MILITARY HISTORY
DUDLEY CORNELL CHADS – 50428 – Active Service (World War I)
On November 24th, 1914 Dudley Cornell Chads completed the Attestation Paper for the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), in Kingston, Ontario. He was 21 years and 2 months old, when as a married man he enlisted for the duration of the War. Dudley Chads indicated that he was born in London, England, and gave his birth date as September 6th, 1891. The Attestation Paper does not indicate where he was educated or to what level. He gave as his current address – Lakefield.. He indicated that he had no previous Military experience. As far as his Trade or Calling, he lists ”Analytical Chemist”. Chads was 5′ 7¼” tall, and had a 36” chest (expanded). He had a dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. His medical examination took place in Kingston, Ontario, November 24th, 1914. He had no medical issues or physical limitations, and as such he was deemed fit (Category A), for Overseas duty with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. His next-of-kin was listed as his wife, Mrs. Laurel Chads of Lakefield, Ontario. Dudley Chads signed the Oath and Certificate of Attestation on November 24th, 1914. The Certificate of Magistrate was signed by the Justice on November 19th, 1914 also in Kingston, Ontario. Dudley Cornell Chads was taken-on-strength as a ”Private” with the 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion, and was assigned Regimental Service Number 50428.
The Certificate of Officer Commanding was signed November 24th, 1914 also in Kingston, Ontario.
The 21st Battalion (Eastern Ontario) was authorized and formed up in Kingston, Ontario on November 7th, 1914. It recruited men from: Lindsay, Lakefield, Peterborough, Port Hope, and all points east to the Ontario/Quebec Border.
Research indicates that the centre of activity, for the 21st Battalion, was the Kingston Armoury.
After being formed, half of the Battalion was accommodated in the converted stables of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, in the adjacent Artillery Park. The other half was housed in a large converted cereal mill, on the water front, at the foot of Gore Street. Initially, the Battalion was organized into 8 Companies (A to H). It was later reorganized into 4 Companies (A to D).
The training received and facilities would have been rudimentary. The men would have received training in: marching, musketry (rifle) and bayonet drills. The Officers, among other things, would have practiced swordsmanship and the use of pistols. The main goal was to form the men into Units, and ship them off to England, as quickly as possible, where they would complete their training.
Pte. Chads embarked from Montreal on May 6th, 1915 aboard the RMS Metagama, with the 2nd draft of the 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion. On May 15th, 1915 the Unit disembarked in Davenport, England and entrained for Westenhanger Station, followed by a march to West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent. The Unit trained at West Sandling until they departed for France mid September, 1915.
To provide some insight into his movements, during this time, the 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion War Diary was used.
September 1915: the first part of the Battalion departed for France on September 12th, 1915. Pte. Chads, and the balance of the Battalion embarked from Folkestone, England on September 14th, for France aboard the St. Seiorol. Research indicates that, for unknown reasons, halfway across the English Channel, the ship was turned back by Naval Authorities. They sailed the following morning, arriving at Boulogne, France, midday, on 15th.
In France, the 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion was part of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade – 2nd Canadian Division.
An entry in the Military file indicates that upon arrival Pte. Chads was ”attached to the 21st Battalion – Water Detail”.
There are no entries in the Military File from September 14th, 1915 and July 24th, 1918 when he ceased to be attached to the 21st Battalion – Water Detail.
It should be noted that there is no reference to the activities of the Water Detail during this period of time.
Research indicates the following, with regards to the duties of the Water Detail.
Having access to clean water for cooking and drinking was critical in controlling Dysentery, and other water borne illnesses, among the men. The Water Detail looked after all aspects of the supply and delivery of potable water. Specifically: the daily supervision of the water supply and its purification for consumption; by boiling, filtration, or addition of chemicals, as may be directed. It was in charge of all apparatus for the delivery (water carts), and storage connected with the supply of water to the Unit.
After a day’s halt at a Rest Camp, they entrained for St. Omer. Departing from St. Omer, they marched to Renesure, where they rested, before moving on to Eecke, France on September 17th, and then to Dranoutre, Belgium on the 18th. On the 19th, the ”A and C” Companies relieved the 2nd Battalion – East Surreys (British) in the front-line trenches. ”B and D” Companies, moved into the Line on September 21st. On the 27th, the Battalion was relieved by the 20th Canadian Infantry Battalion, and they moved to billets at Dranoutre, where they rested.
October 1915: on the 3rd, they moved back to the front-line trenches, where they relieved the 20th Battalion. The situation from the 3rd to 9th was reported as normal. The Battalion was relieved by the 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion on the 9th. Upon relief, the Battalion proceeded to billets at La Clytte, Belgium, where they remained until the 15th. The evening of the 15th, the Battalion relieved the 20th Battalion in the front-line trenches. The situation from the 15th to the 21st was reported as normal. On the 21st, the Battalion was relieved by the 20th Battalion, and it marched to a Brigade Reserve position near Ridgewood. They remained there until the night of the 27th/28th, when they moved back to the trenches and, once again, relieved the 20th Battalion, where they remained for the rest of the month.
