CHAPMAN, Harry


No.203356, Private, Harry CHAPMAN
Aged 28


2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
formerly 17741, 9th Battalion,Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Sunday, 24th March 1918


Harry Chapman was born in 1890 (Risbridge Q1-1890 4A:690), baptised in Stradishall, St Margaret's on 3rd July 1892, son of Ezekiel and Caroline CHAPMAN (née SCRIVENER).

1901 census... Aged 10, he was at Cotterell's Farm, The Street, Stradishall with his father Ezekiel CHAPMAN [49] farm labourer; his mother Caroline [48] born Hundon; sister Maud [16]; brothers George [13], a farm labourer, and Alfred [6]. All except his mother were born in Stradishall.

1911 census... Aged 22, 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 in 1916 in Belgium serving in the Suffolk Regiment. see here
and his brother George was killed in 1916 in Belgium serving in the Suffolk Regiment. 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 war dairy:-
"VOYENNES..24th Sun. B Coy under Capt Stewart held the bridge with A Coy holding the canal to the North. C Coy was in support and D Coy in 2 redoubts on the high ground to West. At 8am about 50 Germans tried to rush the remains of the bridge under cover of the mist, they were nearly all knocked out.
Later the enemy heavily shelled our trenches about the bridge. At about 12:15 pm the K.R.R.C on our right fell back allowing the Germans to cross the canal on their front.
The enemy got into VOYENNES and opened MG fire on B Coy from the rear.
The situation was now impossible and Capt Stewart skilfully withdrew the remnants of his company (24 men only) after a most gallant defence. The enemy had meantime crossed the canal at BETHENCOURT about 2 miles to our left and the brigade fell back fighting a rear guard action to a line in front of NESLE.
This line was hardly? dug at all and there was no wire"


CWGC records show 30 killed of the 2nd Cameronians



photo: Roy Beardsworth



Harry Chapman is commemorated on the Pozières memorial, panels 37 and 38

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


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