HERBERT ALFRED CHAPMAN

IPSWICH WAR MEMORIAL | Posted on 5th February 2016 |

Image from the UK, De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour.

Registered at birth and baptised: HERBERT ALFRED CHAPMAN COOK.

Born: 9th March 1870, St. Philips, Heigham, Norfolk.

Baptised: 24th April 1870, at St. Philip’s Church, Heigham, Norfolk. Parents Ellen Margaret & William Chapman Cook, a Joiner, of the parish of St. Philips.

Died: 20th May 1915; age 45; died of Wounds received at the Front – Gunshot wound to leg and Secondary Haemorrhage, at the Dover Military Hospital, Western Heights, Dover, Kent.

Present at death – Joseph Robinson, of the Military Hospital, Western Heights, Dover.

Residence: 60, Sirdar Road, Ipswich.

Occupation: as a compositor for over 20 years with Messrs. Cowell Ltd., Ipswich.

Enlistment Location: Ipswich; Date: 1st September 1914.

Date of Entry Therein: 8th November 1914.

Wounded – France – 16th May 1915.

Rank: Private; Service Number: 222

Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion.

Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1914 Star.

Grave Reference:

R.6.9A.

Ipswich Old Cemetery,

Ipswich.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of William & Eleanor Chapman; husband of Priscilla Jane Chapman, of 60, Sirdar Road, Ipswich.

Brother-in-law to ROBERT PIZZEY.

CENSUS

1871 3, Gladstone Street, Heigham, Norfolk.

Herbert was a year old and living with his parents.

William Chapman Cook, 34, a Carpenter.

Ellen Margaret Chapman Cook (nee Adams), 27, born Ipswich.

2 boarders.

1881 9, Northumberland Street, Heigham, Norfolk.

Herbert was 11 years old and living with his parents & brothers.

William, 44, a Carpenter.

Ellen, 34.

Willie Ernest Chapman Cook, 8, born Heigham.

Bertram Percy Arthur Chapman Cook, 10 months, born Heigham.

2 boarders.

1891 18, Willington Road, Heigham, Norfolk.

Herbert was 21 years old, a Compositor – Print. He was living with his parents & siblings.

William, 52, a Joiner.

Ellen, 40.

Ernest, 18, a Baker.

Percy, 10.

Millicent Hephzibah Chapman Cook, 9, born Heigham.

1901 5, Chenery Street, Ipswich.

Herbert was 31 years old, a Compositor. He was married and Head of the Household.

Priscilla, 24.

Millicent, 1.

1911 60, Sirdar Road, Ipswich.

Herbert was 41 years old, a Compositor – Printer. He was married and Head of the Household.

Priscilla, 35.

Millicent, 11.

Dorothy, 9.

Ruby, 6.

Arthur, 4.

Marjorie, 2.

On the 10th February 1878, Herbert’s little sisters died, Bertha Ellen Chapman, of whooping cough and bronchitis, aged 1 year and 8 months; also on the same day, Blanche Alberta Chapman, aged 6 months.

Herbert was educated at the Boys Model School, Norwich, Norfolk.

Herbert was a member of the Ipswich Branch of the Typographical Association

On the 21st August 1898, St. Nicholas, Ipswich, Herbert married Priscilla Jane Pizzey, born 1876, Ipswich – daughter of Thomas Pizzey, a pork butcher, fruiterer and greengrocer – own account, and Frances Mary Pizzey (nee Bradstreet), of Crown Gate Cottage, 8, High Street, St. Matthew’s, Ipswich.

They had 7 children:

Millicent Bertha Chapman, born January, 1900, Ipswich.

Dorothy May Chapman, February 1902, Ipswich.

Ruby Cicely Chapman, born March 1905, Ipswich.

Arthur Frederick Chapman, born March 1907, Ipswich.

Marjorie Florence Chapman, born August 1908, Ipswich.

Winifred Laura Chapman, born June 1910, Ipswich.

Ellen Mary Chapman, born May 1913, Ipswich.

Soldiers’ Effects to Priscilla Jane Chapman – widow.

East Anglian Daily Times – Thursday, 27^th May 1915 – MILITARY FUNERAL AT IPSWICH – The funeral took place at Ipswich Cemetery during the afternoon of Wednesday, 26^th May 1915, of Private Herbert Alfred Chapman, of the 4^th Suffolks, who died in Dover Hospital from wounds received at the Front. Herbert, who leaves a widow and seven children and resided at 60, Sirdar Road, Ipswich, was employed as a compositor at Messrs. Cowell’s for many years, and soon after the outbreak of war, he enlisted. Full Military honours were accorded. The R.F.A. Brigade provided the gun carriage, firing party, and buglers at the Barracks, and the bearers by the 4^th Suffolks. There were, in addition, large following parties of both corps, including convalescent comrades. Herbert was a member of the Ipswich Branch of the Typographical Association, and it was represented by Mr. F. J. Ellis, President of the Branch, Mr. W. C. Crickmer, Vice-President, Mr. E. A. Oliver, treasurer, and Mr. C. J. Eaton, secretary. Mr. A. E. Olding and Mr. C. W. Loveday attended from Cowell’s Chapel. The Reverend E. J. Gilchrist officiated. There were numerous wreaths. The funeral arrangements were carried out by E. S. Singleton, Ltd.

Suffolk Regiment,4th Battalion:

In early May 1915, the 4^th Battalion began preparations for the attack on Aubers Ridge at Neuve Chapelle. in support of the French offensive on the outskirts of Arras. The Battalion was part of the Three British Corps. The Battalion took over trenches near Bois du Biez and Port Arthur, on the 5^th-6^th of May. On entering the trenches, the Germans shelled their positions vigorously. On the 9^th the main attack began, making little headway. Lieutenant Donald Pretty was wounded when a shell exploded at 16.45hrs on the roof of the dug-out, where he was sheltering. Donald never regained consciousness and died of his wounds in Bethune hospital days later. He was the first officer from Ipswich to be killed in the war.

Following the 9^th of May the 4^th Battalion suffered over 100 casualties, remaining in the Neuve Chappelle area, carrying out their trench duties, fortifying their new positions, while taking heavy shelling and sniping from the Germans, as they tried to repel the small gain from the offensive. The Battalion came out of the Line on the 19^th of May returning to billets near Pont du Hem.