Dear Mr. Chapman,

 

   Thankyou for your kind donation.

 

 The first key date we have for your grandfather is an enlistment date of 1^st December 1903, but we do not have a date for his leaving the army and re-enlisting in 1914. In any event, it seems most likely that he joined up as a reservist after spending either five or seven years as a regular. 2^nd Battalion were on Home Service from 7^th June 1904 to 5^th November 1910 when they left for Malta. During this period they were variously stationed at Warley in Essex, the Tower of London, Aldershot and Portsmouth. I suspect your grandfather was probably with the Depot in Bristol before he joined 2^nd Battalion on their return from South Africa in 1904.

 

  In 1914 Private Chapman left England with 1^st Battalion, arriving in France on 13^th August 1914.  We have three different dates noting that he was wounded but unfortunately the date of a wound being reported does not often coincide with a wound being sustained. The first date of a reported wound is 2^nd December 1914, which seems to have been confirmed on 18^th January 1915. This would have been during the First Battle of Ypres. The Cheltenham Echo reported his being wounded on 20^th January 1915.  I think it is probably safe to assume that all these dates refer to the same wound and that this wound was the cause of his being discharged from the army on 8^th June 1915.

 

  From this information it is possible to derive a possible range of dates for Private Chapman’s wound from the Battalion War Diary. Battalion War Diaries often do not contain the names of non-commissioned ranks when casualties are reported and we have no exact record of Private Chapman being wounded. If the 2^nd December 1914 date is correct, then he could have been wounded in the October fighting around Langemarck, or in the fighting around Zillebeeke and Hooge between 1^st to 15^th November, or even in the more quiet section of the front line at Kemmel between 21^st-24^th November. From 25^th November to 20^th December 1^st Battalion was in billets. 1^st Battalion’s War Diary is very vague for this whole period, giving very little information about the numbers and names of casualties.

 

   An alternative explanation is that he was seriously wounded in January 1915 and that the reported wound of 18^th and 20^th January 1915 is not the same one as that reported on 2^nd December 1914. From 12^th to 18^th January (and beyond) 1^st Battalion was in frontline trenches at Givenchy, the companies being rotated every two days or so. During this period the battalion sustained daily, though light, casualties from enemy shellfire. Thus:-

 

12^th – Two men wounded.

13^th – Two men wounded.

14^th – Three men wounded.

15^th – One man killed, one man wounded.

16^th – Four men wounded.

17^th – Two men wounded.

18^th – One officer killed.

 

  I’m sorry that I have not been able to provide a conclusive answer, but hope nevertheless that you will find this information both useful and informative.  

 

Kind Regards,

 

David Read

 

 

Dear Mr. Read,

Thank you for your quick reply to my enquiry. To know the date when he was wounded, helps me to establish more or less where he was, as I have the book by Everard Wyrall which gives an almost day by day account of the battalion's activities.

I have made a donation via your online shop. Ref:  ORD200703271 of £10.  I hope this is adequate, but I am retired and trying to live on a state pension only.

You hint in your e mail that you can give me more information.  If you can it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,

Yours sincerely

Michael Chapman

Dear Mr. Chapman,

 

  Thankyou for your enquiry. We do make a charge or ask for a donation to respond fully to such enquiries. However, I can confirm for now that Private William Chapman served with 1st Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment and was discharged from the army on 8^th June 1915 as a result of a wound received on 2nd December.

 

 If you wish to arrange a visit to the archives of the museum, you will have to make an appointment in advance. Whilst we do not keep full records on individuals, you might find the history of the Regiment during his periods of service interesting. We are a charitable organization, so all donations are appreciated.

 

 

Kind Regards,

David Read

Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum
Custom House
Gloucester Docks
Gloucester GL1 2HE
Tel 01452 - 522682

Email: DRead@sogm.co.uk

Website http://www.glosters.org.uk/

"Twelve Generations of Military Service - County, Country & Around the World"

 

-----Original Message-----

From: miguel.chapman@upstreaminter.net

[mailto:miguel.chapman@upstreaminter.net]

Sent: 24 March 2007 19:40

To: museumshop@milnet.uk.net

Subject: Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum - Contact Message

 

The following information was just submitted via the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum Contact Form.

 

First Name:        Michael

Last Name:         Chapman

Email Address:     miguel.chapman@upstreaminter.net

Telephone Number:  01298 214112

 

I am researching my grandfathers military history. He was a bandsman in the 2nd Glosters in 1905 and 1907.  He left the army, but joined the regiment again on the outbreak of war in 1914. I've got a copy of his Medal Index Card which shows he landed in France on the 13th August 1914, one of the first regiments to go to France. He told me once that he was in a large battle and was 3 days before receiving medical attention.  I suspect from my research that it was at Aubers Ridge when the regiment lost 10 officers and

252 men in the attack. His name was William Chapman and his army number was

7348 The Silver War Badge award has a list L/341 number. Is there a way you can find me some more information? Also do you have any interesting material in your museum as I would like to plan a trip to Gloucester.  Thank you