The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals

Three: Private J. H. Chapman, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, who died of wounds during the Battle of La Bassée on 22 October 1914

1914 Star (9527 Pte. J. H. Chapman. 1/Bedf: R.); British War and Victory Medals (9527 Pte. J. H. Chapman. Bedf. R.); Memorial Plaque (John Henry Chapman) nearly extremely fine (4) £240-£280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals.

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John Henry Chapman was born in 1890 at Ely, Cambridgeshire and attested there for the Bedfordshire Regiment in 1910. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 16 August 1914 as part of the 15th Brigade, 5th Division in Smith-Dorrien’s II Corps, his battalion coming under fire at Mons on 23 August and also three days later in a stand at Troisville during the Battle of Le Cateau in which the 5th Division won 3 Victoria Crosses. After services on the Marne and the Aisne they were rushed north by train and bus towards Flanders and the opening of the Battle of La Bassée.

Taking over trenches at Givenchy on 12 October, the 1st Bedfords suffered terribly, the War Diary for the 13 October stating:
‘13 October 1914. Heavy bombardment of trenches & village all day. About midday cannonade became terrific. Practically every house damaged & neighbourhood of church continually shelled. Our front trenches, in continuation of Dorsets, unable to hold on in afternoon after Dorsets were enfiladed & withdrew. Smoke of shells & dust of falling houses made it impossible to see clearly what was going on to flanks. Enemy attacked front & flanks & Battalion retired about 300 yards in rear of village & reformed on new line holding road to Pont Fixe in continuation of Dorsets. Norfolks on our left. Losses 7 officers & 140 other ranks.’

After a relative lull in the fighting, Chapman died of wounds on 22 October 1914 (1914 Star Medal Roll refers). The War Diary entry for 19 October provides the following insight into Private Chapman’s likely fate:
‘19 October 1914. Quiet. 'B' Company sent to join Cheshire Regiment on our left near Violaines. Subsequently at dawn on 22nd inst. were in support close to Cheshire front trenches when the latter were rushed by Germans, who came through on to 'B' Company. Lieutenants Coventry & Litchfield missing, believed to be killed. About 40 other ranks killed, wounded or missing.’

The War Diary entry for 22 October reports no further fatal casualties for the battalion that day and so it is likely that Chapman together with the Lieutenant Coventry, Second Lieutenant Litchfield and the 14 other men of the battalion whom the CWGC records as having died on 22 October were all killed or died of wounds received in B Company’s support of the 1st Cheshires at Violaines.

He was the son of William Chapman, of 5, Nutholt Lane, Ely, Cambridgeshire and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France.