No.59568, Private, William John CHAPMAN
Aged 20
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William John Chapman was born in Helions Bumpstead (Risbridge Q3-1898 4A:780), son of John and Ada CHAPMAN (née MALYON).
1901 census...Aged 3, he was at Slate Hall Farm, Helions Bumpstead with his father John CHAPMAN [31] farmer born Withersfield; his mother Ada [28] born Helions Bumpstead; brother Leonard [1] born Helions Bumpstead and uncle Samson CHAPMAN [27] farmer, born Haverhill. 1911 census...Aged 13, he was at Nosterfield Farm, Shudy Camps with his parents; brothers Leonard, Bernard [6] born Helions Bumpstead and Horace [3] born Shudy Camps; sister Olive [9] born Helions Bumpstead. His mother died in February 1917 and his father re-married on September 25th 1918 to Emily M.A.M.PHYPERS Army records show that sister Olive E. was his sole legatee. |
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He enlisted in Ipswich. He was the last Little Wratting man to die in the Great War, only 17 days before the Armistice. CWGC have his age wrongly as 36. Possibly due to the death of his mother, in June that year the Clare and Bumpstead Appeals Tribunal granted him a conditional exemption from military service, but he was called up soon after. On the 23rd October 1918 the 6th Northants had passed through Le Cateau, and at 12.30am relieved troops in the line at Epinette Farm. Later that day they attacked the German lines, just one man was killed and among the wounded was William. He died at one of the Casualty Clearing Stations set up in the newly captured Premont On the 24th October,the 6th Northamptons, 55th Brigade on the right of 54th Brigade, attacked the German lines between Bousies and Robersart. Later returning to 54th Brigade, the battalion saw off a German counter-attack, and then advanced on Renuart Farm and Bousies Wood Farm. With his company held up at Renuart Farm, Lieutenant F.W.Hedges, attached from 6th Bedfordshire Regiment, won the Victoria Cross for, with Sergeant Gibson, clearing four machine gun posts, enabling his company and battalion to continue the advance.
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