Rank: Major
Regiment: King's Own Scottish Borderers 2nd Battalion.
Awards: Distinguished Service Order, Mentioned in Despatches
Died: 29 August 1914
Age: 41 years old.
Chandos Leigh was born on 29th August 1873, the eldest son of the Honourable Sir E. Chandos Leigh, K.C.B., J.P., K.C., Bencher of the Inner Temple and Speaker of the House of Commons, and his wife, Lady Katherine Fanny Leigh. He had a younger brother, Edward and three younger sisters, Violet, Katherine & Audrey. He was educated at Harrow School from 1887 to 1890, and further educated at Trinity College, Cambridge University.
He briefly served as a Lieutenant with the 4th Militia Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the King's Own Scottish Borderers on 29th May 1895, and joined the 1st Battalion garrisoned at York, being then promoted to Lieutenant in September 1897 when stationed at Aldershot, and moving with the Battalion to Dublin.
Chandos was still serving in Ireland when the Boer War in South Africa broke out. He sailed with the 1st Battalion from Southampton on the 5th January 1900, and on arrival in South Africa was attached together with a company from his Battalion to the 7th Mounted Infantry Regiment.
After minimal training they invaded the Orange Free State, and fought in the action at Waterval Drift, a ford on the Riet River, and then joined their parent regiment, the 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers to repulse a Boer attack on a British convoy, and from there they rode, on short rations, to Jacobspruit. They then helped to relieve Kimberly, although Leigh's unit was part of the rear guard conveying General French's supplies and provisions from Klip Drift to Kimberly. The 7th Mounted Infantry Regiment then pursued the Boer General Cronje and his force from Magersfontein, and after a very long forced march the unit reached Paardeberg Drift, by which time they had depleted all their supplies and lived off the emergency rations they carried. Following Cronje's surrender, the 7th Mounted Infantry became part of the force marching to Pretoria. In 1900 he and his unit fought 45 engagements with the Boers and marched over 900 miles. In April 1901, Leigh was promoted to Captain, but fell sick as the long days and nights on the veldt finally caught up with him. He was at Wynberg Hospital for most of July, and then sailed home at the end of the month.
For his Boer War services, Chandos Leigh was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the London Gazette of the 27th September 1901. He was Mentioned in Despatches for gallant and distinguished services in the London Gazette of the 10th September 1901 for the period he served with the 7th Mounted Infantry at Magersfontein, Pretoria, Klip Drift, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, and Bothaville,. Leigh was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902, with clasps for Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, Relief of Kimberley and South Africa 1901.
In 1902, Leigh requested secondment to the Egyptian Army, and served from 17th April 1902 through to 16th April 1912, during which period he fought in one major campaign in the Bahr-el-Ghazel province against the Nyam Nyam tribesmen from January to May 1905, being one of only 18 British officers to receive the Khedive's Sudan Medal with clasp Nyan Nyan, it being unique to an officer of the King's Own Scottish Borderers. He was also awarded the Order of Osmanieh 4th Class, gazetted on 9th December 1910, and the Order of the Medjedieh 3rd Class, gazetted on 2nd July 1912.
A noted horseman and polo player, he was well known on the Cairo turf, where he more than once headed the winning list of steeplechase riders, both amateur and professional. He had hunted in his boyhood in Warwickshire and Northamptonshire, and also with the Meath and Ward Union packs, when he was quartered with his regiment in Ireland, and also took honours in the open jumping at the horse show in Dublin.
In April 1912, Leigh returned to his Regiment, the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, then serving in Dublin. He was with his battalion at Belfast during the troubled time of the riots at Harland and Wolff's shipyards in 1912 and through the many succeeding troubles in Dublin from the strikes in August 1913.
On the 6th June 1912, he married Winifred Madeline Jeffreys, the daughter of the Right Honourable Arthur Frederick Jeffreys, P.C., D.L., M.P., of Burklion, Hampshire. Chandos and his wife resided at 45, Grosvenor Street, London. They did not have any children. Leigh was an active member of the Army and Navy Club at this time.
With the outbreak of the Great War, Leigh who had been promoted to Major, was posted overseas to France with the 2nd Battalion on 15th August 1914, forming part of the 13th Brigade, and was almost immediately in action at Mons when in command of 'D' Company which was positioned on the north bank of the Mons Canal, its job being to guard and then to destroy the Lock No.4, while the other units were on the south bank covering his right flank and the crossing. About a mile from the Lock No.4, Major Coke held 'B' Company, K.O.S.B. in reserve. The night before the battle of Mons, a legendary event took place that has forever lived in the hearts and regimental lore of the King's Own Scottish Borderers.
On one side of the Canal and Lock No.4 was a small farm house that was occupied by three Belgians: a man, his wife and their daughter. That night, 22nd August 1914, they cooked a fine dinner for the King's Own Scottish Borderers Officer's, a dinner of omelettes and coffee, and the lady of the house then thought it might be fun if all the officer's present signed their names on the tablecloth as a remembrance of the event. So was born the famous "Mons Tablecloth". In November 1918 Major E.S. D'Ewes-Coke, a fellow officer in the King's Own Scottish Borderers who had spent the night with Leigh at the little farmhouse found himself in the same place, overlooking the Canal and Lock. At first he could not recognise the house, which was mostly destroyed by four years of war. At last he found the remains of the building and proceeded to explore the back garden. Suddenly, out of the back door appeared the two women who had hosted and fed the officers four years before. He explained that he was one of the officers, and was immediately invited for coffee in the same room he had shared their hospitality in 1914. The women remembered all of the officers and asked after them all. It turned out that Major Coke was the only officer from the original group still on active service with the battalion. Most of the men had fallen during the past four years. He recounted the signing of the tablecloth and as soon as he mentioned it the women produced the treasure. The women had embroidered each signature. Coke signed, at their insistence, a second time. Today this tablecloth hangs one the wall at the King's Own Scottish Borderers museum and depot in Berwick-on-Tweed. It is one of the most valued of all regimental icons. Almost directly in the centre of the cloth is the embroidered signature "C. Leigh".
The fighting at Mons proper started about 9 am on 23rd August 1914, and started to the east of Major Leigh's position. By 1 pm it had spread to his location. The first German's were spotted from a position on the high ground south of the Mons Canal. This was a group of men from the Brandenburg Grenadiers of the III German Army Corps. They tried to advance in open order, but due to the heavy rifle fire from the King's Own Scottish Borderers and Lieutenant Pepys' machine guns, they suffered heavy casualties. Now the Germans called on their artillery and their superior numbers and calibre quickly dominated the single battery the 13th Infantry Brigade had left to support the K.O.S.B. position. All the houses located in the heights suffered from the German artillery. The hospital in the Lock House was hit and suffered many casualties. The entire village of Les Herbieres was splashed with shrapnel, the village consisted of 15 or so scattered residences, and most were hit and damaged by the bombardment.
Part of "A" Company under Captain Spencer was sent across to join "D" Company, and at this stage in the action Leigh decided that to avoid the artillery he must get further away from the six or so houses on the north bank. He advanced from his canal bank position - a "nasty operation" according to the Regimental History. This was, in fact, a counter attack against the numerically superior Germans. This advance was immediately shelled and came under heavy small arms and machine gun fire. The German rifle fire was not too effective, but when combined with artillery and machine guns the Germans halted the counter attack and began to advance again. Two Officers of the King's Own Scottish Borderers were immediately wounded, Captain's Kennedy and Spencer.
When the roll was taken on the far bank, Major Leigh was posted as missing, Captain Spencer searched for him from 3 pm to 4 pm but in vain. The King's Own Scottish Borderers then withdrew and destroyed the lock. Major Leigh was, in fact, lying wounded between the lines. That night, as facts and stories were sorted out, it was reported that two men had come upon Major Leigh, severely wounded, at the end of the final withdrawal towards the bridge. The men were told by Leigh to "never mind him", as the enemy were in great strength and the bridge must be destroyed without further delay".
