1918. P.4
[3] Virtual War Memorial Australia https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/units/19
[4] Bendigo Independent February 2, 1916 P.3
[5] Bendigo Independent – December 31, 1915 P.5 Recruiting Campaign. Appeal for 50,000.                                                     [6] ANZACS in France website - http://www.anzacsinfrance.com/1917/