Edward Chapman was born on 25 March 1891 at Coronation Pit, North Walbottle, Throckley, Northumberland, the second of the eleven children of Edward Chapman (1870-1949) and Mary Jane Chapman née Doran (1869-1916). His birth was registered in 2nd quarter of 1891 in the Castle Ward registration district, Northumberland.
The 1891 census shows him as aged one month, living in two rooms at 32 Devon Row, Coronation Pit, Walbottle, with his parents and elder brother, James Chapman (1889-1976). His father was described as a coal miner. On 12 April 1891 he was baptised at St George's Church, Bell's Close, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 6XX.
In the 1901 census he is shown as aged 10 years, residing in two rooms at Waggon Hill, Penshaw Staithes, Houghton-le-Springs, Durham, with his parents and four siblings: James, Mary Catherine Chapman (b.1895), Ann Jane Chapman (b.1898) and Philomena Chapman (1900-1988). His father was shown as a coal miner & hewer.
The 1911 census shows him as aged 20 years, a coal miner-cutter, living in a four roomed property at 22 Castle Street, Fatfield, Washington, Co Durham, with his parents and eight siblings: James, Mary, Ann, Philomena, Joseph Chapman (1902-1982), Arthur Chapman (b.1904), Margaret Chapman (b.1906) and Veronica Chapman (b.1910).
In June 1914 he was appointed as postman in the London (West) Postal Service. He was a member of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, service number KX/409, and was serving as an Able Seaman in the Hood Battalion of the Royal Naval Division when he died of wounds aboard the hired military transport HMT Franconia, aged 24 years, on 6 May 1915. His body was buried in Row E, Grave 5 in the Lancashire Landing Cemetery, İsmetpaşa, İstiklal Cd. No:15, 17900 Seddülbahir/Eceabat/Çanakkale, Turkey.
He was posthumously awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal. These together with his World War One Memorial Plaque were sent to his father at 105 Woodbine Avenue, Wallsend-on-Tyne.
He is shown as 'CHAPMAN, E.' on the Western Postal District war memorial at Mount Pleasant, London. WC1. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website, on the A Street Near You website and on Page 66 of the Post Office Fellowship of Remembrance's Book of Remembrance 1914-1920.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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