Chandos Leigh passed into the hands of the Germans, being taken prisoner; however he was mortally wounded, being taken to a German field hospital, where he died of his wounds six days later. On the 29th August 1914, he was buried with full military honours by the Germans in Heritage Military Cemetery, a cemetery almost entirely filled with Germans.
His medals were sold at auction in 2011 for £3,500.
Chandos Leigh is commemorated on the Harrow War Memorial for those who fell in the Great War and on Harrow School Roll of Honour. He was the first 'Old Harrovian' to fall in the war.
He is also commemorated on the "War List of the University of Cambridge 1914-1918" but an error gives his date of death as 1918, not 1914.
There are memorials to him in St Mark's, Mayfair, London.
Chandos's brother, Lieutenant Edward Henry Leigh, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, was killed in action by a sniper at Aubers' Ridge on 9th May 1915 while leading his men in an attack. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. Their father, Sir Edward Chandos Leigh, died three days after hearing of his second son's death. The war ended an old and distinguished family line.
In the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire both brothers are commemorated on a memorial plaque.
The inscription reads:
In loving memory of two brothers Major CHANDOS LEIGH D.S.O. King's Own Scottish Borderers, the elder son of the Hon. Sir Edward Chandos Leigh K.C. K.C.B.
who fought with distinction in the South African War afterwards serving ten years with the Egyptian Army where he was decorated with the orders of the Medjidieh & Osmanieh and the Bahr el Ghazal medal & clasp.
He married Winifred daughter of the Rt Hon. A. E. Jeffreys M.P.and died in Flanders aged 40 of wounds received at the battle of Mons 23rd August 1914.
Also of his only brother EDWARD HENRY LEIGH Lieut 2nd Batt the Rifle Brigade
who fell in the attack upon the Auber Ridge 9th May 1915 aged 26 after being previously mentioned in despatches.
Both brothers were educated at Harrow and Cambridge.
Leigh's widow Winifred eventually re-married. On the 7th October 1925 she married Sir Christopher Boyd William Magnay, 3rd Bt. They had no children and Winifred died on the 28th September 1966.
The following are news reports of the day regarding Leigh Chandos:
Leamington Spa Courier, Saturday 24th March 1900.
THE BATTLE OF PAARDEBERG.
....Lieut. Chandos Leigh, son of the Hon. Chandos Leigh, at present residing at Charlton House, Banbury, has written the following description of the battle of Paardeburg. Lieutenant Leigh is serving with the Mounted Infantry of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, and was formerly in the Warwickshire Militia.
...."We have been having a rough time of it since we left Orange River on the 9th, marching day and night, with hardly any rest and sleep; we have only just got our baggage, so I have lived in the same clothes for eleven days. I am very glad to get a change, and get my dirty clothes washed in the Modder. We have had precious little to eat, too, as a convoy with supplies was captured, and our horses had no corn for three days, nothing but wretched bad grass, all burnt up, for them to graze on; and I lived on a biscuit and meat lozenges for two days, so I am now what you call a bit tucked up. We arrived here on February 18th, at three a.m., and had a very big fight, which, I suppose, you have heard all about. The Highland Brigade again suffered fearful losses, and the Mounted Infantry got it pretty hot, though our Company were extraordinarily lucky, having only one killed and a few wounded out of a total of about 90. Our Regiment lost pretty heavily, Joliffe, of the Norfolk, and Percival, of the 60th, being killed. Captain Dewar, whom I knew very well, died to-day of his wounds, and two other of our officers wounded. Besides, Colonel Hannay is missing and reported killed. Coulson was with him at the time, and had his horse shot under him, and never got back till the following day. I think our casualties amounted to close on fifteen hundred men, though I believe the result is considered satisfactory. The two armies are now sitting and looking at each other, thought they are at it now and again, but we are not in for it, as we were out all yesterday watching a kopje, and they are giving us a day off. Roberts and Kitchener are both here and another division and Guards Brigade arrived to-day, so, I suppose, we shall have another big go at them soon. We have been in three fights already, on the 11th at Zout Pan, on the 15th at Waterfall Drift, and last Sunday. On Sunday we had to charge across the enemy's front, to draw their fire to enable the infantry to advance; this we did twice under a pretty hot rifle and shell fire, and our men galloped a lot faster than I ever though they could. We got a few fellows knocked over, but luckily very few. It was a wonder to me how they missed us, as we had to go about half-a-mile, and the bullets fairly hailed about us."
Leamington Spa Courier, Friday 4th October 1901:
....Amongst the recently published list of officers, who have been commended by Lord Roberts, and who are to receive the D.S.O. decoration, we are pleased to observe the name of Lieutenant (now Captain) Chandos Leigh, of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, son of the Hon. Sir Chandos Leigh, K.C.B., and nephew of Lord Leigh.
Leamington Spa Courier, Friday 29th November 1901:
....The many local friends of Sir Edward Chandos Leigh will hear with considerable pleasure of his son's promotion to be Captain in the King's Own Scottish Borderers. Captain Chandos Leigh is at present serving with his regiment at the front. In addition to his promotion he has had the D.S.O. conferred upon him, and a medal with six clasps. Captain Leigh has been in over 50 engagements.
(Sources: CWGC, Find My Past, Ancestry, IWM, Harrow School, Great War forum, Boer War Forum, The Peerage, Newspaper Archives, Dix,Noonan Webb, Bond of Sacrifice, De Ruvigny's ROH)
(Bio: Woose)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extract from The Roll of Honour, A Biographical record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, by the Marquis de Ruvigny, Volume I., The Standard Art Book Company, Ltd, December, 1916:
LEIGH, CHANDOS, D.S.O., Major, 2nd Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers, elder son of the late Hon. Sir Edward Chandos Leigh, K.C., K.C.B., by his wife, Katherine Fanny (Knuston Hall, Irchester, Northants, 45, Upper Grosvenor Street, W.), daughter of the late James Rigby, of Moss House, Lancashire, D.L., and grandson. of Chandos, 1st Lord Leigh; born 29 Aug. 1873; educated Harrow and Cambridge; gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd King's Own Scottish Borderers, from the Militia, 29 May, 1895, and promoted Lieutenant 22 Sept. 1897, Captain 1 April, 1901, and Major, 17 June, 1914; served (1) in the South African War, 1900-2, employed with the Mounted Infantry; took part in the advance on, and relief of, Kimberley; operations in Orange Free State, 1900, including actions at Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Houtnek (Thoba Mountain), Vet River and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal, May-June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg and Diamond Hill; operations in Orange River Colony, 1900, including actions at Wittebergen and Bothaville; and in operations in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony and Cape Colony, 30 Nov. 1900 to 31 May, 1902 (mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 Sept. 1901]. Queen's medal with five clasps, D.S.O.); (2) with the Egyptian Army, 17 April, 1902, to 1912; took part in Bahr-el-Ghazal Expedition against the Nyam-Nyam Tribes 1905-6 (Egyptian medal with clasp; Medijidich and Osmanich Orders); and (3) with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 13 Aug. 1914; was reported missing and wounded after the Battle of Mons, 23 Aug. 1914, and died at Boussu shortly afterwards. When last seen, though severely wounded, he told his men to go on and never mind him, as the enemy were in great strength, and it was imperative to get back to blow up the canal bridge against their advance. Major Leigh was a fine horseman and polo player, winning his regimental cup the year he joined the Army. He was well known with the Meath, Pytchley and other packs, won honours in the open jumping at the Dublin Horse Show, and headed the winning record for steeplechase riders, both amateurs and professional, on the Cairo Turf. He married 6 June, 1912, Winifred Madeline, daughter of the late Rt. Hon. Arthur Frederick Jeffreys, of Burkham, Hampshire, P.C., M.P.; s.p.
