Alfred Chisman

LEVERSTOCK GREEN WAR MEMORIAL 1914 - 1918

Alfred was one of three pre-war soldiers named on the war memorial, having enlisted into the Royal Fusiliers on the 1st February 1886 aged 18 years. Within the year Alfred was posted to Egypt, here he spent the next year and 4 months, before returning home. Upon his discharged in January 1893 aged 23 years old, he had attained the rank of sergeant.

It was in January of 1894 Alfred who was now employed as a footman first marriage took place in Paddington to Elizabeth Charlotte Rowe, a cook from Shropshire. In true Victorian fashion a daughter, Hilda May was born during the late summer of that year in Potters Bar, followed by a son, Alfred George two years later.

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Alfred had joined the Hertfordshire police force and in 1900 was promoted to the rank of sergeant, serving with the mounted section at Hoddesdon and Ware before a move in 1906 to Hemel Hempstead police station, unfortunately the following year Elizabeth was taken ill and died in Madeley, Shropshire during the late summer of 1907. In 1908 Alfred remarried widower Harriet Emma Edmonds on 21st December. Harriet was the matron of the Joint hospital in Highfield lane in Hemel Hempstead, it was at the hospital that Alfred having left the police in 1910 became the porter. 

War with Germany was declared on the 4th August and at a meeting on the 19th August it was suggested by Sir Henry Rawlinson that men would be more willing to enlist if they knew they would serve with people they knew. Rawlinson asked his friend, Robert White, to raise a battalion composed of men who worked in the City. White opened a recruiting office in Throgmorton Street and in the first two hours, 210 City workers joined the army. Six days later, the Stockbrokers' Battalion, as it became known, had 1,600 men. This type of enlistment later used the term "pals battalion" The Stockbrokers were officially the 10th battalion the Royal Fusiliers.  

23 days after the declaration of war Alfred re-enlisted at Charing Cross on 27th August 1914, aged 43, having served previously as a sergeant in the Royal Fusiliers he was enlisted as a sergeant instructor with the number 300 to the forming 10th battalion Royal Fusiliers and just like the rest of the army the battalion had problems with trained personnel and equipment. Humphrey Secretan was a stockbroker at Lloyds and enlisted into this battalion during these heady days and Alfred stated that one third of his pay should go to his wife and children whilst he was serving.

During April 1915 the battalion was incorporated into the 111th Brigade 37th Division concentrating on Salisbury plain. It was their intensive training was carried out over the following weeks. In June the King inspected the troops at Sudbury Hill and the following month orders to proceed to France were received, Alfred arrived at Boulogne on the 31st July.

Article from the Gazette for 11th September 1915.

After receiving training on front line service the 10th Royal Fusiliers took over from the French army a section of trenches near the village of Foncquevillers, called by the British Tommy, FUNKY VILLAS, whilst constantly working to improve the sanitation and defences. The winter was atrocious as the army learned how to cope with living in extreme conditions of waterlogged trenches, with the sides constantly falling in and of course the Germans suffered the same, all the time patrols would be sent out, artillery would shell any given area at random. Casualties mounted from the bad living conditions and wounded the battalion had 19 deaths during the time Alfred spent with them in France and 89 cases of soldiers hospitalised from July 1915 to April 1916 due to sickness.

On 1st May the 10th Royal Fusiliers took over at the front line near the French village of Berles au Bois, south of Arras. It was during this relief that the Germans shelled the trenches, Alfred received a wound with a trip to hospital. The war diary gives the distance between the Royal Fusiliers and Germans ranging between 32 yards and 700 yards.

Having not been in the best of health before joining the army and spending a winter in front line conditions Alfred’s health deteriorated further and on receiving a gunshot wound to his right leg on 1st May he was hospitalised and sent home to England on 10th June 1916, although he did not know it, Alfred’s war was over.

Report from Tidworth Hospital were Alfred is resting on 24th July 1916

"Patient states that he had attacks of giddiness before he joined the army in August 1914. He never had Rheumatic fever. In March 1916 he had attack of Rheumatic fever and has been ill since. Wounded gunshot wound right leg on 1st May 1916 and returned to England”

It was this medical officer’s opinion that Alfred’s condition was not caused by climate, active service or military service. The army board the very next day would give a completely opposite view.

Report of Army Medical Board on the 25th July 1916.

Had bad attack of Rheumatism and has been ill since. Complaining of giddiness, feeling faint and shortness of breath. The presence of military service, Rheumatic fever caused by exposure on active service. Permanent. Wounded, gunshot wound right leg on 1st May 1916, wound totally healed.

