| Abstract | Local people who served in World War I - Edwin Chatters
Born c1889, son of Hannah and Charles Chatters of Church Field, West Mersea. [1901 Census].
In his teens he and his brother had been sunk in the smack CLARA and washed up on Southend beach.
October 1914, in Royal Naval Reserve, serving on HMS BACCHANTE [Essex County Standard, 31 Oct 1914]
L-R back 1. Charlie Woods, 2. John Chatters, 3. Hannah Chatters, 4. Edwin Chatters, 5. Charles Chatters.
Front 1. Charlie Woods jun., 2. Ernie Woods.
1915 his ship was cut in half in collision, and he was the only survivor from his dug-out of poison fumes on the beaches at Gallipoli.
1916 he led a gun crew in Mercantile Marine, responsible for sinking a German submarine in the Baltic. Later transferred to Russian government service. In late 1916 British sailors were in a perilous situation. He was shot at in Archangel, took a berth home on the ill-fated KIEV. [ 28 Oct 1916 ] In sight of the Scottish coast the vessel was wrecked on submerged rocks. Chatters took command and organised the crew to light a tar barrel at the top of the main mast. The Peterhead lifeboat arrived and Chatters got a line to it, organising life-saving operations by breeches buoy. Most of the crew and passengers were saved, leaving Chatters alone on the ship in a dangerous position. Finally with a line lashed to his body, Chatters plunged into the sea and was pulled to safety. He was transferred to the Salvation Army home in Aberdeen. His future wife contacted the Rev Pierrepoint Edwards about Chatters' brave deed. The matter was raised with local MPs and Chatters was awarded a certificate and cheque in May, 1919. He was later decorated by King George V with the Board of Trade Medal for Saving Life at Sea [the Sea Gallantry Medal]. The passengers and crew of the KIEV subscribed to a gold watch for Chatters. [ Lions Talking Magazine May 1980 ].
The Russian troopship/passenger ship KIEV, built on Clydebank in 1896. Photo: World Ship Society.
Edwin died in his bed in 1942 aged 55.
Frank Dineen writes of Edwin:
According to my Aunt Rene, Edwin's wife,
It was the Tsar who wanted him rewarded but at that time British citizens were not permitted to wear a foreign medal. So a little subterfuge was called for.
Rene & Edwin opened a B&B in St Peters Rd.
Among their guest were Tom Sopwith. Jim Mollison and Amy Johnson.
The Chatters family owned Oyster beds and had a smack named SYBIL. I recall sailing on her when I was a small child in the late '30s. Edwin died from blood poisoning. He had to have an operation, this was in the early days of blood transfusion and he was given the wrong type of blood.
Edwin and Rene had a son Greg.
On October 28th, 1916, the Russian steel cargo/passengership KIEV, on voyage from Archangel to Leith with general cargo, was wrecked on Rattray Briggs. Of the 69 crew and 22 passengers, 8 lives were lost.
KIEV was built 1896 by J. & G. Thompson, Glasgow. [ www.wrecksite.eu ]
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![L-R back 1. Charlie Woods, 2. John Chatters, 3. Hannah Chatters (mother of Charlie senior), 4. Edwin Chatters, 5. Charles Chatters.
Front 1. Charlie Woods Junior, 2. Ernie Woods.
Charlie Woods jun. I knew well. He worked in the office at Clifford Whites and Glennie Cock [RG].
Ernie Woods 1905 was the eldest son of Charles and Mabel May, then came Irene 1906, Charlie Aldeborough 1909 then Edwin was youngest.
Cap tallies for John and Charles Chatters are both for HMS BACCHANTE - a Cressy Class armoured cruiser built c1900.
A <a href=mmphoto.php?typ=ID&hit=1&tot=1&ba=cke&bid=CTC_021>Newspaper article </a> 31 October 1914 lists John Chatters and Edwin Chatters as being R.N.R. HMS BACCHANTE.
Photograph from Vivian Woods ?
</p>
<p> HMS BACCHANTE was a Cressy Class cruiser built around 1900. In early 1915 she was assigned to support Anzac troops during the Gallipoli Campaign by providing naval gunfire. She covered the landing at Anzac Cove in April as well as several subsequent operations.
She was scrapped in 1920
</p> JNY_OPA_009](MMThumbnails30/JNY_OPA_009.jpg) |
| ImageID: | JNY_OPA_009 | | Title: | L-R back 1. Charlie Woods, 2. John Chatters, 3. Hannah Chatters (mother of Charlie senior), 4. Edwin Chatters, 5. Charles Chatters.
Front 1. Charlie Woods Junior, 2. Ernie Woods.
Charlie Woods jun. I knew well. He worked in the office at Clifford Whites and Glennie Cock [RG].
Ernie Woods 1905 was the eldest son of Charles and Mabel May, then came Irene 1906, Charlie Aldeborough 1909 then Edwin was youngest.
Cap tallies for John and Charles Chatters are both for HMS BACCHANTE - a Cressy Class armoured cruiser built c1900.
A Newspaper article 31 October 1914 lists John Chatters and Edwin Chatters as being R.N.R. HMS BACCHANTE.
Photograph from Vivian Woods ?
HMS BACCHANTE was a Cressy Class cruiser built around 1900. In early 1915 she was assigned to support Anzac troops during the Gallipoli Campaign by providing naval gunfire. She covered the landing at Anzac Cove in April as well as several subsequent operations.
She was scrapped in 1920
| | Date: | c1914 | | Source: | Mersea Museum / Jean Hoy Collection |
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