Name
Frank William Chapman
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/08/1918
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
266549
Hertfordshire Regiment
Posted to 4th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Panel 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial, St. Mary’s Church Memorial, Rickmansworth, Hertford Town Memorial, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Frank was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, in 1898, the son of William and Rose (nee Cook) Chapman.
In 1901 they were living at 123 Montague Street, Kettering with Frank and their year old daughter Lizzie (Francis Elizabeth). William was a Shoemaker. Rose died in 1902 and in 1905 William married Clara Annie Chapman. They had two children Ivy born 1908 and Bertie 1910. In 1911 the family was living at 170 Havelock Street, Kettering. Frank was at school but later became a Railway Worker (Cleaner).
In 1939 William and Clara Chapman were living at 21 Station Road, Rickmansworth William age 66 being a retired Boot Maker.
Recorded as enlisting in Hertford.
Wartime Service
Formerly Private 4841 and Hertfordshire Regiment No 266541.
Frank enlisted at Hertford on the 19th of April 1915. He was aged 16 years and 6 months, height 5’ 8”, weighed 141 pounds, and was living at 5 Station Road, Rickmansworth with his father, step mother and family.
He embarked Southampton on the 13th of March 1916 and arrived Rouen the next day, joining his Battalion on the 27 th. He returned to England on the 10th of November 1916 being too young for overseas service. He was posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment on the 14th of August 1917 and returned to France via Boulogne on the 21st of March 1918.
He may have seen immediate action at the First Battle of Bapaume. 4th Beds were involved in the Third Battle of Albert from the 21st to the 23rd of August and then, on the 26th in an attack by 188th and 189th Brigades on Thilloy and Ligny Thilloy. They were in support some 700 yards behind the attacking troops. The attack stalled and the Bedfordshire remained in that position overnight. Frank was killed at some point during the action.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Tanya Britton, Mike Collins, Jonty Wild
