John Chapman

John Chapman (Service No 4938) was born in Stirlingshire, Scotland around 1884.

When John enlisted at the age of 31 he was single, worked as a miner, and lived at Scarborough, N.S.W.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A15 Star of England with 15th Reinforcements, 2nd Battalion on 8th March 1916.  After arriving in Egypt John was transferred to D Company, 54th Battalion on 26th April 1916.  The Company was sent to France and  arrived on 29th June 1916.

John fought at Fromelle and served on the Western Front until 15th May 1917 when he was wounded in action.  He was evacuated to England for treatment of gun shot wounds to his right thigh and buttocks.

John returned to his unit on 18th November 1917 but was wounded a second time on 16th April 1918, sustaining wounds to his face and nose.  Again he was evacuated to England for treatment.

John returned to France on 13th August 1918.  On 1st September 1918 he was wounded a third time and sustained shrapnel wounds to his back, and was evacuated to 15th Australian Field Ambulance.  John died from his wounds about 9:15 that night.

He is buried in Hebecourt British Cemetery, Peronne, France; Row B, Grave 8 near Peronne.

John's file contains information of an ex-nuptial son, John Eady Chapman, living in Scarborough, N.S.W., but letters from his Father in Scotland dispute this.  His Father stated his son had visited his parents on two occasions while he was in England recovering from wounds, and had never mentioned the child.

However, John had nominated a pension payment to this child.