Contributor: A Fifer in Exile (49902043)
Regiment: King's Own Scottish Borderers 2nd Battalion.
Awards: Distinguished Service Order, Mentioned in Despatches
Died: 29 August 1914
Age: 41 years old.
Chandos Leigh was born on 29th August 1873, the eldest son of the Honourable Sir E. Chandos Leigh, K.C.B., J.P., K.C., Bencher of the Inner Temple and Speaker of the House of Commons, and his wife, Lady Katherine Fanny Leigh. He had a younger brother, Edward and three younger sisters, Violet, Katherine & Audrey. He was educated at Harrow School from 1887 to 1890, and further educated at Trinity College, Cambridge University.
He briefly served as a Lieutenant with the 4th Militia Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the King's Own Scottish Borderers on 29th May 1895, and joined the 1st Battalion garrisoned at York, being then promoted to Lieutenant in September 1897 when stationed at Aldershot, and moving with the Battalion to Dublin.
Chandos was still serving in Ireland when the Boer War in South Africa broke out. He sailed with the 1st Battalion from Southampton on the 5th January 1900, and on arrival in South Africa was attached together with a company from his Battalion to the 7th Mounted Infantry Regiment.
After minimal training they invaded the Orange Free State, and fought in the action at Waterval Drift, a ford on the Riet River, and then joined their parent regiment, the 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers to repulse a Boer attack on a British convoy, and from there they rode, on short rations, to Jacobspruit. They then helped to relieve Kimberly, although Leigh's unit was part of the rear guard conveying General French's supplies and provisions from Klip Drift to Kimberly. The 7th Mounted Infantry Regiment then pursued the Boer General Cronje and his force from Magersfontein, and after a very long forced march the unit reached Paardeberg Drift, by which time they had depleted all their supplies and lived off the emergency rations they carried. Following Cronje's surrender, the 7th Mounted Infantry became part of the force marching to Pretoria. In 1900 he and his unit fought 45 engagements with the Boers and marched over 900 miles. In April 1901, Leigh was promoted to Captain, but fell sick as the long days and nights on the veldt finally caught up with him. He was at Wynberg Hospital for most of July, and then sailed home at the end of the month.
For his Boer War services, Chandos Leigh was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the London Gazette of the 27th September 1901. He was Mentioned in Despatches for gallant and distinguished services in the London Gazette of the 10th September 1901 for the period he served with the 7th Mounted Infantry at Magersfontein, Pretoria, Klip Drift, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, and Bothaville,. Leigh was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902, with clasps for Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, Relief of Kimberley and South Africa 1901.
In 1902, Leigh requested secondment to the Egyptian Army, and served from 17th April 1902 through to 16th April 1912, during which period he fought in one major campaign in the Bahr-el-Ghazel province against the Nyam Nyam tribesmen from January to May 1905, being one of only 18 British officers to receive the Khedive's Sudan Medal with clasp Nyan Nyan, it being unique to an officer of the King's Own Scottish Borderers. He was also awarded the Order of Osmanieh 4th Class, gazetted on 9th December 1910, and the Order of the Medjedieh 3rd Class, gazetted on 2nd July 1912.
A noted horseman and polo player, he was well known on the Cairo turf, where he more than once headed the winning list of steeplechase riders, both amateur and professional. He had hunted in his boyhood in Warwickshire and Northamptonshire, and also with the Meath and Ward Union packs, when he was quartered with his regiment in Ireland, and also took honours in the open jumping at the horse show in Dublin.
In April 1912, Leigh returned to his Regiment, the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, then serving in Dublin. He was with his battalion at Belfast during the troubled time of the riots at Harland and Wolff's shipyards in 1912 and through the many succeeding troubles in Dublin from the strikes in August 1913.
On the 6th June 1912, he married Winifred Madeline Jeffreys, the daughter of the Right Honourable Arthur Frederick Jeffreys, P.C., D.L., M.P., of Burklion, Hampshire. Chandos and his wife resided at 45, Grosvenor Street, London. They did not have any children. Leigh was an active member of the Army and Navy Club at this time.
With the outbreak of the Great War, Leigh who had been promoted to Major, was posted overseas to France with the 2nd Battalion on 15th August 1914, forming part of the 13th Brigade, and was almost immediately in action at Mons when in command of 'D' Company which was positioned on the north bank of the Mons Canal, its job being to guard and then to destroy the Lock No.4, while the other units were on the south bank covering his right flank and the crossing. About a mile from the Lock No.4, Major Coke held 'B' Company, K.O.S.B. in reserve. The night before the battle of Mons, a legendary event took place that has forever lived in the hearts and regimental lore of the King's Own Scottish Borderers.
On one side of the Canal and Lock No.4 was a small farm house that was occupied by three Belgians: a man, his wife and their daughter. That night, 22nd August 1914, they cooked a fine dinner for the King's Own Scottish Borderers Officer's, a dinner of omelettes and coffee, and the lady of the house then thought it might be fun if all the officer's present signed their names on the tablecloth as a remembrance of the event. So was born the famous "Mons Tablecloth". In November 1918 Major E.S. D'Ewes-Coke, a fellow officer in the King's Own Scottish Borderers who had spent the night with Leigh at the little farmhouse found himself in the same place, overlooking the Canal and Lock. At first he could not recognise the house, which was mostly destroyed by four years of war. At last he found the remains of the building and proceeded to explore the back garden. Suddenly, out of the back door appeared the two women who had hosted and fed the officers four years before. He explained that he was one of the officers, and was immediately invited for coffee in the same room he had shared their hospitality in 1914. The women remembered all of the officers and asked after them all. It turned out that Major Coke was the only officer from the original group still on active service with the battalion. Most of the men had fallen during the past four years. He recounted the signing of the tablecloth and as soon as he mentioned it the women produced the treasure. The women had embroidered each signature. Coke signed, at their insistence, a second time. Today this tablecloth hangs one the wall at the King's Own Scottish Borderers museum and depot in Berwick-on-Tweed. It is one of the most valued of all regimental icons. Almost directly in the centre of the cloth is the embroidered signature "C. Leigh".
The fighting at Mons proper started about 9 am on 23rd August 1914, and started to the east of Major Leigh's position. By 1 pm it had spread to his location. The first German's were spotted from a position on the high ground south of the Mons Canal. This was a group of men from the Brandenburg Grenadiers of the III German Army Corps. They tried to advance in open order, but due to the heavy rifle fire from the King's Own Scottish Borderers and Lieutenant Pepys' machine guns, they suffered heavy casualties. Now the Germans called on their artillery and their superior numbers and calibre quickly dominated the single battery the 13th Infantry Brigade had left to support the K.O.S.B. position. All the houses located in the heights suffered from the German artillery. The hospital in the Lock House was hit and suffered many casualties. The entire village of Les Herbieres was splashed with shrapnel, the village consisted of 15 or so scattered residences, and most were hit and damaged by the bombardment.
Part of "A" Company under Captain Spencer was sent across to join "D" Company, and at this stage in the action Leigh decided that to avoid the artillery he must get further away from the six or so houses on the north bank. He advanced from his canal bank position - a "nasty operation" according to the Regimental History. This was, in fact, a counter attack against the numerically superior Germans. This advance was immediately shelled and came under heavy small arms and machine gun fire. The German rifle fire was not too effective, but when combined with artillery and machine guns the Germans halted the counter attack and began to advance again. Two Officers of the King's Own Scottish Borderers were immediately wounded, Captain's Kennedy and Spencer.
When the roll was taken on the far bank, Major Leigh was posted as missing, Captain Spencer searched for him from 3 pm to 4 pm but in vain. The King's Own Scottish Borderers then withdrew and destroyed the lock. Major Leigh was, in fact, lying wounded between the lines. That night, as facts and stories were sorted out, it was reported that two men had come upon Major Leigh, severely wounded, at the end of the final withdrawal towards the bridge. The men were told by Leigh to "never mind him", as the enemy were in great strength and the bridge must be destroyed without further delay".
