| A Chalcraft Page |
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 The postcard, above, shows The Square at Sundridge, Kent in approx. 1942. The figure at the Bus Shelter is Frederick Chalcraft, (1863-1949), one of the sons of Henry John Chalcraft and Ann (nee Cole). Many thanks to his Grand-daughter, Mary, for the postcard image. |
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| Sundridge
is at the
extreme West of Kent, (see map), between
Sevenoaks and Westerham. Early Chalcrafts are recorded as from Chiddingfold in Surrey, which is about 10 miles South of Guildford and also nearby Hascombe. By the time John Edward Chalcraft was born in 1792, they were in Dartford, Kent. His son Henry John was born at Hawley and Christened at nearby Sutton at Hone, but married Ann Cole from Brasted in 1850, after which I imagine the family's connection with Sundridge began. |
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| I
was able to look up Harry
John Chalcraft's
War Service record. His address at Attestation was No.10 Sunbeam(?) Villas, Staines Road, Sunbury, Middlesex, (It was later 28 Somerset Road Teddington). He joined the Army Service Corps as a Farrier on 9 November 1914. (Previously in 4th Battalion R.W.Kent (Territorial). This was when he was 24 years and 1 month. He was 5 ft 9" tall, weighed 147 lbs., had a pale complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. His A.S.C. Regimental Number was TS/4270. He left England on the SS Pantonia from Southampton to Le Havre on 8th December 1914 and he served in France as a Shoeing Smith until he left with the cadre of HQ 1 Bg Mf Dde, embarked at Antwerp 13 June 1919. (Leave to England during this time was 16-23 December 1915, 20-30 June 1917, 7-21 February 1918 and 9-23 December 1918). He became a Reserve on his demobilisation at Woolwich Arsenal on 13th July 1919, going home to 178 Church Road Teddington. Medals: 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal. He died of Peritonitis following a Burst Appendix c.1928. |
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