Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Richard Chandler a wheelwright, born 1858 in Windsor, Berks., and his wife Annie Elizabeth Chandler (nee Quelch, married in the 1st quarter of 1889 in the Eton, Buckinghamshire district), born 1866 at Eton on Thames, Bucks. Richard was born in the second quarter of 1893 in Maidenhead, Berks., he had one sibling, a sister Ellen, born 1896 in Maidenhead, Berks., in March 1901 the family home was at New Inn Yard, Cosby, Leics. In April 1911 Richard was employed as a brick maker and was residing as a visitor at 31, Orange Street, South Wigston, Leics. In the 3rd quarter of 1913 Richard married Mary Elizabeth Hart in the Blaby, Leics., district, in the 4th quarter of 1914, their son Sydney E. Chandler was born in the Blaby, Leics., district. In the 1st quarter of 1917 Richard’s widow married Leonard Rudkin in the Blaby, Leics., district.
On Friday July 16th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “ROLL OF HONOUR.” – CASUALTIES AMONG THE “TIGERS.” The following casualties in the First 4th Leicestershire Regiment (T.F.) are officially reported from the Base, under date June 24th:- KILLED. 2267, Private A. Tilley. WOUNDED. 1977, Private R. Chandler. 2574, Private D. Francis. 2653, Private S. C. Harding. 1479, Private J. T. Hurst. 2962, Private B. Johnson. 1796, Corporal H. Pratt. 2160, Private W. Spires. 1295, Private W. Tebbutt. 3446, Private G. Widdowson.
The War Diary for today records. At noon our artillery started to bombard. At 1.00pm our smoke and gas started. At 1.50pm smoke and gas stopped. At 2.00pm artillery lifted and Battn assaulted the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. Lt Col R. E. MARTIN was wounded early but remained in the fire trench directing operations for nearly 24 hours and until -?- to the dressing station by Brig Gen KEMP. All officers of the Battn either killed or wounded. The War Diary entry for the following day the 14th October records. In the evening the Battn was relieved by part of the 139th Bde and went back to the LANCASHIRE TRENCH. Roll call revealed that 188 NCO’s and men returned. The Official History of the War – Military Operations (France and Belgium 1915 Volume II) provided the following statistics for the 1st/4th Battn Leicestershire Regiment, officers killed 20, other ranks killed 453. Total losses for the day were 138th Bde 64 officers and 1,476 other ranks. 137th Bde 68 officers and 1,478 other ranks.