Pte 57399 Albert Chattell

• Age: 21
• From: Uttoxeter
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Wancourt Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: V.E.40

Albert Chattell was born in the first quarter of 1896 in Uttoxeter, the son of Charles Thomas Chattell and his wife Alice (nee Smith) who married at St John's Church, Lancaster on 23rd October 1893. His father, Charles, was a joiner, born in Kimbolton, Huntingdonshire, residing in Uttoxeter, whilst his mother was born in Sheffield. Albert was baptised at St Barnabas Church, Derby on 07th April 1896 his elder sister Nellie was also born in Uttoxeter and also baptised in Derby. He was the second child and only son, his sisters were Nellie, Annie, Alice and Bessie. A brother, Frank, was born the year after Albert but sadly died aged 1.

Shortly after Albert's birth the family moved to Manchester, his younger brother Frank was born there in 1897.

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 22 Beaumont Street, Broughton, Salford. His father is shown to be employed as a joiner/carpenter. Albert is 5 years old, older sister Nellie 6, twin baby sisters Annie and Alice 4 months old.

By 1911 the family have moved to 115 Hilton Street, Higher Broughton, Manchester. His father is shown as a joiner. Albert now 15, is an errand boy for a woollen merchant. Nellie is a bookbinder, the twins are at school, and baby Bessie is 2.

The family moved to Glasgow on an unknown date and lived at 247 Langside Road, Crosshill, Glasgow.

Albert enlisted in Glasgow and served originally as 1097, Lowland Divisional Cyclist Company. He was subsequently transferred and was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 57399 when he was killed in action on the 09^th April 1917, aged 21, during the Battle of Arras. 

Arras 09^th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the18^th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19^th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up”  for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56^th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16^th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10^th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded.  

He now rests at Wancourt British Cemetery, France, where the inscription on his headstone reads:

“HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE” 

Wancourt was captured on 12 April 1917 after very heavy fighting and the advance was continued on the following days. The cemetery, called at first Cojeul Valley Cemetery, or River Road Cemetery, was opened about ten days later; it was used until October 1918, but was in German hands from March 1918 until 26 August, when the Canadian Corps recaptured Wancourt. At the Armistice, the cemetery contained 410 graves, but was very greatly increased in the following years when graves were brought in from the small cemeteries and isolated positions on the battlefields south-east of Arras including HENIN-SUR-COJEUL, about 800 metres North of the village, contained the graves of 29 British soldiers who fell on 9 April 1917, almost all of whom belonged to the 2nd Wilts or the 18th King's Liverpools.

The cemetery now contains 1,936 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 829 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 76 casualties known or believed to be buried among them, and to 20 who were buried in Signal Trench Cemetery whose graves were destroyed in later battles. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Albert is commemorated on the Glasgow City Roll of Honour

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