Tyne Cot Memorial
Tyne Cot Memorial: Pauline Priano
13th Durham Light Infantry IWM (Q 5980)
Medal Card
Stanley Chicken was born at New Herrington, at 13 Langley Terrace, in August 1890, to John Chicken, born Easington, a Miner and his wife Mary, born West Herrington. They had four children, Annie born 1886, Stanley born August 1890, Margaret born 1895 and Matthew Snowdon born 1901. All were born at New Herrington.
By 1901, the family had moved to 11 West Row, New Herrington. The family moved again to 8 Percy Street, Hetton Downs, Hetton-le-Hole, by 1914, when Stanley enlisted his father no longer appears on his service records.
Stanley Chicken was a putter at Herrington Pit, he enlisted at Houghton-le-Spring for three years or the duration of the war on the 14th September 1914. He then was posted on the 17th September, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne to the 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry in 'C' Company.
[13th (Service) Battalion was formed at Newcastle in September 1914 as part of K3 and came under orders of 68th Brigade in 23rd Division. 14th September 1918, left 23rd Division and returned to France, joining 74th Brigade in 25th Division at St Riquier on 19 September 1918].
Whilst Stanley was training at Bullswater Camp, on October 30th, 1914, he was awarded 7 days Field punishment No 2, refusing to obey his officer's order, [2nd Lieutenant Pullam].
At Bramshott, Hants, 2 offences on the 23rd May 1915, he was also convicted of causing a disturbance in his billet after lights out. Also around 9.45pm, he was found to be Drunk! 5 days confined to Barracks. He went absent from the camp from the 30th June 1915 to the 7th July 1915, this resulted in 7 days lost pay.
[Bramshott was the location of the Canadian troops that came to the UK in WW1].
Sent to France with his unit on the 25th August 1915. On the 29th January 1916, he was wounded in the left leg by a gunshot wound, taken to the No 2 Casualty Clearing Station at Bailleul, from the 70th Field Ambulance unit. [part of the 23rd Division]. Stanley then was evacuated to the 20th General Hospital.
He remained there till he recovered and arrived back at his unit on the 14th April 1916.
Stanley was wounded again, receiving a gunshot wound to his finger, on the 18th July 1916, picked up by the 102nd Field Ambulance unit and sent to the 34th DRS.
The officer commanding 'B' Company reported that he was wounded again on the 7th October 1916, [no description of his wound is indicated on his service record], and returned to his unit on the 14th October.
Stanley was deducted one day's pay for losing part of his kit on the 27th March 1917. Another 3 days pay was deducted for being absent from a Work Party, and in addition received Field Punishment no 1. He was absent for 3 hours 35 minutes.
He was killed in action on October 20th 1917.
His mother received some photos from him that were part of his effects sent on the 22nd February 1918.
Stanley Chicken is remembered at Eppleton on E65.01 and at Hetton H125.06
His sister Margaret Chicken, was residing at the Sergeant's Mess, Great Lines, Chatham, his other sister Annie was based in Rouen, France with the W.A.A.C.
The top photograph shows: Battle of the Menin Road Ridge. Troops of the 13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry digging out wounded from their Regimental Aid Post near Zillebeke after the position had be hit by German artillery fire, 20 September 1917. Courtesy of the IWM
