No.57601, Corporal, Harry CHAPMAN
Aged 22
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Thomas Harry Chapman was born on 20th February 1894 in Burwell, (Newmarket Q1-1894 3B:529) son of Fuller and Frances CHAPMAN (née JENNINGS). He was variously known as Thomas or Harry.
1901 census...Aged 7 Harry was at The Causeway, Burwell with his father Fuller CHAPMAN [43] labourer; his mother Frances [43]; brother George [[15] butcher's assistant, sister Ethel H [13] and grandfather William JENNINGS [76] a retired farmer. All were born in Burwell. He had two other sisters, Frances [1878] and Mary [1880 and two other brothers, Arthur [1882] and Urban [1884]. 1911 census...He is not found in this census, probably gone to Canada. His parents were at 4 Belmont, Burwell. |
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Canadian Archives :- RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1626 - 5
He attested for the 20th Battalion in Toronto on 11th November 1914, giving his date of birth as 20th February 1894, in Burwell, Cambs, a single man, occupation-butcher. His next of kin was Fuller CHAPMAN (father). 5 feet 9.25 inches ( 175.8 cm)tall, his chest was 34" to 35.75" (86.4 to 90.8 cm)and he had blue eyes, brown hair and was Church of England. Part of his records concerns his will and his fiancée In the matter of the estate of No.57601 Corporal Harry Chapman, 20th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, deceased. I, BESSIE REED, of The Ferns, Hythe, Kent, spinster, do solemnly and sincerely declare:- (1) I was engaged to be married to the above named N.C.O. (2) In the month of August, 1915, at the home of my mother Mrs Oliver, 3 Martello Cottages, Sandgate, Kent, the said deceased told me in the presence of my mother and Staff Sergeant A.Peel of the Canadian Headquarters of Shornecliffe, Kent, that if anything should happen to him, I should get all he had coming to him as regards back pay, that his people would not want it as they would have his lodge money from Rochester, New York. In explanation of this to the others present he said "I cannot allow Bessie" meaning myself "any of my pay, so it is not fair to her to get married before I cross, but the lot will come to her if I am killed, of that I am determined. And I take this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and knowing that it is of the same force and affect as if made under oath and by virtue of the Statutory Declaration Act 1835 Signed Bessie Reed in the presence of Richard Price The Cedars, Hythe, Kent (Magistrate) 1st July 1917 Similar declarations verifying the above, were signed by Staff Sergeant Arthur J Peel and Bessie's mother. He arrived in England on 24th May 1915 on the SS Megantic. Promoted to Lance Corporal 1st September at N Sandling and left Folkstone for Boulogne on 14th September. Promoted to Corporal in the field on 22nd November 1915 Admitted to No.3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station on 14th June 1916 with shrapnel wounds to both legs, head and arms and died there at 7:30 am His circumstance of death card shows him dying of his wounds at No.3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station (at Remy Siding, just west of Lijssenthoek). His unit had been in the line between Dickebusch and Bedford House, sustaining a few wounded by shell fire each day. His fiancée worried about him
reverse of Circumstance of death card shows correction to Thomas' record
photo: Rodney Gibson photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