November 1915: the month opened showing the Battalion at Dranoutre. On the 2nd, the Battalion ”packed up and moved off at 5:00 pm, arriving at RAP C trenches by 7:30 pm”. From the 2nd to 8th, a number of men were reported as being wounded. On the 8th, the Battalion was relieved by the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion. They now moved back to billets at La Clytte, where they remained until the 14th. The morning of the 15th, they moved to trenches at Dickebusch, Belgium. Over the next several days, the Battalion experienced a number of casualties. On October 21st, the Battalion moved to a Brigade Reserve Position at Ridgewood., Belgium, where it remained until the 27th, when it moved back into the trenches. Where it remained until the end of the month.
December 1915 – the Battalion was in billets at La Clytte, where the Battalion remained until the 16th, when they moved to a position identified as ”N – O trenches”. In general, the time on the line was reported as quiet, until the 19th, when the enemy fired a number of gas shells into the area occupied by the Battalion. As a result of the prevailing winds carrying the fumes over the trenches, many of the men suffered eye and throat troubles. On the 22nd, they were relieved, and proceeded to a Brigade Reserve position at Ridgewood, where they were kept busy in work parties. The 25th, being Christmas Day, was a day of rest, with no fatigue or work parties. The day was celebrated in a very quiet manner, with plenty of Christmas Puddings. On the 28th, it was back to the N – O trenches, where it finished out the month.
January 1916 – on the 3rd, the Battalion was relieved, and proceeded to a Divisional Reserve position, near La Clytte. The night of the 10th/16th, the Battalion proceeded back to the N – O trenches and relieved the 20th Battalion. On the 15th/16th, the Battalion was relieved and proceeded to Ridgewood, where it was part of the Brigade Reserve. The evening of the 21st, it was back to the front-line trenches. After being relieved, by the 20th Battalion, the evening of the 27th, the Battalion proceeded back to Divisional Reserve at La Clytte, where it spent the rest of the month. The time was spent in fatigue parties laying communication cable for the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade.
February 1916 – the Battalion made a number of moves to and from the N – O trenches, relieving and being relieved by the 20th Battalion. When not at the front, the Battalion was either in Divisional Reserve, at La Clytte, or Brigade Reserve, at Ridgewood.
March 1916 – was a repeat of February.
April 1916 – began with Battalion back in the N – O trenches. On the 5th, it proceeded to La Clytte, and on the 7th, to Reserve trenches at Scottish Wood, near Ypres, Belgium. The evening of the 8th, the Battalion proceeded to “P” trenches, in preparation, for an attack on enemy positions at ”the Craters”.
Background: The Craters was an area near the Belgian village of St. Eloi, located 5 kilometres south of Ypres. The fields were pockmarked by huge craters, from repeated underground explosions.
Since late 1915, both sides were using extensive underground tunnels, as part of trench warfare. Sapper were used to dig tunnels under the battlefield, so as to place explosives beneath enemy positions. They would then retreat, and blow up the explosives.
The Battle of St. Eloi Craters began at 0415 hours, March 27th, when the British set off 6 mines, one after the other. It was reported; the earth shook like a sudden outburst of a volcano, filling the sky with yellow smoke and debris. The explosion was so great, it was heard in England.
The German trenches collapsed, and the British Units attacked at 0415 hours. The British advance continued, often fighting hand-to-hand, until 0300 hours April 4th, when they were relieved by Battalions of the 2nd Canadian Division. The Canadians had been rushed into the area with little time to prepare. When the Canadians relieved the British on the front line, they found few actual trenches in which to take cover, and most that were there were waist deep in water. They took up positions, as best they could, in the water filled craters. It was reported, that one of the craters was 15 metres deep and 55 metres across. On April 6th, the Germans attacked, and drove the Canadians back, creating confusion throughout the Division.
On the 9th, the Battalion attacked and captured No. 2 Crater, suffering 29 casualties. The Battalion was relieved on the 11th, and moved to billets at ”B Camp”. Where it remained until the 20th. From the 20th to the 24th, the Battalion was in the centre of the 4th Brigade trenches. On the 24th, it was relieved and moved to billets near Dickebusch, and then on to B Camp, where it spent the rest of the month.
May 1916 – while at B Camp, the Battalion undertook: physical training, musketry (rifle) and extended order drills. It also furnished, on a periodic basis, men for fatigue and work parties to the Reserve and Front Line. From the 9th to 13th, it was in Reserve, at Scottish Wood. The 13th to the 24th, it was in the centre sector of the 4th Brigade trenches. On the evening of the 24th, it was relieved, and moved back to B Camp, where it remained for the rest of the month.
