Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

Three: Private E. Chatt, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
1914-15 Star (19944 Pte. E. Chatt. Yorks: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (19944. Pte. E. Chatt. Yorks. L.I.); Memorial Plaque (Edgar Chatt), in card envelope; together with the recipient’s Memorial Scroll, in tube addressed to Mr. L. D. Chatt, 14 Olympia Street, Brinkburn Road, Darlington’; and Buckingham Palace and Record Office enclosures

Three: Private L. C. Chatt, Army Service Corps
1914-15 Star (M2-102830, Pte. L. D. Chatt, A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (M2-102830 Pte. L. D. Chatt. A.S.C.)

Six: Captain L. D. Chatt, Royal Artillery
1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army; Italy Star, all privately engraved ‘Capt L D Chatt RA’; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, unnamed as issued; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., Territorial (Lt. L. D. Chatt R.A.), the Second World War awards all later issues, with named card boxes of issue and War Office and Defence Council enclosures; and a quantity of the recipient’s buttons, badges, and rank insignia, generally nearly extremely fine (13) £240-280

Edgar Chatt was born in Sunderland and attested for the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry at Doncaster. He served with the 10th Battalion during the Great War, and died of wounds at home on 25 July 1916, and is buried in Sunderland (Bishopwearmouth) Cemetery.

E.M. London Gazette 30 July 1948.

Leonard Dobson Chatt was born in Fulford, York, on 9 March 1916, and attested for the Royal Artillery at Leeds, 26 April 1939. Commissioned Second Lieutenant, he served with the Artillery in North Africa and Italy, and was present at the battle of Monte Cassino: ‘My battery crossed the river at last light, on pontoons. The rest of the regiment stayed put, too risky, and we made our way to the high ground north and west of the town. An uneasy night and early morning. Too quiet. Then on the road on the way to the town we waited until the tanks opened up. Out from cover they streamed down the other side of the valley, up our side, and away towards the town. On our west horizon we could see Shermans and Mk4s having a go at each other. A hastily assembled battle group made its way along a very steep valley eastwards. Middle of the afternoon the battle group, which had been making steady progress, suddenly broke cover on our right flank. Round went the guns, open sights, direct fire as fast as we could get the rounds up the spout. They shot back, ineffectively. They hadn’t enough troops to continue and withdrew taking their casualties with them. Very tense and uneasy until last light, other little things going on but at a distance. We crept off our position at walking pace. Back in the regimental lines great relief all round. We got the Colonel a Bar to his D.S.O. He said it was ours.’ (letter from the recipient included with lot refers). Chatt was also present at the Liberation of Rome, where he had an audience with the Pope and was invited to kiss the Papal Ring (ibid). He relinquished his commission with the rank of Captain, September 1946.

Sold together with Captain L. D. Chatt’s Soldier’s Service and Pay Book and Officers’ Release Book; various letters regarding the award of the Efficiency Medal; and other ephemera.