Cheltonians Buried in Locre Hospice Cemetery, Belgium

   LEAVING CHELTENHAM …………..and all that was dear

   Cheltonians Buried in the Locre Hospice Cemetery, near Kemmel, Belgium

Richard Chester Chester-Master

1870 – 1917

Photograph by Imperial War Museum (IWM)

Non-Commercial Licence

© IWM (HU 121516)

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Chester Chester-Master, DSO and Bar, 5 times Mentioned in Despatches, 13th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, is buried in the Locre Hospice Cemetery in Plot II.C.8.

He was killed in action on 30th August 1917 in the Locre area of Belgium, reportedly by a German sniper.

He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial, and on the SS Philips and James Church Cheltenham Roll of Honour, and also remembered in this church by a commemorative plaque.

He is also commemorated on the Cirencester War Memorial and remembered in honour by Christ Church College, Oxford.   He is listed on the Harrow School Memorial, on the Almondsbury War Memorial, and at St Mary’s Church, Almondsbury.

He resided at “St Clair”, The Park, Cheltenham and his widow resided at Querns Lane House, Cirencester after the war.

Lieutenant Colonel Chester-Master was “Mentioned in Despatches” twice during the Boer War and a further three times during the Great War.

Lt Col Chester-Master’s headstone in Plot II.C.8 at the Locre Hospice Cemetery, Belgium

He was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations with the Battalion in Belgium during 1917.   The Citation, published in the Fourth Supplement to the London Gazette, Number 30234, of 16th August 1917, on page 8349 reads “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.   During operations for six days he displayed great courage and ability.   His battalion was very short of officers, and he had no rest during that period.   His splendid example and total disregard for safety inspired his men with great confidence”.

The inscription on his headstone reads “TRANQUIL YOU LIE… YOUR MEMORY HALLOWED IN THE LAND YOU LOVED”, which comes from the first verse of the once very popular and highly emotional Remembrance hymn O Valiant Hearts, written by Sir John Arkwright in 1917. 

O valiant hearts who to your glory came
Through clouds of conflict and through battle flame;
Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved,
Your memory hallowed in the land you loved.

Richard Chester-Master’s wife, Geraldine, chose his inscription.  Born Geraldine Mary Rose Arkwright, she was the sister of Sir John Arkwright, the author of ‘O Valiant hearts’.