Name
William Alfred Chapman (DCM)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/02/1915
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
16431
Grenadier Guards
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Distinguished Conduct Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CUINCHY COMMUNAL CEMETERY
II. D.22
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Royston Town War Memorial, Not on the Weston memorials
Pre War
Born 24 November 1894 in Weston, Herts, son of William George and Bertha Caroline Chapman. Baptised on 24 October 1895 at Therfield, Herts. His father was Police Sergeant in charge of Royston police station. Brother to Cyril Ernest Chapman, who died in 1918, aged 16.
William worked at Dacre Motor Car Company in Letchworth and later the Heatly Gresham Works. 1911 Census: living with parents and family at Norton Way, Letchworth, Herts and working as a Clerk. Parents later lived at The Briars, Briary Lane, Royston, Herts.
Wartime Service
Enlisted in Grenadier Guards on 24 April 1913 in Hertford. He left England with his regiment in August 1914.
Was taken prisoner in November but escaped, for which he was mentioned in despatches by Sir John French on 14 January 1915 for gallant and distinguished services in the field. This appeared in the London Gazette 17 Feb 1915. Killed in action near Bethune while carrying a despatch from the firing line to HQ. A comrade wrote that when the bullet struck him he smiled and fell down dead.
Additional Information
War gratuity of £5 granted to father.
William is also commemorated on his brother’s grave in Royston Church Additional Burial Ground. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO OF WILLIAM ALFRED [HIS [Cyril Ernest] ONLY BROTHER] KILLED IN ACTION BETHUNE, FRANCE, FEBY. 7TH 1915 - AGED 20 YEARS. INTERRED IN CUINCHY CEMETERY.
Acknowledgments
Paul Johnson, Peter Handy, Brenda Palmer
