John Chapman

Captain John Chapman joined the Leicestershire Regiment's 1/5th militia Battalion before 1912 as he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the January of that year. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Captain. The Battalion sailed to France on 26th February 1915 in very rough seas. They travelled by train via Rouen, Abbeville and St. Omer to Arneke where they detrained for Hardifort. The Battalion was held in reserve for, but did not take part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. For the whole of April they were in trenches near Wulverghem and subjected to continual sniping by the enemy and then moved on to Zillebeke, followed by a tour in the area of Mount Kemmel. Captain Chapman was seriously wounded near Mount Kemmel. He died of wounds on 30th May 1915 at the Third London General Military Hospital, Wandsworth, Surrey, aged 26. An obituary included the following: 'When the 5th Leicester Territorials were mobilized in August 1914 only one of the officers of the Loughborough Company was living in the town. They all, however, responded to the call - Lieutenant John Chapman leaving his appointment in London to join the ranks. Before many weeks he was promoted Captain, and his company, and the men who under his command were billeted in Luton, found him a considerate and a careful officer.'(these details are from the Loughborough Roll of Honour Website)

The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published an article on Friday, 4th June 1915 entitled: District War Items - Loughborough Officer's Death from Wounds. It read: 'Much regret is felt in Loughborough at the death of Captain John Chapman, of the 1/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, who died of wounds on Sunday in hospital in London. The gallant Captain was out with a sniping party when a shot smashed his binoculars and inflicted such serious wounds that little hope was entertained of his recovery. He was the second son of Mr Ernest Chapman of Ashby Road, Loughborough, and was formerly in the works of the British Engineering Company. He was a very able and popular young officer, and deep sympathy is felt for his relatives. Capt. Chapman was reconnoitering the enemy's position by the aid of field glasses, when he was shot between the eyes. The injury was severe and from the first it was feared that fatal results would follow. He was conveyed to England and every care taken but the injury was fatal, and he passed away on Sunday, 30th May. His coffin was conveyed from London to Loughborough and six men of the 3rd 5th Leicesters, being at the station, conveyed the coffin, draped with the Union Jack, shoulder high from the train to the hearse, the coffin being draped with the Union Jack. The hearse slowly made its way from the railway station to the Parish Church, attended by many people. At the church the body rested during the night and following morning, being guarded by relays of four soldiers from the 3rd/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, relieved every two hours. The funeral was timed for three o'clock at the church and never in the history of the town probably had there been such a funeral in Loughborough.' Captain Chapman was buried at Leicester Road Cemetery, Loughborough, (Grave 7/297) and is commemorated on the war memorials of the Brush Electrical Engineering Company and Loughborough Grammar School as well as the Carillon. John's brother Hubert also died in WW1, in 1917.(these details are from the Loughborough Roll of Honour Website)