Chandos Leigh passed into the hands of the Germans, being taken prisoner; however he was mortally wounded, being taken to a German field hospital, where he died of his wounds six days later. On the 29th August 1914, he was buried with full military honours by the Germans in Heritage Military Cemetery, a cemetery almost entirely filled with Germans.
His medals were sold at auction in 2011 for £3,500.
Chandos Leigh is commemorated on the Harrow War Memorial for those who fell in the Great War and on Harrow School Roll of Honour. He was the first 'Old Harrovian' to fall in the war.
He is also commemorated on the "War List of the University of Cambridge 1914-1918" but an error gives his date of death as 1918, not 1914.
There are memorials to him in St Mark's, Mayfair, London.
Chandos's brother, Lieutenant Edward Henry Leigh, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, was killed in action by a sniper at Aubers' Ridge on 9th May 1915 while leading his men in an attack. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. Their father, Sir Edward Chandos Leigh, died three days after hearing of his second son's death. The war ended an old and distinguished family line.
In the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire both brothers are commemorated on a memorial plaque.
The inscription reads:
In loving memory of two brothers Major CHANDOS LEIGH D.S.O. King's Own Scottish Borderers, the elder son of the Hon. Sir Edward Chandos Leigh K.C. K.C.B.
who fought with distinction in the South African War afterwards serving ten years with the Egyptian Army where he was decorated with the orders of the Medjidieh & Osmanieh and the Bahr el Ghazal medal & clasp.
He married Winifred daughter of the Rt Hon. A. E. Jeffreys M.P.and died in Flanders aged 40 of wounds received at the battle of Mons 23rd August 1914.
Also of his only brother EDWARD HENRY LEIGH Lieut 2nd Batt the Rifle Brigade
who fell in the attack upon the Auber Ridge 9th May 1915 aged 26 after being previously mentioned in despatches.
Both brothers were educated at Harrow and Cambridge.
Leigh's widow Winifred eventually re-married. On the 7th October 1925 she married Sir Christopher Boyd William Magnay, 3rd Bt. They had no children and Winifred died on the 28th September 1966.
The following are news reports of the day regarding Leigh Chandos:
Leamington Spa Courier, Saturday 24th March 1900.
THE BATTLE OF PAARDEBERG.
....Lieut. Chandos Leigh, son of the Hon. Chandos Leigh, at present residing at Charlton House, Banbury, has written the following description of the battle of Paardeburg. Lieutenant Leigh is serving with the Mounted Infantry of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, and was formerly in the Warwickshire Militia.
...."We have been having a rough time of it since we left Orange River on the 9th, marching day and night, with hardly any rest and sleep; we have only just got our baggage, so I have lived in the same clothes for eleven days. I am very glad to get a change, and get my dirty clothes washed in the Modder. We have had precious little to eat, too, as a convoy with supplies was captured, and our horses had no corn for three days, nothing but wretched bad grass, all burnt up, for them to graze on; and I lived on a biscuit and meat lozenges for two days, so I am now what you call a bit tucked up. We arrived here on February 18th, at three a.m., and had a very big fight, which, I suppose, you have heard all about. The Highland Brigade again suffered fearful losses, and the Mounted Infantry got it pretty hot, though our Company were extraordinarily lucky, having only one killed and a few wounded out of a total of about 90. Our Regiment lost pretty heavily, Joliffe, of the Norfolk, and Percival, of the 60th, being killed. Captain Dewar, whom I knew very well, died to-day of his wounds, and two other of our officers wounded. Besides, Colonel Hannay is missing and reported killed. Coulson was with him at the time, and had his horse shot under him, and never got back till the following day. I think our casualties amounted to close on fifteen hundred men, though I believe the result is considered satisfactory. The two armies are now sitting and looking at each other, thought they are at it now and again, but we are not in for it, as we were out all yesterday watching a kopje, and they are giving us a day off. Roberts and Kitchener are both here and another division and Guards Brigade arrived to-day, so, I suppose, we shall have another big go at them soon. We have been in three fights already, on the 11th at Zout Pan, on the 15th at Waterfall Drift, and last Sunday. On Sunday we had to charge across the enemy's front, to draw their fire to enable the infantry to advance; this we did twice under a pretty hot rifle and shell fire, and our men galloped a lot faster than I ever though they could. We got a few fellows knocked over, but luckily very few. It was a wonder to me how they missed us, as we had to go about half-a-mile, and the bullets fairly hailed about us."
Leamington Spa Courier, Friday 4th October 1901:
....Amongst the recently published list of officers, who have been commended by Lord Roberts, and who are to receive the D.S.O. decoration, we are pleased to observe the name of Lieutenant (now Captain) Chandos Leigh, of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, son of the Hon. Sir Chandos Leigh, K.C.B., and nephew of Lord Leigh.
Leamington Spa Courier, Friday 29th November 1901:
....The many local friends of Sir Edward Chandos Leigh will hear with considerable pleasure of his son's promotion to be Captain in the King's Own Scottish Borderers. Captain Chandos Leigh is at present serving with his regiment at the front. In addition to his promotion he has had the D.S.O. conferred upon him, and a medal with six clasps. Captain Leigh has been in over 50 engagements.
(Sources: CWGC, Find My Past, Ancestry, IWM, Harrow School, Great War forum, Boer War Forum, The Peerage, Newspaper Archives, Dix,Noonan Webb, Bond of Sacrifice, De Ruvigny's ROH)
(Bio: Woose)
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Extract from The Roll of Honour, A Biographical record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, by the Marquis de Ruvigny, Volume I., The Standard Art Book Company, Ltd, December, 1916:
LEIGH, CHANDOS, D.S.O., Major, 2nd Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers, elder son of the late Hon. Sir Edward Chandos Leigh, K.C., K.C.B., by his wife, Katherine Fanny (Knuston Hall, Irchester, Northants, 45, Upper Grosvenor Street, W.), daughter of the late James Rigby, of Moss House, Lancashire, D.L., and grandson. of Chandos, 1st Lord Leigh; born 29 Aug. 1873; educated Harrow and Cambridge; gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd King's Own Scottish Borderers, from the Militia, 29 May, 1895, and promoted Lieutenant 22 Sept. 1897, Captain 1 April, 1901, and Major, 17 June, 1914; served (1) in the South African War, 1900-2, employed with the Mounted Infantry; took part in the advance on, and relief of, Kimberley; operations in Orange Free State, 1900, including actions at Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Houtnek (Thoba Mountain), Vet River and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal, May-June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg and Diamond Hill; operations in Orange River Colony, 1900, including actions at Wittebergen and Bothaville; and in operations in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony and Cape Colony, 30 Nov. 1900 to 31 May, 1902 (mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 Sept. 1901]. Queen's medal with five clasps, D.S.O.); (2) with the Egyptian Army, 17 April, 1902, to 1912; took part in Bahr-el-Ghazal Expedition against the Nyam-Nyam Tribes 1905-6 (Egyptian medal with clasp; Medijidich and Osmanich Orders); and (3) with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 13 Aug. 1914; was reported missing and wounded after the Battle of Mons, 23 Aug. 1914, and died at Boussu shortly afterwards. When last seen, though severely wounded, he told his men to go on and never mind him, as the enemy were in great strength, and it was imperative to get back to blow up the canal bridge against their advance. Major Leigh was a fine horseman and polo player, winning his regimental cup the year he joined the Army. He was well known with the Meath, Pytchley and other packs, won honours in the open jumping at the Dublin Horse Show, and headed the winning record for steeplechase riders, both amateurs and professional, on the Cairo Turf. He married 6 June, 1912, Winifred Madeline, daughter of the late Rt. Hon. Arthur Frederick Jeffreys, of Burkham, Hampshire, P.C., M.P.; s.p.