June 1916 – was a series of moves to and from the front-line trenches and reserve positions. During its time the trenches, it was reported that enemy artillery and machine guns, were fairly active, with the Battalion taking a number of casualties. The month ended with the Battalion at Micmac Camp, which was the old A Camp. Micmac Camp was located next to the village of Ouderdom, near Dickebusch, Belgium.
July 1916 – the month opened with the Battalion still at Micmac Camp. On the 4th, it moved to Chippewa Camp (the old B camp), where it stayed until the 15th. During this time, they underwent the usual training regimen. One day, the Battalion was entertained by the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Band, and participated in a sports days. From the 15th to the 23rd, it was back in the trenches, where things were reported as being quiet. On the 23rd, it was relieved, and moved back to the Micmac Camp, where it stayed until the end of the month.
August 1916 – the month began with the Battalion being shown at the Chippewa Camp., where they stayed until the 8th. The time was spent going through the normal training routine. From the 8th to the 15th, they were back in the N – O trenches. On the 15th, after relief they moved to Ridgewood, where they stayed until the 24th. They now began a series of daily marches, which, eventually took the Battalion to billets at Zouafques, France, in the Pas-de-Calais Region.
September 1916 – the Battalion now began a series of marches, that eventually took them to the area referred to as ”the Brickfields”. On the 14th, the Battalion moved into the front-line trenches, in preparation for an attack on the 15th. Three Companies were in forward positions, with the right flank on the Bapume – Albert Road extending the the left 300 yards. One Company was in reserve. At zero hour (6:20 am), an artillery barrage was laid down 50 yards in front of the enemy front-line trenches. At 6:24, it lifted to 100 yards beyond the enemy front-line, and thus began the Battle of Courcelette. The 21st Battalion’s objective was the assault and capture of the Sugar Factory. The Battalion began its advance under the cover of heavy machine gun fire. It is reported, that as a result of the accurate artillery fire, little difficulty was experienced in taking the enemy front-line trenches. The Battalion paused briefly to mop-up. The advance then continued to the next objective. On the right of the advance about 30 enemy were spotted leaving their trench and retiring. These men were accounted for by Battalion rifle fire and bombs. When the advance continued, the next point where serious opposition was met was trench from approximately R35-6-71 to R35-6-90. Here, several detached posts of enemy were encountered and were shot or bayoneted by the Battalion’s first wave. At this point, the Battalion suffered heavy casualties from enemy machine gun fire coming from their left flank. These positions were eventually dealt with by the 27th Battalion, who were advancing on the left. And the advance continued. On entering the Sugar Refinery, less opposition was experienced than anticipated, and 125 enemy prisoners were taken. The Battalion now paused, and consolidated its position. Forward posts with Lewis guns were placed about 150 yards in advance, in the area of the Sunken Road. The Battalion remained in position until the 17th, when it was relieved and marched back to the area of the Brickfields, where it stayed until the end of the month.
In the War Diary, the Sugar Factory is also referred to as the Sugar Refinery.
The 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion remained in combat through the rest of 1916, 1917 and into 1918. Battle honours included: Mont Sorrel, the Somme (1916 and 1918), Flers-Courcelette, Theipval, Ancre Heights, Arras (1917 and 1918), Vimy Ridge (1917), Hill 70, Passchendaele, Amiens, Scarpe (1918), Drocourt-Quent, Hinderburg Line, Canal du Nord, Cambrai (1918), Pursuit to Mons, and Flanders (1918).
July 24th, 1918 Pte. Chads was struck-off-strength from the 21st Battalion – Water Detail, on being posted to the CAMC 4th Canadian Field Ambulance.
The Field Ambulance (not a vehicle) was a mobile Medical Unit manned by men of the Canadian Army Medical Corps that operated in very close proximity to the front-line, providing emergency and stabilizing treatment to the wounded, before passing them back to a Casualty Clearing Station for further evaluation and treatment.
April 4th, 1919 Pte. Chads was taken-on-strength with P Wing CCC (Canadian Concentration Camp) at Whitley, England. These were Camps, where men were stationed pending return to Canada.
May 13th, 1919 he was struck-off-strength from P Wing CCC on embarkation to Canada.
According to the Military File, Private Dudley Cornell Chads was discharged, from the Canadian Expeditionary Force May 24th, 1919 at No. 3 District Depot, Kingston, Ontario, upon demobilization.
The Military File indicates that Private Dudley Cornell Chads was eligible to receive the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Dudley Cornell Chads served a total of 5 years with the Canadian Expeditionary Force: approximately 6 months in Canada; 5 months and 19 days in the U.K., and 4 years, 6 months and 20 days in France.
An excerpt from an article in Maclean’s by Barbara Ameil, September 1996:
”The Military is the single calling in the world with job specifications that include a commitment to die for your nation. What could be more honourable”.
