CHANCE, Benjamin

Benjamin Chance was a pre-war regular soldier from Lye. He was probably recalled from the Reserve to his old Battalion, the 2nd Worcesters, at Aldershot and sent to France with the British Expeditionary Force on the 12th August. He was at Mons to face the first German advance and took part in the retreat to the Marne. The German forces were then forced back to the Aisne where several actions were fought. In one of these on the wooded heights above the river a contested German advance led to casualties. Among those killed in action on the 2nd October was Private Benjamin Chance who is commemorated on the La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.