Contributor: A Fifer in Exile (49902043)
Rank: Major
Regiment: King's Own Scottish Borderers 2nd Battalion.
Awards: Distinguished Service Order, Mentioned in Despatches
Died: 29 August 1914
Age: 41 years old.
Chandos Leigh was born on 29th August 1873, the eldest son of the Honourable Sir E. Chandos Leigh, K.C.B., J.P., K.C., Bencher of the Inner Temple and Speaker of the House of Commons, and his wife, Lady Katherine Fanny Leigh. He had a younger brother, Edward and three younger sisters, Violet, Katherine & Audrey. He was educated at Harrow School from 1887 to 1890, and further educated at Trinity College, Cambridge University.
He briefly served as a Lieutenant with the 4th Militia Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the King's Own Scottish Borderers on 29th May 1895, and joined the 1st Battalion garrisoned at York, being then promoted to Lieutenant in September 1897 when stationed at Aldershot, and moving with the Battalion to Dublin.
Chandos was still serving in Ireland when the Boer War in South Africa broke out. He sailed with the 1st Battalion from Southampton on the 5th January 1900, and on arrival in South Africa was attached together with a company from his Battalion to the 7th Mounted Infantry Regiment.
After minimal training they invaded the Orange Free State, and fought in the action at Waterval Drift, a ford on the Riet River, and then joined their parent regiment, the 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers to repulse a Boer attack on a British convoy, and from there they rode, on short rations, to Jacobspruit. They then helped to relieve Kimberly, although Leigh's unit was part of the rear guard conveying General French's supplies and provisions from Klip Drift to Kimberly. The 7th Mounted Infantry Regiment then pursued the Boer General Cronje and his force from Magersfontein, and after a very long forced march the unit reached Paardeberg Drift, by which time they had depleted all their supplies and lived off the emergency rations they carried. Following Cronje's surrender, the 7th Mounted Infantry became part of the force marching to Pretoria. In 1900 he and his unit fought 45 engagements with the Boers and marched over 900 miles. In April 1901, Leigh was promoted to Captain, but fell sick as the long days and nights on the veldt finally caught up with him. He was at Wynberg Hospital for most of July, and then sailed home at the end of the month.
For his Boer War services, Chandos Leigh was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the London Gazette of the 27th September 1901. He was Mentioned in Despatches for gallant and distinguished services in the London Gazette of the 10th September 1901 for the period he served with the 7th Mounted Infantry at Magersfontein, Pretoria, Klip Drift, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, and Bothaville,. Leigh was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902, with clasps for Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, Relief of Kimberley and South Africa 1901.
In 1902, Leigh requested secondment to the Egyptian Army, and served from 17th April 1902 through to 16th April 1912, during which period he fought in one major campaign in the Bahr-el-Ghazel province against the Nyam Nyam tribesmen from January to May 1905, being one of only 18 British officers to receive the Khedive's Sudan Medal with clasp Nyan Nyan, it being unique to an officer of the King's Own Scottish Borderers. He was also awarded the Order of Osmanieh 4th Class, gazetted on 9th December 1910, and the Order of the Medjedieh 3rd Class, gazetted on 2nd July 1912.
A noted horseman and polo player, he was well known on the Cairo turf, where he more than once headed the winning list of steeplechase riders, both amateur and professional. He had hunted in his boyhood in Warwickshire and Northamptonshire, and also with the Meath and Ward Union packs, when he was quartered with his regiment in Ireland, and also took honours in the open jumping at the horse show in Dublin.
In April 1912, Leigh returned to his Regiment, the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, then serving in Dublin. He was with his battalion at Belfast during the troubled time of the riots at Harland and Wolff's shipyards in 1912 and through the many succeeding troubles in Dublin from the strikes in August 1913.
On the 6th June 1912, he married Winifred Madeline Jeffreys, the daughter of the Right Honourable Arthur Frederick Jeffreys, P.C., D.L., M.P., of Burklion, Hampshire. Chandos and his wife resided at 45, Grosvenor Street, London. They did not have any children. Leigh was an active member of the Army and Navy Club at this time.
With the outbreak of the Great War, Leigh who had been promoted to Major, was posted overseas to France with the 2nd Battalion on 15th August 1914, forming part of the 13th Brigade, and was almost immediately in action at Mons when in command of 'D' Company which was positioned on the north bank of the Mons Canal, its job being to guard and then to destroy the Lock No.4, while the other units were on the south bank covering his right flank and the crossing. About a mile from the Lock No.4, Major Coke held 'B' Company, K.O.S.B. in reserve. The night before the battle of Mons, a legendary event took place that has forever lived in the hearts and regimental lore of the King's Own Scottish Borderers.
On one side of the Canal and Lock No.4 was a small farm house that was occupied by three Belgians: a man, his wife and their daughter. That night, 22nd August 1914, they cooked a fine dinner for the King's Own Scottish Borderers Officer's, a dinner of omelettes and coffee, and the lady of the house then thought it might be fun if all the officer's present signed their names on the tablecloth as a remembrance of the event. So was born the famous "Mons Tablecloth". In November 1918 Major E.S. D'Ewes-Coke, a fellow officer in the King's Own Scottish Borderers who had spent the night with Leigh at the little farmhouse found himself in the same place, overlooking the Canal and Lock. At first he could not recognise the house, which was mostly destroyed by four years of war. At last he found the remains of the building and proceeded to explore the back garden. Suddenly, out of the back door appeared the two women who had hosted and fed the officers four years before. He explained that he was one of the officers, and was immediately invited for coffee in the same room he had shared their hospitality in 1914. The women remembered all of the officers and asked after them all. It turned out that Major Coke was the only officer from the original group still on active service with the battalion. Most of the men had fallen during the past four years. He recounted the signing of the tablecloth and as soon as he mentioned it the women produced the treasure. The women had embroidered each signature. Coke signed, at their insistence, a second time. Today this tablecloth hangs one the wall at the King's Own Scottish Borderers museum and depot in Berwick-on-Tweed. It is one of the most valued of all regimental icons. Almost directly in the centre of the cloth is the embroidered signature "C. Leigh".
The fighting at Mons proper started about 9 am on 23rd August 1914, and started to the east of Major Leigh's position. By 1 pm it had spread to his location. The first German's were spotted from a position on the high ground south of the Mons Canal. This was a group of men from the Brandenburg Grenadiers of the III German Army Corps. They tried to advance in open order, but due to the heavy rifle fire from the King's Own Scottish Borderers and Lieutenant Pepys' machine guns, they suffered heavy casualties. Now the Germans called on their artillery and their superior numbers and calibre quickly dominated the single battery the 13th Infantry Brigade had left to support the K.O.S.B. position. All the houses located in the heights suffered from the German artillery. The hospital in the Lock House was hit and suffered many casualties. The entire village of Les Herbieres was splashed with shrapnel, the village consisted of 15 or so scattered residences, and most were hit and damaged by the bombardment.
Part of "A" Company under Captain Spencer was sent across to join "D" Company, and at this stage in the action Leigh decided that to avoid the artillery he must get further away from the six or so houses on the north bank. He advanced from his canal bank position - a "nasty operation" according to the Regimental History. This was, in fact, a counter attack against the numerically superior Germans. This advance was immediately shelled and came under heavy small arms and machine gun fire. The German rifle fire was not too effective, but when combined with artillery and machine guns the Germans halted the counter attack and began to advance again. Two Officers of the King's Own Scottish Borderers were immediately wounded, Captain's Kennedy and Spencer.
When the roll was taken on the far bank, Major Leigh was posted as missing, Captain Spencer searched for him from 3 pm to 4 pm but in vain. The King's Own Scottish Borderers then withdrew and destroyed the lock. Major Leigh was, in fact, lying wounded between the lines. That night, as facts and stories were sorted out, it was reported that two men had come upon Major Leigh, severely wounded, at the end of the final withdrawal towards the bridge. The men were told by Leigh to "never mind him", as the enemy were in great strength and the bridge must be destroyed without further delay".
