Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

Actions in Spring 1916 covers a number of non specific actions on the Western Front in the period February to the end of June 1916. Much of this period concerned the build up to the Battle of the Somme, particularly the acclimatisation of the Service Battalions (Kitchener Volunteers) to trench routine. As the Battle of the Somme occupied the plans for 1916 no significant efforts were made in other sectors. Many of the casualties could be considered 'routine'. During the period December to June 1916 5845 British soldiers died in 'minor trench operations'.

Detail :

2/Lieutenant Harry Brodrick (BRODRICK spelt BRODERICK on SDGW & CWGC) CHINNERY, 13th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps. Killed in action 28th May 1916 LIEUTENANT HARRY BRODRICK CHINNERY, King's Royal Rifle Corps, second son of the late W. M. Chinnery of Hatchford Park, Cobham, Surrey, was born in 1876 and educated at Eton. His name was long famous in the cricketing world. He played for Eton against Harrow in 1894 and 1895, and was afterwards a regular member first of the Surrey and then of the Middlesex Eleven. He was stylish batsman and useful fielder who was in the Eton XI in 1894 and 1895, topping the averages in his final season. In the annual match against Harrow he scored 75 and 64. In 1897 he played regularly for Surrey, scoring 761 runs including 149 against Warwickshire. He was admitted to the Stock Exchange in 1898 and so only played a handful of representative matches in 1898 and then between 1899 and 1902 he appeared irregularly for Middlesex. In 1901 he opened the season with 105 and 165* for MCC against Oxford University and later made 100 for Middlesex against Gloucestershire. In 1904 he was back at Surrey for his final Championship matches. He carried on playing first-class cricket until 1910, mainly for the Gentlemen of England. Wisden noted that his early retirement was much to be regretted, but he continued to assist the Eton Ramblers and I Zingari. He was killed while serving with the King's Royal Rifles in France. He was a son of Walter Chinnery, a champion mile runner in the early days of amateur athletics. He became a member of the Stock Exchange in 1898, and a partner in his late father's firm, Chinnery Bros. As soon as war broke out he offered his services to the War Office and was given a commission in the 13th (Service) Battalion of the 60th (King's Royal Rifles). He was killed in France on 28 May 1916, in circumstances that are thus described by his Company Commander: He was in the middle of his men, encouraging them in a moment of danger. He was killed by the last shell fired at a night working party which was advancing our line nearer to the enemy. It was a trying night, and he did splendidly all the earlier part of it in keeping them at their work and keeping up their spirits. His Colonel wrote: He will be greatly missed by his brother-officers and the men of his Company, while by his death the Battalion has lost a valuable officer whom it would be difficult to replace. Lieut. Chinnery's popularity with his men may be judged by the following extracts from a letter written by a rifleman on behalf of the fellows in his Platoon and myself: Mr. Chinnery was loved and respected by all of us that he came in contact with. While in charge of the Machine Gun Section in England, and last Autumn out here, he was looked upon as something more than a good officer and a perfect gentleman; and although he had only been with No. 6 Platoon six weeks, yet no Officer was more respected and had their complete confidence. Many are the stories told by his men of his splendid courage and coolness on Sunday night (the night of his death); always first in his area to go to a wounded man, to assist and cheer with a kindly word. Harry CHINNERY was the Senior Warden of his Lodge and the Master Elect. Unfortunately his death ensured he would not attain the Chair of King Solomon. Sources: Wisden Obituaries 1916 STOCK EXCHANGE MEMORIAL http://www.roll-of-honour.com/London/StockExchange.html Lord's Cricket Ground Members Memorial World War 1

Masonic :

Senior Warden, Master Elect

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley