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Challoner, R H



St Souplet British CemeteryCommunal Cemetery Extension

St Souplet British Cemetery, near Le Cateau


Son of the late John & Mrs Elizabeth Challoner of High Street, St Aubins, Jersey. Brother of Gunner Albert Challoner

Died as a Prisoner of War from wounds received in action, aged 27 years.

Notice of Death appears in Jersey Evening Post of Monday 14 October 1918

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Saturday 13 April 1918

Roll of Honour. Mrs Challoner of High Street, St Aubins has received the following letter from the Major of the Battalion to which her son, Private R Challoner, was attached. It reads:
"Dear Mrs Challoner, I am afraid I have the painful duty of giving you bad news; your son has been missing since 23 March and I have no further definite information than that he was wounded when last seen. It may be that he is now a prisoner or possibly he was killed, but this last I trust and pray is not so. I have waited so long before communicating with you hoping to receive news of him, but none has come to hand. He was one of a party whose duty it was to hold one of the bridges across the Somme, unfortunately the enemy worked around and the party, mixed up with some infantry, had to retire. The information concerning your boy was told by one of the wounded men to another man and hence the impossibility at present of getting any precise news. I am causing further enquiries to be made and as soon as I get any trustworthy information I will at once let you know. Please accept our profound sympathy with you in your anxiety and sorrow. Your sincerely, ERNEST A COLES, Major Cyclists Battalion"
.
Private Challoner had been at the Front since 1914 and his many friends will join us in expressing the hope that reassuring news will shortly be received.

 

Commemorated on St Brelade's Parish Memorial, Jersey

 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Record

 


Reginald Harry Challoner

Private Reginald Harry (Henry) Challoner
XVIII Corps Cyclist Battalion, Army Cyclist Corps
02/04/1918


1914 Star

 

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Monday 14 October 1918

Roll of Honour. Some time ago we stated that Private R W Challoner of the Cyclists Battalion was reported wounded and missing during the fighting on 25 March of this year. His grandmother, Mrs C Challoner of High Street, St Aubins, after many months of anxiety has now received official intimation that the unfortunate soldier was taken prisoner by the Germans and was removed to a hospital near St Quentin where he died on 2 April. The late soldier had served almost 10 years in the Army and was transferred from the Devon Regiment in Egypt to the Cyclists Corps in France, where he had been over 3 years. We offer the bereaved relatives our heartfelt condolences.


Pictures courtesy of Mike & Rosemarie Thomas