246113 Maj. Archibald Alderman Chase DSO MiD.British Army 8th Btn. Royal Sussex Regiment (d.11th March 1917) Archibald Chase was born on 16th September 1884 in Jamalpur, Bengal son of William Hackett & Priscilla Jane Chase. He returned to England for education and boarded at Bedford Modern School. He attended the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He married Gladys Maude Waller on 28th March 1910 in Dehli, Bengal and they had two children, a son and daughter. Enlisted on 29th July 1904 with the Royal Engineers he was promoted to Lieutenant on 23rd March 1907, Captain on 30th October 1914, Battalion Major at Thiepval, France and on 11th January 1917 attached as Lieutenant Colonel Commanding Officer of the 8th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and mentioned in despatches three times. He died of his wounds on 11th of March 1917 age 32 years. Extract from letter of Brigadier General Ricahrd P. Lee "He fell mortally wounded by a shell at Irles about 5 pm on the 10th March 1917, when carrying out a reconnaissance with Colonel R.E.Henderson, Henderson was killed on the spot, and Chase succumbed the same evening, shortly after reaching hospital and so died a hero of heroes". He was buried on the 11th March 1917 in the Military Cemetery at Aveluy (where he still lies). He is remembered on the War Memorial, Eastbourne, Sussex. A pupil of Bedford Modern School 1892-1902, he is commemorated on the School War Memorial, which was unveiled in 1923 and in the Roll of Honour, published in The Eagle, December 1923. Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com
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