AN UNUSUAL PAIR OF EMOTIVE COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUES.
Both to men who fought and died with the 2/8th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers.

307170 Pte Edward Francis Drewitt. 17th April 1917
and
47879 Pte Frederick James Chandler 30th Sept’ 1918 (POW)

Both plaques came to us together, and both men are entitled to a WW1 Pair and it’s pretty certain they knew each other. We have not yet establish a family relationship.
They certainly both entered France together as much needed reinforcements around 27th February 1917 when they joined their parent unit 2/8th Lancs Fusiliers which having just returned via Egypt from Gallipoli had sustained many losses.
The unit landed at Marseilles and proceeded to the western front where it was reinforced.

307170 Pte EDWARD FRANCIS DREWITT 2/8th LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS (1880-1917) Age 37.

“Died of Wounds” 17th April 1917.

Husband of Mary Drewitt, of Sutton Rd, Somerton, Somerset.
He had three children, Howard, Edith & Annie.
Mary received a pension of 26/3d from 29th October 1917.
Edward is remembered with honour at:

LONGUENESSE (St Omer) SOUVENIR CEMETERY (IV.B.54)
“Enter Thou Into The Joy Of Thy Lord”



47879 Pte FREDERICK JAMES CHANDLER. 2/8th LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS



P.O.W. Captured at “Templeux”
(HELD at GUSTROW, Meklenbourg)
from 21st March 1918
“Died in Captivity” of Pneumonia,
30th September 1918
Fred, who was from “The Kennels, Scarlands, Brightling Road, Robertsbridge, Sussex”, was originally recorded as K.I.A. on 23rd November 1916, but clearly turned up again.

Frederick is remembered with honour at:

LE QUESNOY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION.

(P.O.W. SPECIAL MEMORIAL)

By late 1917 Güstrow POW Camp was very well established and had extensive facilities, such as a bakery, post office, laundry, shoemaker's workshop, disinfection unit, hair cutting room, and more. The Camp was also known for its variety stage shows performed by the prisoners; many surviving photographs attest to this.

An Excellent & Interesting Pair, Bound For the Collection of A Keen Lancashire Fusiliers Enthusiast.

£199