Chandos Leigh passed into the hands of the Germans, being taken prisoner; however he was mortally wounded, being taken to a German field hospital, where he died of his wounds six days later. On the 29th August 1914, he was buried with full military honours by the Germans in Heritage Military Cemetery, a cemetery almost entirely filled with Germans.
His medals were sold at auction in 2011 for £3,500.
Chandos Leigh is commemorated on the Harrow War Memorial for those who fell in the Great War and on Harrow School Roll of Honour. He was the first 'Old Harrovian' to fall in the war.
He is also commemorated on the "War List of the University of Cambridge 1914-1918" but an error gives his date of death as 1918, not 1914.
There are memorials to him in St Mark's, Mayfair, London.
Chandos's brother, Lieutenant Edward Henry Leigh, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, was killed in action by a sniper at Aubers' Ridge on 9th May 1915 while leading his men in an attack. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. Their father, Sir Edward Chandos Leigh, died three days after hearing of his second son's death. The war ended an old and distinguished family line.
In the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire both brothers are commemorated on a memorial plaque.
The inscription reads:
In loving memory of two brothers Major CHANDOS LEIGH D.S.O. King's Own Scottish Borderers, the elder son of the Hon. Sir Edward Chandos Leigh K.C. K.C.B.
who fought with distinction in the South African War afterwards serving ten years with the Egyptian Army where he was decorated with the orders of the Medjidieh & Osmanieh and the Bahr el Ghazal medal & clasp.
He married Winifred daughter of the Rt Hon. A. E. Jeffreys M.P.and died in Flanders aged 40 of wounds received at the battle of Mons 23rd August 1914.
Also of his only brother EDWARD HENRY LEIGH Lieut 2nd Batt the Rifle Brigade
who fell in the attack upon the Auber Ridge 9th May 1915 aged 26 after being previously mentioned in despatches.
Both brothers were educated at Harrow and Cambridge.
Leigh's widow Winifred eventually re-married. On the 7th October 1925 she married Sir Christopher Boyd William Magnay, 3rd Bt. They had no children and Winifred died on the 28th September 1966.
The following are news reports of the day regarding Leigh Chandos:
Leamington Spa Courier, Saturday 24th March 1900.
THE BATTLE OF PAARDEBERG.
....Lieut. Chandos Leigh, son of the Hon. Chandos Leigh, at present residing at Charlton House, Banbury, has written the following description of the battle of Paardeburg. Lieutenant Leigh is serving with the Mounted Infantry of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, and was formerly in the Warwickshire Militia.
...."We have been having a rough time of it since we left Orange River on the 9th, marching day and night, with hardly any rest and sleep; we have only just got our baggage, so I have lived in the same clothes for eleven days. I am very glad to get a change, and get my dirty clothes washed in the Modder. We have had precious little to eat, too, as a convoy with supplies was captured, and our horses had no corn for three days, nothing but wretched bad grass, all burnt up, for them to graze on; and I lived on a biscuit and meat lozenges for two days, so I am now what you call a bit tucked up. We arrived here on February 18th, at three a.m., and had a very big fight, which, I suppose, you have heard all about. The Highland Brigade again suffered fearful losses, and the Mounted Infantry got it pretty hot, though our Company were extraordinarily lucky, having only one killed and a few wounded out of a total of about 90. Our Regiment lost pretty heavily, Joliffe, of the Norfolk, and Percival, of the 60th, being killed. Captain Dewar, whom I knew very well, died to-day of his wounds, and two other of our officers wounded. Besides, Colonel Hannay is missing and reported killed. Coulson was with him at the time, and had his horse shot under him, and never got back till the following day. I think our casualties amounted to close on fifteen hundred men, though I believe the result is considered satisfactory. The two armies are now sitting and looking at each other, thought they are at it now and again, but we are not in for it, as we were out all yesterday watching a kopje, and they are giving us a day off. Roberts and Kitchener are both here and another division and Guards Brigade arrived to-day, so, I suppose, we shall have another big go at them soon. We have been in three fights already, on the 11th at Zout Pan, on the 15th at Waterfall Drift, and last Sunday. On Sunday we had to charge across the enemy's front, to draw their fire to enable the infantry to advance; this we did twice under a pretty hot rifle and shell fire, and our men galloped a lot faster than I ever though they could. We got a few fellows knocked over, but luckily very few. It was a wonder to me how they missed us, as we had to go about half-a-mile, and the bullets fairly hailed about us."
Leamington Spa Courier, Friday 4th October 1901:
....Amongst the recently published list of officers, who have been commended by Lord Roberts, and who are to receive the D.S.O. decoration, we are pleased to observe the name of Lieutenant (now Captain) Chandos Leigh, of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, son of the Hon. Sir Chandos Leigh, K.C.B., and nephew of Lord Leigh.
Leamington Spa Courier, Friday 29th November 1901:
....The many local friends of Sir Edward Chandos Leigh will hear with considerable pleasure of his son's promotion to be Captain in the King's Own Scottish Borderers. Captain Chandos Leigh is at present serving with his regiment at the front. In addition to his promotion he has had the D.S.O. conferred upon him, and a medal with six clasps. Captain Leigh has been in over 50 engagements.
(Sources: CWGC, Find My Past, Ancestry, IWM, Harrow School, Great War forum, Boer War Forum, The Peerage, Newspaper Archives, Dix,Noonan Webb, Bond of Sacrifice, De Ruvigny's ROH)
(Bio: Woose)
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Extract from The Roll of Honour, A Biographical record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, by the Marquis de Ruvigny, Volume I., The Standard Art Book Company, Ltd, December, 1916:
LEIGH, CHANDOS, D.S.O., Major, 2nd Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers, elder son of the late Hon. Sir Edward Chandos Leigh, K.C., K.C.B., by his wife, Katherine Fanny (Knuston Hall, Irchester, Northants, 45, Upper Grosvenor Street, W.), daughter of the late James Rigby, of Moss House, Lancashire, D.L., and grandson. of Chandos, 1st Lord Leigh; born 29 Aug. 1873; educated Harrow and Cambridge; gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd King's Own Scottish Borderers, from the Militia, 29 May, 1895, and promoted Lieutenant 22 Sept. 1897, Captain 1 April, 1901, and Major, 17 June, 1914; served (1) in the South African War, 1900-2, employed with the Mounted Infantry; took part in the advance on, and relief of, Kimberley; operations in Orange Free State, 1900, including actions at Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Houtnek (Thoba Mountain), Vet River and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal, May-June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg and Diamond Hill; operations in Orange River Colony, 1900, including actions at Wittebergen and Bothaville; and in operations in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony and Cape Colony, 30 Nov. 1900 to 31 May, 1902 (mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 Sept. 1901]. Queen's medal with five clasps, D.S.O.); (2) with the Egyptian Army, 17 April, 1902, to 1912; took part in Bahr-el-Ghazal Expedition against the Nyam-Nyam Tribes 1905-6 (Egyptian medal with clasp; Medijidich and Osmanich Orders); and (3) with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 13 Aug. 1914; was reported missing and wounded after the Battle of Mons, 23 Aug. 1914, and died at Boussu shortly afterwards. When last seen, though severely wounded, he told his men to go on and never mind him, as the enemy were in great strength, and it was imperative to get back to blow up the canal bridge against their advance. Major Leigh was a fine horseman and polo player, winning his regimental cup the year he joined the Army. He was well known with the Meath, Pytchley and other packs, won honours in the open jumping at the Dublin Horse Show, and headed the winning record for steeplechase riders, both amateurs and professional, on the Cairo Turf. He married 6 June, 1912, Winifred Madeline, daughter of the late Rt. Hon. Arthur Frederick Jeffreys, of Burkham, Hampshire, P.C., M.P.; s.p.
