Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 15 August 1942

Mentioned at 53

Seaman with Home at Wombwell

A Hull man of 53 who has made his home at 51, Station Road, Wombwell, has just been officially. informed that he has been mentioned in despatches for good work at sea.

He is Chief Petty Officer William Alfred Chilton, whose permanent address is — or was — at 13. Florence Terrae. Walcott Street: Hassle Roads Hull.

The notification contains the words, “Mentioned In despatches for good service of which His Majesty’s appreciation is thus recorded.”

When seen by a reporter at the address to which she has been evacuated, Mrs. Chilton said her husband had not told her precisely how he had earned this distinction but she had heard him say something about destroying a German submarine. He had been minesweeping since the war started,

Son of a sea-faring man well known at the port of Hull, Petty Officer Chilton went to sea at 14 and has been in the merchant and fishing services all his life. A “big boat”’ man, he was for many years employed by the Ellerman Wilson Line from Hull. The family moved to Wombwell on losing their home.

Mr. and Mrs .Chilton have seven daughters and one son. The daughters are nearly all employed on munitions, the son, William Alfred Chilton (24), has been in the Navy since the war started. A son in law of the Chiltons, L/Cpl. Wilfred Tripp, of 23, Courtney Road, Hull, is a prisoner of war In Italy. He was in the operations at Dunkirk.