CHANCE, Sidney

Sidney Chance was born in Lye and enlisted in the Worcesters. He went to the 1st Battalion which in 1916 served with distinction on the Somme and in 1917 fought in the long Third Battle of Ypres. In the Spring of 1918 they were still near Ypres but after the first German Spring offensive of March had driven the British back, they were rushed to the front to save Amiens. It was close run but they helped to halt the enemy. In late April the exhausted Worcesters were sent to a quiet sector on the Aisne for reorganisation. This was the area then unexpectedly hit by the third German offensive of the 20th May. Once again the Worcesters were driven back, this time over the Aisne into Champagne. On the 26th May they regrouped on the Bouleuse Ridge under Colonel George Grogan and halted the enemy sufficiently for reinforcements to arrive. It was the last German advance of the Great War and Colonel Grogan was awarded the Victoria Cross. It was a significant turning point but among the wounded was Private Sidney Chance. He was made a prisoner of war and taken to a German military hospital north of Reims where he died of wounds on the 2nd June. He is buried at Montcornet Military Cemetery (A 8) and is commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.