Harold Hector Chesney

CHESNEY, Harold Hector

War
2nd Word War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
London - Ontario
Original Unit
Regimental Number
105448
Rank
Lance Bombadier
Date of Death
Age at Death
27 years 1 month
Biographical Summary

NAME                  CHESNEY          Harold Hector
RANK                  Lance Bombadier          105448
REGIMENT         Royal Canadian Artillery
                            “everywhere”                                                                                                                                    Born                     August 7, 1918 - Seaforth - Townships of McKillop / Tuckersmith - County of Huron    Residence           Seaforth - Ontario                                                                                                                      Died                     September 7, 1945          27 years  1 month.
Cemetery            Seaforth Maitland Bank Cemetery - Seaforth - County of Huron - Ontario
                            D 125 1
Wife                     Mrs. Alma Chesney of Seaforth - Ontario
Parents                Mr. Harry and Jean Chesney - Seaforth - Seaforth.                                                          Brothers               Mr. Pearson Chesney was serving with the Canadian Army overseas                                                                      Mr. William Chesney - Seaforth - Ontario                                                                              Sisters                 Miss Margaret and Ethel Chesney - Seaforth - Ontario

Harold was born in Seaforth on August 7, 1918. the family would have attended First Presbyterian Church. Harold had been employed as a truck driver with McNaughton Brothers Trucking out of Walkerton for the past 5 years. He was interested in music and enjoys band and swing music. He left school at the age of 15 and completed Grade VIII.

Canada

In early December 1942 on the 2nd Harold went to London and enlisted into the Canadian Army. At the time he was 5' 6" tall and weighed 173 pounds. He had a dark complexion with brown eyes and hair. Private Chesney did not qualify for duty overseas because of his weight and high blood pressure. From December 2 and for another 16 days he remained at No. 1 Manning Depot in Toronto. His first posting was to No. 13 Basic Training Centre in Listowel - Ontario.                                                                                                                                                Then for his next posting on February 23, 1943 he went to No. A1 Canadian Army Artillery Training Centre in Petawawa - Ontario and received the rank of Gunner. On April 22 he qualifies as a Driver Class III. On May 13 he went on course to Woodstock to No. 11 Advanced Driving and Maintenance School. On July 9 he qualifies as a Driver / Mechanic Class I and Motorcycle Class III. Then on October he received the rank of Lance Corporal and was then tasked as an Instructor.                                                                                                                            On August 14,1944 he went back to rank of Private                                                                                                He was trained on the 303 Enfield Rifle, the Light Machine Gun, the Anti-Tank Rifle and Light Machine Gun. During his training he was AWOL 4 times and was confined to barracks to 18 days and lost 4 days of pay.        Lance Bombadier Chesney was driving a military motorcycle while on leave with pay. He left Camp Borden at 18:35 hours on either September 3/4th and went to Woodstock to attend the funeral of his uncle. Once in Stratford on his way to Seaforth he was driving down Ontario Street and approaching Nile Street. There was a car in front on him with faulty brake and tail lights and this vehicle made an illegal turn in front of Lance Bombardier Chesney. He was thrown from his machine and then the motorcycle landed on top of him.
• He was admitted to Stratford Hospital unconscious and with a severe cerebral concussion. He was then transferred to London and he did not regain consciousness and died of his injuries on September 7th.at 5:10 pm at the London Military Hospital.
                                                                                                                                                                                  In October of 1945 both his wife Alma and his mother received the Memorial Cross and in November of 1949 his wife Alma received the War Medal and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal awarded to her husband.

Harold is honoured and and he is remembered on the Memorial Plaque of First Presbyterian Church and as well has his name on the Seaforth Cenotaph. He is also remembered in the Books of Remembrabce which sit in the Centre Block of Canada's Parliament and he is honoured on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.