Diary, Major Walter Greville Bagot-Chester, 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles, August-December 1914

One of two war diaries of Bagot-Chester (1887-1918), covering the period, 12 August 1914 to 4 December 1914 in India and France.

Major Bagot-Chester saw extensive service on the Western Front including the battles of Neuve Chapelle, Aubers and Loos. At Loos he was wounded in the shoulder. He endured a 13 hour ordeal pinned down in a shell hole where he suffered further wounds before nightfall enabled him to make his way towards the British front line where he was rescued. He then went on to serve in Egypt and Palestine. Bagot-Chester was awarded the Military Cross for his exploits; his citation in the 'London Gazette' on 18 July 1918 stated:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led a successful raid on the enemy's lines. He showed the greatest coolness and courage under heavy machine-gun fire, reached all his objectives, and carried out a skilful withdrawal when the operation was completed.'

Bagot-Chester died in March 1918, aged 31, and is recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as being buried at Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel.

On Bagot-Chester's death in March 1918, Lieutenant-Colonel Sidney Eastmead, his former commanding officer, stated: 'In the death of Captain W. G. Bagot-Chester the battalion, and the regiment, lost an officer impossible to replace.'