Sydney Ashley Garfield Chapman

A Private with the 15th Battalion, Sydney died on 2nd of November 1918 aged 36. 

Sydney was born at Islington, London, in 1882, a son of William and Alice Malvina Chapman. On 15 July 1882 he was baptised at White Roothing, Essex, where both his parents had been born. In 1891 his family lived at 2 Hilllside Grove, Chase Road, Edmonton, London. Later his mother lived at 10 Tottenhall Road, Palmers Green.

In 1906 Sydney married Amy Beatrice Bowyer: this was registered in the Edmonton district. In 1911 they lived at 23 Beech Road, New Southgate, and Sydney was a gas fitter. Later they moved to North Shields, Northumberland, and Sydney was the managing buyer at the Tynemouth Gas Company showroom. Later Amy lived over North Deal Garage, North Deal, and subsequently at Homeleigh, 59 Southwell Road, Lowestoft. 

Sydney enlisted in the Army at Newcastle-on-Tyne. He joined the Army Service Corps, service number R/258991. Sydney was transferred to the Hampshire Regiment, service number 55049, and was posted to the 15th Battalion in France.  

On 13 October 1918 the 15th Battalion moved from a position known as Stirling Castle along the Ypres-Menin Road. The next day the battalion were to attack a pillbox that was holding up the advance. An enemy barrage caused many casualties before the attack began at 5.35 a.m. The pillbox was neutralised, and the battalion were able to continue their advance. In the attack five officers were wounded, 10 men killed, 66 wounded and two missing. 

On 14 October Sydney received gunshot wounds to his back and abdomen. He was taken to 10 Casualty Clearing Station and was ‘dangerously ill’. He was then evacuated to 7 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, where he died of his wounds.