CHIGNELL Hugh S

Lieut., Worcester Regt.
Born June 30th, 1898. Fell in France, April 26th, 1918.
Hugh Chignell was the only son of G. Street Chignell, Esq., of the Bull Ring, S. John’s, Worcester.  He entered the School as a day boy in the Fifth Form in January, 1914, having previously been a boarder at Hereford Cathedral School.  He soon made his mark amongst us representing the School in the 2nd team both at cricket and football, and quickly becoming an N.C.O in the O.T.C.  High minded and industrious he passed well into the R.M.C., Sandhurst, leaving School for his further training there in July, 1916.  He was a keen soldier and passed out well, selecting the County Regiment, to which he was gazetted in 1917.  He quickly went to France, where he was soon promoted and selected as Adjutant and Intelligence Officer of his Battalion.  He fell in the fierce fighting near Kemmel Hill in Flanders.  His Colonel writes of him that he was one of his best subalterns, clever and well informed, a capital companion, understanding men well, and possessing gifts which would have led to great success in his profession.  School friends also will retain the happiest memories of him and of a short but gallant life well spent and much respected.
W. H. C.

Source for additional information: The Vigornian, June 1918, No.92, Vol. IX.

Second Lieutenant Chignell was killed during the second battle of Kemmel.  The village had been taken by British forces but when the French failed to take Kemmel Hill and provide support for them, they were forced to withdraw from the village to the railway line. The 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment lost 9 officers and 90 N.C.O.’s and men during the battle, including Hugh Chignell.

Source for additional information: The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War, by Captain H. FitzM. Stacke, 1928.

A photograph of Second Lieutenant H. Chignell of Worcester can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 11th May 1918, available at Worcestershire Archives.

Hugh Chignell has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Tyne Cot Memorial.