Discharged from the army medical unfit with a pension of 20 shillings a week on 10th August 1916.

With the opening of the new Isolation hospital in Bennett’s End on 6th May 1915 and Alfred’s wife taking the post of Matron. Alfred on his return from the war had a new home.

This article was in the Gazette on 26th August 1916

JOINT HOSPITAL BOARD

MASTER WELCOMED BACK

FROM THE ARMY

At a meeting of the Hemel Hempstead Joint Isolation Hospital Board, held on Tuesday the Master (Mr Chisman) was welcomed back to the service of the board and congratulated on having obtained an honourable discharge from the army and recovered sufficiently from his wounds to be able to resume his duties at the hospital.

WELCOME TO THE MASTER

Before commencing the business the chairman in the name of the board welcomed back Mr Chisman from the war and offered him their congratulations in having recovered satisfactorily from the wound he received (hear hear) He also congratulated him on having received from the Military authorities an honourable discharge after nearly two years service. Mr Chisman re-joined the army about two years ago, not with standing that he was well outside of the limit of the military age and in doing that he did a good act and set a very worthy example of patriotism. It was such examples as this which in the aggregate had made the English nation what it was. They were very glad to have Mr Chisman back and to know that he had made sufficiently satisfactory recovery from his wounds as to be fit and capable of taking up his duties at the hospital (hear hear)

Mr Chisman briefly thanked the board remarking that he was glad to be back again. He had had some narrow escapes, but he had finished with the army now and was pleased to be in the service of the board again.

Article in the Gazette 25th March 1919

It was with deep regret that on Thursday the town and district learned of the death the previous evening of Mr Alfred Chisman at the Isolation hospital Bennett’s End. A prominent and well-known figure in the district, the late Mr Chisman enjoyed much popularity among his wide circle of friends. A tried and keen soldier, it was not surprising that on the out brake of hostilities Mr Chisman again donned his uniform, joining the 10th battalion Royal Fusiliers, which in August 1914 was raised at the suggestion of Lord Kitchener. Assuming his old rank of sergeant instructor Mr Chisman did excellent work while in training at Colchester and left for France on July 30th 1915. Those who knew him best will appreciate that sergeant Chisman was not idle during the enlistment months when the battalion won its fame as a fighting unit, it being awarded no fewer than.234 decorations. Wounded at length sergeant Chisman was invalided home and discharges from the army July 1916. He then assumed his old duties as master at the Isolation Hospital at Bennett’s End to which Mrs Chisman has for many years been the esteemed matron. Latter however owing to broken state of health he sought a change and became school attendance officer for the district, but he held the position but for a short time when he contracted pneumonia. Complications set in and after a lingering and painful illness he passed away on Wednesday evening. Much sympathy is felt for the widow and the daughter and son (also in the army) in the loss they have sustained

Article in Gazette 17th April 1919 started with a long list of names of mourners so I have only quoted from the end of this article.

Mrs Chisman was the recipient last week of a message of condolence from Brigadier General Robert White who had previously commanded the 10th battalion Royal Fusiliers in which the late Sergeant Chisman saw much active service during the war. The general incredulity paid a warm tribute to the work accomplished by a “brave comrade”. Only those who are immediately acquainted with the Isolation hospital can fully realise the extent of the loss of Mr Chisman there. When a matter of four or five years ago Mr and Mrs Chisman as master and matron entered the newly erected hospital their surrounding were a mere ploughed field. Under the skilled and ungrudging labour of the late master a wonderful transformation has taken place and the gardens at the hospital with their 500 rose trees. Flower beds and artistically fashioned paths and border, stand as a living memorial to the untiring energy of one who unfortunately is not spared to see the fruits of his labour. The miniature poultry farm, managed by Mrs Chisman is a positive eye-opener for the uninitiated, while a pathetic story attaches to the three poles at the other end of the grounds, for these were conveyed to the site by Mr Chisman immediately before his last illness with the intention of erecting a summer-house for the children. This alas was not allowed to materialise.

Alfred Chisman was buried at the Hemel Hempstead Borough Cemetery and is named on the Leverstock Green memorial and as C. H. Chisman on the Hemel Hempstead town memorial.

The initials C H could have been a mistake from the registrar who took Alfred’s wife’s initials from Emma Harriett. The E for Emma would be the forward sloping stile.

LEVERSTOCK GREEN WAR MEMORIAL 1914 - 1918