Name
Ernest James Chapman
1/11/1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/04/1916
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14991
Essex Regiment
11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ESSEX FARM CEMETERY
II. Q. 11.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town memorial, Christ church (formerly Holy Trinity Church) Memorial Waltham Cross, Not on the Much Hadham memorials, Railwaymen Died in the Great War Roll of Honour
Pre War
Ernest James Chapman was born in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, on 1st November 1892, son of Joshua Chapman a, Carter, and Ada Chapman (nee Chapman). One of nine children.
His parents Joshua Chapman and Ada Chapman both of Radwinter, married in the Parish Church, Radwinter, Essex, on 31st March 1888.
He was baptised in the Parish of Much Hadham, Herts, on 2nd April 1893.
1901 Census records Ernest aged 8, living with his parents, and five siblings at, 9 Macers Lane, Wormley, Herts.
1911 Census records Ernest aged 18, employed as a Garden Nursery Worker, living with his parents, and five siblings at, 72 Queens Road, Waltham Cross, Herts.
At the time Ernest enlisted he was employed by the London and North Western Railway Company, at their Camden Loco Depot, as a Cleaner.
Wartime Service
Ernest enlisted at St. Pancras, Lon/Middx, joining the Essex Regiment, with the service number 14991, and posted to the 11th Battalion.
“The 11th Battalion was formed at Warley, Essex, in September 1914, as part of Kitchener’s Third Army (K3) under the orders of 71st Brigade in the 24th Division”.
In 1915, Ernest and his Battalion were stationed at Blackdown Camp, Surrey. Mobilized for war in August 1915, landing at Boulogne, France, on 30th August 1915. Seeing action on the Western Front. Ernest was killed in action on 27th April 1916.
Additional Information
His mother Ada was awarded a Dependents Pension of 5/- a week from 6th November 1918. His effects of £9-12s-00d, Pay Owing and his War Gratuity of £7, went to his father Joshua. His brother George “Alias” Lance Corporal 8600 Bertie William Chapman of “The Kings” (Shropshire Light Infantry), died of wounds on 10th May 1915. Note. George enlisted in 1907 under the alias Bertie William Chapman, his eldest brothers name.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox
