CHAPMAN, George


No.17746, Private, George CHAPMAN
Aged 29


9th Battalion,Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Saturday, 29th January 1916


George Chapman was born in 1887 (Risbridge Q2-1887 4A:653), baptised in Stradishall, St Margaret's on 7th October 1894, son of Ezekiel and Caroline CHAPMAN (née SCRIVENER).

1891 census...Aged 4, he was at The Street, Stradishall with his father Ezekiel CHAPMAN [38] farm labourer; his mother Caroline [39] born Hundon; sisters Liza [10], Charlotte [8] and Maud [6]. All except his mother were born in Stradishall. 1901 census... Aged 13, a farm labourer, he was at Cotterell's Farm, The Street, Stradishall with his parents; sister Maud [16]; brothers Harry [10] and Alfred [6]

1911 census... Aged 24, he was still at Cotterell's with his parents and brothers Harry and Alfred. All the men were of course farm labourers. One of 7 siblings had died.

His brother Alfred died of his wounds later in 1916 in Belgium serving in the Suffolk Regiment. see here
and his brother Harry was killed in 1918 in France serving in the Cameronians. see here
From their Suffolk Regiment numbers the three brothers appear to have enlisted the same day in the 9th Battalion, with Harry being later transferred to the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)


He enlisted in Newmarket.
The 9th Suffolks were amongst the first to experience and withstand gas attacks. They were in the trenches near St Jean, alternating with the 9th Norfolks On the 29th the battalion were in fact ordered on gas alert and one man is recorded as dying.



photo: Roy Beardsworth



George Chapman is buried in White House Cemetery, St.Jean-les-Ypres, grave 1:D:9

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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