PERSONAL HISTORY
DUDLEY CORNELL CHADS
Dudley Cornell Chads was born in Upper Holloway, County of London, England on September 6, 1891. He was the son of Herbert Arthur Chads and Verena Charlotte Stevens. His father was a wine merchant. He went to Canada in 1910, settling in Lakefield, Ontario. He married Laurel Mae Vayne Webster in Lakefield on April 29, 1913. Laurel was the daughter of Wilbert James “Squib” Webster and Ida Caroline Mason of Lakefield. They had two sons Ducie Wilbert Francis Cornell Chads born October 24, 1914 and Dudley “Beric” Cornell Chads born October 25, 1920. Son Ducie Wilbert Francis Cornell enlisted in the Army of the United States on March 4, 1941. Son Dudley “Beric” Cornell enlisted in Ottawa and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force on October 29, 1941. On May 24, 1944, permission was granted for Beric to transfer to the United States Armed Forces as an experienced RAF Pilot.
In 1914, Dudley Chads joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 21st Battalion and went to France at the outset of World War I. He saw four years of front line action and was awarded France’s highest medal of honour, the Croix de Guerre and the George Cross (the Commonwealth’s 2nd highest honour). He returned home to Canada in 1919 and shortly after, he and his wife and their son, Ducie, moved to Hudson, New York. There he was employed as a chemist for the Knickerbocker Portland Cement Company. The same year the family came to Medicine Lodge, Kansas where Mr. Chads worked as a chemist for Fest Brothers Keene’s Cement Company, now National Gypsum Company. He rose to plant manager in the late 1930’s.
During World War II, Mr. Chads was superintendent of Bluebonnet Ordinance Plant at McGregor, Texas, in connection with the manager’s job here. He was naturalized in 1935.
As a young man he travelled extensively over Europe which in later years gave him an insight into the relations between nations. Mr. Chads served capably as mayor of Medicine Lodge for several years. As president of the city council, he became Mayor July 10, 1944 to fill a vacancy. He was elected to that office April 1945 and served until May 2, 1949. During his tenure of office, streets were paved in the city, a water well system established and the white way was installed. In his unobtrusive way, Dudley Chads was a leader of men and his unrelenting efforts for progress in the town made him admired and respected by those who knew him.
After retirement, Mr. Chads channeled his energy into civic enterprises, the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club and was one of the original members to make the Stockade and Museum a reality. The initial work started in January 1960 and was incorporated in June of the same year. The Stockade was opened in September 1961. Mr. Chads served as President of the Board of Directors and Administrator. Even after the historic museum was open, Mr. Chads continued to pour his energy and his money into it in order that it might become a spot of history that tourists from all over the United States would stop and see, and to provide accessible history for young people in Barber County. Mr. Chads was a member of the Scottish Rite and York Rite Masons. Delta Lodge No. 77, and the Episcopal Church.
Medicine Lodge lost a warm friend and a valuable citizen when death claimed Dudley Chads on Friday, September 11, 1964. He had been ill about a year. When Mr. Chads retired from National Gypsum Company in 1960, he retired in that field only, but in many other areas, civic organizations, Chamber of Commerce, the stockade, any movement for the betterment of the community, he worked as tirelessly as in his younger years. An innately modest manner, coupled with an energetic drive to get things done, won him the Senior Citizens Award in 1962. He would not permit his accomplishments or his contributions to the town to be extolled while he lived. It was enough that he was contributing something substantial to his town. Dudley Chad’s life is his own memorial.
Funeral service was held Monday, September 14, 1964 at Forsyth Funeral Home with Rev. Richard Feallock officiating. Burial was made in Highland Cemetery, Medicine Lodge, Kansas with Masonic graveside rites. Survivors are his wife Laurel; two sons, Beric Chads of Kansas City, Missouri and Ducie Chads of Bellingham, Washington. Laurel Mae Chads passed away on December 8 1969 and is buried in Highland Cemetery, Medicine Lodge, Kansas, USA.
THE FAMILY HISTORY OF DUDLEY HERBERT CHADS
The parents of Dudley Chads were Herbert Arthur Cornell Chads born in 1868 and Verena Charlotte Stevens born in 1864. They had a family of three children – Dudley born in 1891, Hilda Renee born in 1895 and Ileene Cornell Chads born in 1897. Herbert Arthur Chads died in 1933 and Verena Charlotte Chads died in 1935.
The paternal grandparents of Dudley Chads were Herbert Chads born in 1837 and Annie Seaborne born in 1846. They married in Marylebone, London, England in 1868 and had a family of six children – Herbert Arthur, Edward William, Elphinstone Colville, William Granville, Cecilia Emma and Dorothy A. Chads. Herbert passed away in 1895 and Annie died in 1892.