Name
Edward Ellis Chapman
1878
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Pioneer
172639
Royal Engineers
6th Divisional Signal Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay1
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Tilehouse St., Baptist Church War Memorial, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Edward was born in 1878 in Hitchin and his parents were William and Ann Chapman.
In 1881 the family were living at 5 Corries Yard, Hitchin. Present were both parents: William (28) and Ann (27), with William working as a labourer for a blacksmith. Their children were: Charles Peters (4), Edward Ellis (2) and William George at 3 months.
By 1891 the family had moved to 23 Wratten Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents, with William now working as a blacksmith’s striker. The three children above had new siblings, Bertie Thomas (7), Sidney C (5), Reginald Lawrence (3) and Arthur Ernest (1).
The family were still at 23 Wratten Road In 1901, with both parents present, with William still a blacksmith’s worker. Their children listed were now: Charles, Edward, now 22, and a press correspondent. William, Bertie, Reginald, Sydney, Arthur and now a daughter Annie Elizabeth (8).
Edward married Clara Thompson (b 6/1/1879) on 11 February 1904 at Baptist Chapel, Harston, Cambs. From the births of their children they appear to have moved between Potton, Beds, Biggleswade and Hitchin.
Children born before the next census were Clara Ivy (b 5/12/1904), Edward Arthur William (b 6/7/1906), Cicely Doris (16/9/1907) and Annie Blanche 15/11/1909), and in the 1910 Kelly’s Directory Edward was recorded as a printer on Biggleswade Road, Potton, Beds.
By 1911 the Edward (32) and Clara (32) were living at Stratton St, Biggleswade, Beds. With all Present were both parents, x now working as a printer. The census recorded they had been married for 7 years with 4 children, all living. The children being all those listed above. After the census tow more children were born Victor George 29/4/1911) and Alma Leige May (30/7/1914)
Edward enlisted on 20 November 1915 in Hitchin, probably under the Lord Derby scheme. The Lord Derby Scheme encouraged men to voluntarily register their name on the principle that once registered they would be called up for service only when necessary. As an added incentive married men were advised that they would only be called up once the supply of single men was exhausted. He was living at 58 Lancaster Place, Hitchin and described as 5’ 3 ½” 128lbs and working as a printer. He was place in the Army Reserve.
After being apprenticed to Mr Charles Holmes, Edward e was a printer by trade and at one time had a small business in Potton.
Officially Edward was recorded as born in Hitchin, Herts and enlisting there.
Wartime Service
He was mobilized on 13 June 1916 and made an application around that date, the nature of which is unclear, it may have related to a desire to be a Pioneer for the Signal Service of the Royal. overseas service or his fitness classification. A letter of reply was sent to him from the Royal Engineers Record Office, Brompton Barracks, Chatham on 9 June 1916. It stated that “he should apply to the Recruiting Officer who attested him under Lord Derby's scheme, who will enlist him if fit for general service and up to standard. If not quite up to standard the question of his enlistment as a pioneer for the signal service in the Royal Engineers, on the usual descriptive form [Army Form B203] accompanied by copies of any trade recommendations he may process may be submitted to this office for consideration."
He seems to have been successful in his wish and was posted as a Pioneer on the day he was mobilized, becoming became a Pioneer with Corps Number 172639. Later he was with the 6th Divisional Signal Company, Royal Engineers.
He was granted Pioneer’s pay on 11 July 1916 and was transferred from Dunstable Signals Depot to Base Signals Depot on 20 August 1916, joining the depot in France from England on the 24th, then joined the 6th Signal Company there on the 20 September 1916.
He forfeited 3 days’ pay for being late on parade on 9 August 1917, but that did not prevent his leave to the UK 6 October to 17 October 1917.
He was wounded and missing and later presumed killed in action in France on 21 March 1918 - first day of the German onslaught known as the ‘Spring Offensive’.
Someone made enquiries to the British Red Cross & Order of St John Enquiry List, for any information as to his fate on 2 August 1918
He has no known grave and is remembered in Bay I of the Arras Memorial to the Missing in France.
Additional Information
After his death £6 10s 3d was authorised to go to his widow, Clara, on 10 August 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £7 was authorised to be paid to her, on 26 November 1919.
His pension cards record Clara, his widow/father/mother, as his next of kin/dependant, living at 58 Lancaster Road, Hitchin. On card records the awarded a grant of £5 on 12 August 1918 and then a pension of 13s 9d a week from 18 November 1919. However, another card records their children as Clara Ivy (b 5/12/1904), Edward Arthur William (b 6/7/1906), Cicely Doris (16/9/1907), Annie Blanche 15/11/1909), Victor George 29/4/1911) and Alma Leila May (30/7/1914) and a pension of 42s 1d a week from 18 November 1918 with same grant and data of issue as above.
His medals were issued 28 February 1922.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
