Memorable Manitobans: William Kellman Chandler (1883-1948)

Lawyer, veteran.

Born at Bridgetown, Barbados in 1883, son of Sir William Chandler, he studied law at Trinity Hall, Cambridge where he joined the well-known Leander Rowing Club. After being called to the bar at Grey’s Inn, he came to Winnipeg joining the law firm of Cameron and Phillips. He later went into partnership in the firm of Young, Chandler and Paterson. He remained at this firm until joining the military in August 1914.

He went overseas in May 1915 and was made commander of the 43rd battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, in 1918. The only original officer to return with the battalion, he won the Distinguished Service Order and Croix de Guerre. After demobilization, he became a legal adviser for the Soldier Settlement Board (Department of Veterans Affairs) in Winnipeg. In 1939, he was transferred to the head office in Ottawa. He returned to Winnipeg in May 1940, taking up residence at 568 Wardlaw Street. He retired in June 1947.

On 25 January 1915, he married Eileen Shannon Denison (1887-1964, daughter of Edwin Oliver Denison) of Minnedosa and they had one daugher, Eileen Sybil Chandler (1915-2005, wife of Clifford Parnell Wilson). He was a member of the Little Theatre and Winnipeg Squash Racquet Club (President, 1919-1920).

He died at the Winnipeg General Hospital on 28 August 1948 and was buried in the St. John’s Cathedral Cemetery.

Sources:

Marriage and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Col. W. K. Chandler of Camerons, dies,” Winnipeg Tribune, 30 August 1948. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B10, page 43]

Obituary [Eileen Sybil Wilson], The Globe and Mail, 17 February 2005.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Kathleen Wilson Gay for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Sarah Ramsden and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 7 November 2021

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!