Biography:
Thomas Edmund Onslow Chamberlayn was born 29 July 1893, the second son of the MP for Southampton, Tankerville Chamberlayne, of Cranbury Park near Hursley, Hampshire and of Edith Chamberlayne, daughter of SJ Ashley of Kidlington.
He came to Winchester from Twyford School in the summer of 1907 and was in A House, Chernocke House, under Mr Furley. He played soccer for his house IX and he left Winchester in the summer of 1910 for Merton College, Oxford.
When war broke out Thomas obtained a commission in the RFA and was wounded at the Battle of Loos, but did not leave his battery. He fell near the Somme on 18 August 1916 while serving with 73 Brigade RFA. His commanding officer wrote, 'His charming personality and courage endeared him to all his comrades, and I, personally, mourn the loss of one of my best officers. I am sure you will always be proud to know that your son died in the execution of his duty, in which he never flinched'.
Thomas is commemorated on the War Memorial in Flexford Road, North Baddesley, and by a tree planted at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, and is buried in grave I.C.12 of the Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Mametz