Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant G. O. de P. Chance, 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who was killed in action near Dadizeele on 19 October 1914

1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut. G. O. de P. Chance. R.W. Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. G. O. de P. Chance.) mounted court-style for display, nearly extremely fine (3) £800-£1,000

Guy Ogden de Peyster Chance was born at Edgbaston on 28 February 1892, youngest son of Mr W. E. Chance, of Thurston Grange, Bury St. Edmunds. He was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 20 September 1911, and promoted Lieutenant on 19 April 1913. He accompanied the 1st Battalion to Belgium, as part of the VIIth Division, from Lyndhurst, disembarking at Zeebrugge on 4 October 1914. He was killed in action on 19 October 1914 in the severe fighting near Dadizeele, aged 22. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, and also on commemorative plaques in the Chapel at Eton College, and in St Peter’s Church, Thurston.

His Grandfather was George Chance of Birmingham, who married Cornelia Maria, daughter of Arent Schulyer de Peyster of New York. Arent Schuyler De Peyster (27 June 1736 – 26 November 1822) was a British military officer best known for his term as commandant of the British controlled Fort Michilimackinac and Fort Detroit during the American Revolution. Following the capture of Lieutenant-Governor General Henry Hamilton, De Peyster is often credited as being the military leader of British and Indian forces in the Western American and Canadian frontiers.