Contributor: A Fifer in Exile (49902043)
Regiment: King's Own Scottish Borderers 2nd Battalion.
Awards: Distinguished Service Order, Mentioned in Despatches
Died: 29 August 1914
Age: 41 years old.
Chandos Leigh was born on 29th August 1873, the eldest son of the Honourable Sir E. Chandos Leigh, K.C.B., J.P., K.C., Bencher of the Inner Temple and Speaker of the House of Commons, and his wife, Lady Katherine Fanny Leigh. He had a younger brother, Edward and three younger sisters, Violet, Katherine & Audrey. He was educated at Harrow School from 1887 to 1890, and further educated at Trinity College, Cambridge University.
He briefly served as a Lieutenant with the 4th Militia Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the King's Own Scottish Borderers on 29th May 1895, and joined the 1st Battalion garrisoned at York, being then promoted to Lieutenant in September 1897 when stationed at Aldershot, and moving with the Battalion to Dublin.
Chandos was still serving in Ireland when the Boer War in South Africa broke out. He sailed with the 1st Battalion from Southampton on the 5th January 1900, and on arrival in South Africa was attached together with a company from his Battalion to the 7th Mounted Infantry Regiment.
After minimal training they invaded the Orange Free State, and fought in the action at Waterval Drift, a ford on the Riet River, and then joined their parent regiment, the 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers to repulse a Boer attack on a British convoy, and from there they rode, on short rations, to Jacobspruit. They then helped to relieve Kimberly, although Leigh's unit was part of the rear guard conveying General French's supplies and provisions from Klip Drift to Kimberly. The 7th Mounted Infantry Regiment then pursued the Boer General Cronje and his force from Magersfontein, and after a very long forced march the unit reached Paardeberg Drift, by which time they had depleted all their supplies and lived off the emergency rations they carried. Following Cronje's surrender, the 7th Mounted Infantry became part of the force marching to Pretoria. In 1900 he and his unit fought 45 engagements with the Boers and marched over 900 miles. In April 1901, Leigh was promoted to Captain, but fell sick as the long days and nights on the veldt finally caught up with him. He was at Wynberg Hospital for most of July, and then sailed home at the end of the month.
For his Boer War services, Chandos Leigh was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the London Gazette of the 27th September 1901. He was Mentioned in Despatches for gallant and distinguished services in the London Gazette of the 10th September 1901 for the period he served with the 7th Mounted Infantry at Magersfontein, Pretoria, Klip Drift, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, and Bothaville,. Leigh was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902, with clasps for Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, Relief of Kimberley and South Africa 1901.
In 1902, Leigh requested secondment to the Egyptian Army, and served from 17th April 1902 through to 16th April 1912, during which period he fought in one major campaign in the Bahr-el-Ghazel province against the Nyam Nyam tribesmen from January to May 1905, being one of only 18 British officers to receive the Khedive's Sudan Medal with clasp Nyan Nyan, it being unique to an officer of the King's Own Scottish Borderers. He was also awarded the Order of Osmanieh 4th Class, gazetted on 9th December 1910, and the Order of the Medjedieh 3rd Class, gazetted on 2nd July 1912.
A noted horseman and polo player, he was well known on the Cairo turf, where he more than once headed the winning list of steeplechase riders, both amateur and professional. He had hunted in his boyhood in Warwickshire and Northamptonshire, and also with the Meath and Ward Union packs, when he was quartered with his regiment in Ireland, and also took honours in the open jumping at the horse show in Dublin.
In April 1912, Leigh returned to his Regiment, the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, then serving in Dublin. He was with his battalion at Belfast during the troubled time of the riots at Harland and Wolff's shipyards in 1912 and through the many succeeding troubles in Dublin from the strikes in August 1913.
On the 6th June 1912, he married Winifred Madeline Jeffreys, the daughter of the Right Honourable Arthur Frederick Jeffreys, P.C., D.L., M.P., of Burklion, Hampshire. Chandos and his wife resided at 45, Grosvenor Street, London. They did not have any children. Leigh was an active member of the Army and Navy Club at this time.
With the outbreak of the Great War, Leigh who had been promoted to Major, was posted overseas to France with the 2nd Battalion on 15th August 1914, forming part of the 13th Brigade, and was almost immediately in action at Mons when in command of 'D' Company which was positioned on the north bank of the Mons Canal, its job being to guard and then to destroy the Lock No.4, while the other units were on the south bank covering his right flank and the crossing. About a mile from the Lock No.4, Major Coke held 'B' Company, K.O.S.B. in reserve. The night before the battle of Mons, a legendary event took place that has forever lived in the hearts and regimental lore of the King's Own Scottish Borderers.
On one side of the Canal and Lock No.4 was a small farm house that was occupied by three Belgians: a man, his wife and their daughter. That night, 22nd August 1914, they cooked a fine dinner for the King's Own Scottish Borderers Officer's, a dinner of omelettes and coffee, and the lady of the house then thought it might be fun if all the officer's present signed their names on the tablecloth as a remembrance of the event. So was born the famous "Mons Tablecloth". In November 1918 Major E.S. D'Ewes-Coke, a fellow officer in the King's Own Scottish Borderers who had spent the night with Leigh at the little farmhouse found himself in the same place, overlooking the Canal and Lock. At first he could not recognise the house, which was mostly destroyed by four years of war. At last he found the remains of the building and proceeded to explore the back garden. Suddenly, out of the back door appeared the two women who had hosted and fed the officers four years before. He explained that he was one of the officers, and was immediately invited for coffee in the same room he had shared their hospitality in 1914. The women remembered all of the officers and asked after them all. It turned out that Major Coke was the only officer from the original group still on active service with the battalion. Most of the men had fallen during the past four years. He recounted the signing of the tablecloth and as soon as he mentioned it the women produced the treasure. The women had embroidered each signature. Coke signed, at their insistence, a second time. Today this tablecloth hangs one the wall at the King's Own Scottish Borderers museum and depot in Berwick-on-Tweed. It is one of the most valued of all regimental icons. Almost directly in the centre of the cloth is the embroidered signature "C. Leigh".
The fighting at Mons proper started about 9 am on 23rd August 1914, and started to the east of Major Leigh's position. By 1 pm it had spread to his location. The first German's were spotted from a position on the high ground south of the Mons Canal. This was a group of men from the Brandenburg Grenadiers of the III German Army Corps. They tried to advance in open order, but due to the heavy rifle fire from the King's Own Scottish Borderers and Lieutenant Pepys' machine guns, they suffered heavy casualties. Now the Germans called on their artillery and their superior numbers and calibre quickly dominated the single battery the 13th Infantry Brigade had left to support the K.O.S.B. position. All the houses located in the heights suffered from the German artillery. The hospital in the Lock House was hit and suffered many casualties. The entire village of Les Herbieres was splashed with shrapnel, the village consisted of 15 or so scattered residences, and most were hit and damaged by the bombardment.
Part of "A" Company under Captain Spencer was sent across to join "D" Company, and at this stage in the action Leigh decided that to avoid the artillery he must get further away from the six or so houses on the north bank. He advanced from his canal bank position - a "nasty operation" according to the Regimental History. This was, in fact, a counter attack against the numerically superior Germans. This advance was immediately shelled and came under heavy small arms and machine gun fire. The German rifle fire was not too effective, but when combined with artillery and machine guns the Germans halted the counter attack and began to advance again. Two Officers of the King's Own Scottish Borderers were immediately wounded, Captain's Kennedy and Spencer.
When the roll was taken on the far bank, Major Leigh was posted as missing, Captain Spencer searched for him from 3 pm to 4 pm but in vain. The King's Own Scottish Borderers then withdrew and destroyed the lock. Major Leigh was, in fact, lying wounded between the lines. That night, as facts and stories were sorted out, it was reported that two men had come upon Major Leigh, severely wounded, at the end of the final withdrawal towards the bridge. The men were told by Leigh to "never mind him", as the enemy were in great strength and the bridge must be destroyed without further delay".
