Name
Norman Chapman
About 1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/06/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
S/24326
Rifle Brigade
1st. Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 9
France
Headstone Inscription
No known grave
UK & Other Memorials
Redbourn War Memorial
St Mary's Church Memorial, Redbourn
St Mary’s Church Memorial, Ware
Ware Town Memorial
Pre War
Norman Chapman was born in Ware in 1890 to Ambrose and Annie Chapman. The census of 1891 shows the family living at 14 Redan Road, Ware. By 1911, Norman was working as a draper’s shop assistant and living in North Leyton.
On 10th May 1915, he married Eleanor Annie Allen at St Mark’s Church, Harlesden. They lived at Bathurst Gardens, Kensal Rise.
On 1st December 1915, they were living in East Dulwich when he attested to join the Army at the recruiting office at Camberwell Town Hall. He joined under the 'Derby Scheme' that allowed him to volunteer, but delayed his call-up to serve until he was actually needed.
His Service Record shows that in October 1919, Eleanor was
living at 41 Fish Street, Redbourn.
Wartime Service
Norman Chapman was mobilised on 14 Jul 1916 and entered France at Le Havre on 24 Jan 1917. He joined “B” Coy, 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade at the front on 19 Feb 1917.
On 12 April 1917, he was buried by a shell explosion and was briefly admitted to 12 Stationary Hospital at St Pol.
He returned to duty, but was reported missing in action on 23 June 1917 and accepted as having died between 23 and 26 Jun 1917 at Monchy-le-Preux, near Arras. His Service Record has a note 'Died (Official German List) 26/6/17' It is likely that his body was recovered by the Germans and buried properly, but that the grave was lost in the battles of 1918.
Norman Chapman has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Faubourg-D'Amiens cemtery, Arras.
Acknowledgments
Gareth Hughes
Gareth Hughes, Malcolm Lennox
