Name
Charles Edward Chapman
1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/11/1916
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18817
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN
O. II. N. 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
Rest in Peace
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Not on the High Cross memorials
Pre War
Charles was born around December 1880 in High Cross, London and baptised 28 February 1875, his parents were Edward Mary Ann Chapman.
In 1881 the family were living at 17 Stanmore Street, Islington. Present were parents: Edward (37) and Mary (28), Edward working as a hostler groom. Their only child was Charles Edward at just 10 weeks old.
By 1891 the family had moved and were living at The Royal George, Tanners Hill, London, with Edward now a licensed victualler in the pub. Present were both parents and Charles now had a sibling, Rebecca (8). Also present was Elizabeth Tanner who worked for them as a general domestic servant.
In 1901 the family were now living at 1 Eton Street, St Pancras, London. Edawrd, working as a licensed victualler, was present, but he appears to have re-married as Mary, who was born in Banbury, Oxfordshire is not listed, but his wife Fanny, born in Bognor, Sussex is. The children listed were noe: Charles, now 20 and working as a barman, Rebecca, Susan G (2). Three workers were also listed.
By 1911 a lot had changed the remaining family were living at 3 St Pauls Road, Camden Town N W. Present was Edward listed as 67 and an unemployed publican. He was recorded as married, but no wife was present. Two children were Charles now 30 and a butcher and Rebecca working as a waitress.
Charles married Mary Ann Martha Farey (b 20/9/1908) on 2 June 1912 at St Paul’s Church, St Pancras. Then they had one child, Arthur Edward born 29 December 1915.
Officially recorded as born Kings Cross, London, living in Willesden Green, Middlx., when he enlisted in Harlesden.
Wartime Service
He attested on 11 December 1915 in Harlesden, at that date he was recorded as living at 132 Chapter Road, Willesden Green, working as a butcher, 34 years and 321 days old, married with one child. He officially joined the Army Reserve the following day and called for service 8 June 1916.
Another service record was found which was completed on 12 June 1916 after he was called up. In this one he was recorded as 34 years and 11 days old, 5’ 4 ½” tall, which conflicts with the earlier one however other information including service numbers are for the same man.
Initially he served in the Middlesex Regiment with the Regimental Number 4928 but later be transferred to the 7th Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment with the Number G/18817, from 14 October 1916.
Normally men, without previous military service would receive 6 months of training, Charles went abroad on 2 October 1916, which was early and probably reflects the losses on the Somme.
At the time of his death, which was shortly after the Battle of the Ancre, this Battalion was part of the 55th Brigade of the 18th' Division of II Corps in the 5th Army.
On the 18th November 1916, the 7th Battalion of the Regiment was in Regina Trench and assembled at 8.10am in No Man's Land in the snow. The conditions were very muddy, temperature 54°F and 8mm of rain fell on that day. The men were knee deep in cold clinging mud. They advanced to Desire Trench next to the Canadians, sustaining very heavy casualties from strong opposition.
He was recoded as dangerously ill from a gunshot wound to his thigh on 22 October and died of those wounds at 12:45pm on 24th November 1916.
He was probably sent by rail to one of the military hospitals at Rouen and died there.
He was buried in Section 0, Plot 2, Row N, Grave 9 in the St. Sever Cemetery Extension in Rouen in France. His headstone has the personal inscription “Rest in Peace” as requested by his wife.
Additional Information
His effects and medals were sent to his widow at the Fairholme, Lancaster Road, Hitchin on 9 May 1917
His pension cards record his widow as his next of kin, living at Fairholme, Lancaster Avenue – late amended to 68 Lancaster Road, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 18s 9d a week from 11 June 1917.
The initial ‘S’ which appears on the Town memorial is a mystery.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