Chandos Leigh passed into the hands of the Germans, being taken prisoner; however he was mortally wounded, being taken to a German field hospital, where he died of his wounds six days later. On the 29th August 1914, he was buried with full military honours by the Germans in Heritage Military Cemetery, a cemetery almost entirely filled with Germans.
His medals were sold at auction in 2011 for £3,500.
Chandos Leigh is commemorated on the Harrow War Memorial for those who fell in the Great War and on Harrow School Roll of Honour. He was the first 'Old Harrovian' to fall in the war.
He is also commemorated on the "War List of the University of Cambridge 1914-1918" but an error gives his date of death as 1918, not 1914.
There are memorials to him in St Mark's, Mayfair, London.
Chandos's brother, Lieutenant Edward Henry Leigh, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, was killed in action by a sniper at Aubers' Ridge on 9th May 1915 while leading his men in an attack. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. Their father, Sir Edward Chandos Leigh, died three days after hearing of his second son's death. The war ended an old and distinguished family line.
In the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire both brothers are commemorated on a memorial plaque.
The inscription reads:
In loving memory of two brothers Major CHANDOS LEIGH D.S.O. King's Own Scottish Borderers, the elder son of the Hon. Sir Edward Chandos Leigh K.C. K.C.B.
who fought with distinction in the South African War afterwards serving ten years with the Egyptian Army where he was decorated with the orders of the Medjidieh & Osmanieh and the Bahr el Ghazal medal & clasp.
He married Winifred daughter of the Rt Hon. A. E. Jeffreys M.P.and died in Flanders aged 40 of wounds received at the battle of Mons 23rd August 1914.
Also of his only brother EDWARD HENRY LEIGH Lieut 2nd Batt the Rifle Brigade
who fell in the attack upon the Auber Ridge 9th May 1915 aged 26 after being previously mentioned in despatches.
Both brothers were educated at Harrow and Cambridge.
Leigh's widow Winifred eventually re-married. On the 7th October 1925 she married Sir Christopher Boyd William Magnay, 3rd Bt. They had no children and Winifred died on the 28th September 1966.
The following are news reports of the day regarding Leigh Chandos:
Leamington Spa Courier, Saturday 24th March 1900.
THE BATTLE OF PAARDEBERG.
....Lieut. Chandos Leigh, son of the Hon. Chandos Leigh, at present residing at Charlton House, Banbury, has written the following description of the battle of Paardeburg. Lieutenant Leigh is serving with the Mounted Infantry of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, and was formerly in the Warwickshire Militia.
...."We have been having a rough time of it since we left Orange River on the 9th, marching day and night, with hardly any rest and sleep; we have only just got our baggage, so I have lived in the same clothes for eleven days. I am very glad to get a change, and get my dirty clothes washed in the Modder. We have had precious little to eat, too, as a convoy with supplies was captured, and our horses had no corn for three days, nothing but wretched bad grass, all burnt up, for them to graze on; and I lived on a biscuit and meat lozenges for two days, so I am now what you call a bit tucked up. We arrived here on February 18th, at three a.m., and had a very big fight, which, I suppose, you have heard all about. The Highland Brigade again suffered fearful losses, and the Mounted Infantry got it pretty hot, though our Company were extraordinarily lucky, having only one killed and a few wounded out of a total of about 90. Our Regiment lost pretty heavily, Joliffe, of the Norfolk, and Percival, of the 60th, being killed. Captain Dewar, whom I knew very well, died to-day of his wounds, and two other of our officers wounded. Besides, Colonel Hannay is missing and reported killed. Coulson was with him at the time, and had his horse shot under him, and never got back till the following day. I think our casualties amounted to close on fifteen hundred men, though I believe the result is considered satisfactory. The two armies are now sitting and looking at each other, thought they are at it now and again, but we are not in for it, as we were out all yesterday watching a kopje, and they are giving us a day off. Roberts and Kitchener are both here and another division and Guards Brigade arrived to-day, so, I suppose, we shall have another big go at them soon. We have been in three fights already, on the 11th at Zout Pan, on the 15th at Waterfall Drift, and last Sunday. On Sunday we had to charge across the enemy's front, to draw their fire to enable the infantry to advance; this we did twice under a pretty hot rifle and shell fire, and our men galloped a lot faster than I ever though they could. We got a few fellows knocked over, but luckily very few. It was a wonder to me how they missed us, as we had to go about half-a-mile, and the bullets fairly hailed about us."
Leamington Spa Courier, Friday 4th October 1901:
....Amongst the recently published list of officers, who have been commended by Lord Roberts, and who are to receive the D.S.O. decoration, we are pleased to observe the name of Lieutenant (now Captain) Chandos Leigh, of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, son of the Hon. Sir Chandos Leigh, K.C.B., and nephew of Lord Leigh.
Leamington Spa Courier, Friday 29th November 1901:
....The many local friends of Sir Edward Chandos Leigh will hear with considerable pleasure of his son's promotion to be Captain in the King's Own Scottish Borderers. Captain Chandos Leigh is at present serving with his regiment at the front. In addition to his promotion he has had the D.S.O. conferred upon him, and a medal with six clasps. Captain Leigh has been in over 50 engagements.
(Sources: CWGC, Find My Past, Ancestry, IWM, Harrow School, Great War forum, Boer War Forum, The Peerage, Newspaper Archives, Dix,Noonan Webb, Bond of Sacrifice, De Ruvigny's ROH)
(Bio: Woose)
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Extract from The Roll of Honour, A Biographical record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, by the Marquis de Ruvigny, Volume I., The Standard Art Book Company, Ltd, December, 1916:
LEIGH, CHANDOS, D.S.O., Major, 2nd Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers, elder son of the late Hon. Sir Edward Chandos Leigh, K.C., K.C.B., by his wife, Katherine Fanny (Knuston Hall, Irchester, Northants, 45, Upper Grosvenor Street, W.), daughter of the late James Rigby, of Moss House, Lancashire, D.L., and grandson. of Chandos, 1st Lord Leigh; born 29 Aug. 1873; educated Harrow and Cambridge; gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd King's Own Scottish Borderers, from the Militia, 29 May, 1895, and promoted Lieutenant 22 Sept. 1897, Captain 1 April, 1901, and Major, 17 June, 1914; served (1) in the South African War, 1900-2, employed with the Mounted Infantry; took part in the advance on, and relief of, Kimberley; operations in Orange Free State, 1900, including actions at Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Houtnek (Thoba Mountain), Vet River and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal, May-June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg and Diamond Hill; operations in Orange River Colony, 1900, including actions at Wittebergen and Bothaville; and in operations in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony and Cape Colony, 30 Nov. 1900 to 31 May, 1902 (mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 Sept. 1901]. Queen's medal with five clasps, D.S.O.); (2) with the Egyptian Army, 17 April, 1902, to 1912; took part in Bahr-el-Ghazal Expedition against the Nyam-Nyam Tribes 1905-6 (Egyptian medal with clasp; Medijidich and Osmanich Orders); and (3) with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 13 Aug. 1914; was reported missing and wounded after the Battle of Mons, 23 Aug. 1914, and died at Boussu shortly afterwards. When last seen, though severely wounded, he told his men to go on and never mind him, as the enemy were in great strength, and it was imperative to get back to blow up the canal bridge against their advance. Major Leigh was a fine horseman and polo player, winning his regimental cup the year he joined the Army. He was well known with the Meath, Pytchley and other packs, won honours in the open jumping at the Dublin Horse Show, and headed the winning record for steeplechase riders, both amateurs and professional, on the Cairo Turf. He married 6 June, 1912, Winifred Madeline, daughter of the late Rt. Hon. Arthur Frederick Jeffreys, of Burkham, Hampshire, P.C., M.P.; s.p.
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