The University of Glasgow Story

Captain George Douglas Chew

Biography of Captain George Douglas Chew

George Douglas Chew was born on the 20th March 1895 in Sylhet, East Bengal, India, now part of modern day Bangladesh, son of George Frederic Chew (1858-1928), who was an agent with the India Rivers Steam Navigation Company and the India General Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., and Florence Cecilia Chew (née Rose) (1858-1924), and they had married on the 18th July 1887 in Raniganj, West Bengal, India. They were living in Devonport, Tasmania in the 1920s.

Chew's home town was Mymensingh when he first matriculated at the University in 1912, aged 17, to study Engineering. During his two years of study, Chew took classes in Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry and Engineering. He attended the same first year Natural Philosophy class as Gavin Boyd, who also fell in the First World War. He also attended the University’s Officer Training Corps in 1913 and 1914.

During the First World War, George Douglas Chew served first as Lieutenant in the 3rd Bn. The Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment), attached 1st Battalion. He received his commission as a probationary Second Lieutenant in November 1914 and was deployed to France in May 1915, being confirmed to the rank the following month. On the 30th October 1915 he was awarded the Military Cross:

"for conspicuous gallantry and resource [...], when, at great personal risk, he made a reconnaissance in broad daylight of the new St Eloi craters, which resulted in bomb posts being established and communication made. Two previous attempts had failed owing to the Germans being in occupation. Previously, on 18th August 1915, Lieutenant Chew displayed great gallantry at Hooge."

He was also Mentioned in Despatches.

He served as Captain with the 10th Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, however, Captain George Douglas Chew was killed leading his men into action on the 15th November 1916 at the age of 21. He is memorialised at the Thiepval Memorial, the Somme, France.

His medals were passed to his father in Tasmania. Chew has an inscription on the memorial tablet erected by the Engineering Society of the University of Glasgow in the James Watt building in memory of undergraduates and graduates who died fighting in the First and Second World Wars. Captain George Douglas Chew is also listed on The Commemorative Roll of the Australian War Memorial, which provides names of those Australians who died during or as a result of wars, but who were not serving in the Australian Armed Forces and therefore not eligible for inclusion on the Roll of Honour.

Summary

Captain George Douglas Chew
Rank: Captain
Regiment: 3rd Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment attd. 10th Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Degree: Student
Awards: Military Cross
Comments: Killed in action, 15 November 1916.
Note/Press Clipping: Ch 4/4/2/3/991
Photo ID: N/A

Sources

University of Glasgow Faculty, and Registry records (GUAS Ref: R8/5/33/2 and R9/1/19).

The London Gazette, 6 November 1914, Issue 28965 p.9023.

The London Gazette, 4 June 1915, Issue 29183 p.5397.

Memorial Place: Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Debt of Honour Register

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