Pte 50186 William Richard Chamberlain

• Age: 24
• From: Old Overton, Leicester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

William Richard Chamberlain was born in 1894 in Cold Overton, Leicestershire, and was the son of Jasper Henry Chamberlain, of The Cottage, Somerby, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, and the late Dinah (nee Tyler) Chamberlain, who were married 1890 in Grantham, Lincolnshire.

On the 1891 census the family are living at Whissendine Rd, Cold Overton.
The father Jasper aged 34, a grazier who was born in Leesthorpe, Leics, and his wife Dinah is aged 30 and born in Wyville, Grantham. They have 2 servants aged 16.

The mother Dinah died aged 43 in 1897.

On the 1901 census the family are living at Moody's Farm, Whissendine Rd, Cold Overton. His widowed father, Jasper, is aged 44 a grazier, daughter Mary A. 28, and niece Mary A. 5. They still have 2 servants. William aged 7 is staying with his widowed grandmother Mary Pyle aged 70 at 3 Green Hill, Little Gonerby.

Father Jasper remarried in September 1901 to Elizabeth Alice Robinson in Melton Mowbray.

On the 1911 census the family are still living on Whissendine Road. His father Jasper is aged 54 a grazier, his wife Elizabeth is 48. They have been married for 9 years and have had one child)who was born in Somersby, Lincs, their are children Richard(Wm) is 17 with no occupation, Mary Adele 16, and Elizabeth May 6. They still have 2 servants. 

The Grantham Journal on 20th May 1916 reported his exemption from service had been granted:

Wm. Richard Chamberlain, shepherd, stockman and grazier with his father Mr Jasper Chamberlain, Cold Overton, 2 months exemption[from conscription].

William enlisted in Leicester and originally served as Private 36875 in the Leicestershire Regiment and following a transfer he was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 50186 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 aged 24 during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day gives an insight into the events of the day. 

29 April 1918 

A 3 a.m. the Enemy opened up a very heavy Bombardment of High explosive and Gas shells on our covering Artillery and at 6 a.m.. launched a powerful attack , smothering our outpost line, but failing to pierce the Battalion front, being repulsed with heavy loss. At 8 a.m. the Enemy again attacked but was repulsed. Many Casualties were caused to him during the day, as numbers of the enemy were picked off as they endeavoured to get back to their own lines. 

Casualties were Capt E B Hough Killed, 2nd Lt W. Munro Killed and 12 Other Ranks Killed, 28 Wounded and 13 Other Ranks missing" 

William Richard's body was not found or was subsequentl;y lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

He was listed as wounded in the Weekly Casualty List on 11th September 1917:

King's (Liverpool Regiment) - Chamberlain 50186 W.R. (Cold Overton);

His death was reported in the Melton Mowbray Times on 31st May 1918:

COLD OVERTON

LOCAL SOLDIER KILLED

Mr Jasper Henry Chamberlain, Cold Overton, has received information that is son, Pte Richard Chamberlain, has been killed in action. 

He was listed as killed in action in the Weekly Casualty List on 18th June 1918:

King's (Liverpool Regiment) - Chamberlain 50186 W.R. (Cold Overton);

The Grantham Journal on 18th September 1918 dealt with the fall lout from his death:

After the death of his only son William, father Jasper decided to auction his farm, livestock and equipment on the 3rd Oct 1918. With it being next to Leesthorpe Hall a commanding price was realised.

Soldiers Effects to his father Jasper, no Pension record found.

Probate William Richard Chamberlain who died 29th April 1918 18/KLR, LONDON 6th Oct 1919 went to his sister Mary Adele. Effects £671 17s 11d.

His father, Jasper, of the Cottage, Somerby, Leics, died on 05th June 1926, Probate London 17th Sept to Thomas Chamberlain retired farmer and William Houghton farmer. Effects £11,687 12s 8d.

His step-mother died in September 1953 aged 91

We currently have no further information on William Richard Chamberlain, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.