Albert Edward Chapman

An Engineman with H.M. Drifter Ajax II, Albert died on 26th of October 1916 at the age of 25. 

Albert was born at Carlton Colville on 10 February 1891, a son of Frederick and Annie Chapman. In 1891 his family were living 'near the Bell Inn', Carlton Colville. 

In 1915 they were living at 5 Bell Cottages, Carlton Colville. On 15 July 1915 Albert married Kathleen Annie Drake and Saint John’s Church, Lowestoft. Albert was a fisherman and they both gave their address as 8 Stevens Street. During the war Kathleen moved to 11 Townwall Street, Dover, as Albert served with the Dover Patrol, and by October 1917 she had returned to live at 8 Stevens Street. 

Albert joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 15 January 1915 and served with the drifter Ajax II. 

In 1916 the Ajax II was part of a fleet of trawlers that maintained the anti-submarine barrage across the Dover Strait. On the night of 26-27 October 1916 German destroyers attacked the barrage with the intent of causing maximum damage to the trawlers. The trawler was sunk and it seems that Albert was the only member of the crew who was killed.   

For details of the attack on the Dover Barrage see: The German attack on the 'Dover Barrage' 26th/27th October 1916 (sussexhistoryforum.co.uk)