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Auction: 8010 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 208

A Great War Group of Three to Private G. Chandler, Highland Light Infantry, Killed in Action, 24.10.1914 1914 Star, with Bar (9829 Pte. G. Chandler. 2/High:L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (9829 Pte. G. Chandlers. [sic] H.L.I.), good very fine or better, with Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque, ´George Chandler´, in card box of issue Estimate £ 240-280 9829 Private George Chandler, born Wimbledon, 1893; served during the Great War with the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry on the Western Front from 14.8.1914; Chandler was killed in action 24.10.1914, on the latter date the 2nd Battalion were ordered to clear Polygon Wood, the Germans having broken through the line, the H.L.I. were on the right with the Worcesters on the left, the War Diary entry for 24th October 1914 gives the following, ´´Counter attack by 5th Brigade to re-take Polygon Wood. About 11am the Brigade reached the South West corner of Polygon Wood with 2nd HLI and 2nd Worcesters leading... the two Battalions were immediately ordered to counter attack North Eastwards through the wood to restore the line on its Eastern edge, the HLI on the right the Worcesters on the left. Owing to the shape of the wood and the density of the undergrowth there was great difficulty keeping direction but they pressed on the Worcestershires being somewhat in advance, the orders being to use the bayonet so as not to fire into the British line in the in the North. Suddenly East of the racecourse they came across the Germans at very short range. So close that some were firing from the hip, the issue turned on the bayonet and hand-to-hand fighting. The enemy resisted stubbornly for a short time but then broke and was hunted out of the wood amid British cheers´´; Chandler is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Sold for
£400