Alfred Warburton Chapman (Jnr)

Alfred Warburton Chapman (Jnr)

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Brunswick, Victoria
Death	2 Apr 1968
Place of Death	Mt Hawthorn, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	25 years old
Description
Occupation	Moulder
Religion	Church of England
Address	Brooke road, Gosnells, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Alfred Warburton Chapman (Snr)
Military Information
Reg Number	2054
Date of Enlistment	4 Feb 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	1st Battalion, 5th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	25 Jun 1915 ‒ 23 Jul 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A40 Ceramic
Date of Return	25 Jan 1919 ‒ 3 Mar 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A40 Ceramic
Fate	Wounded in Action 23 Jul 1916 at Pozieres
Monument	none as yet
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

During 1912 Alfred married Emily E Phipps who died in 1930 ?

War Service

Alfred Junior enlisted at Liverpool in New South Wales.

Taken on strength by the 1st Battalion at Gallipoli on 5 Aug 1915 along with 141 others just as the battalion prepared to take its place in the battle known as Lone Pine on 6 Aug 1915. The reinforcements were thrown into the affray in the late afternoon, and held the ground until relieved by the 7th Battalion on 7 Aug 1915.

On 28 Dec Alf disembarked in Alexandria from HMT Huntsgreen. A period of consolidation, retraining and then the AIF was reformed into 4 Divisions from the existing two, plus reinforcements took place in Egypt before on 22 Mar 1916 the battalion boarded HMT Ivernia for Marseilles, disembarking there on 28 Mar 1916. Like all others, they were sent by train in cattle cars (40 men per car) to the north of France.

The 1st Battalion was a part of the attack on the ruined village of Pozieres commencing 12:30pm on 23 Jul 1916. The quickly overwhelmed the front line of the German defence and established themselves between the village and a ridge to the north. Early next morning the Germans counter attacked without success and after they were reinforced with men from the 2nd Division, during the evening of 24 Jul 1916 a further three attacks by the Germans were beaten off. The Germans then commenced an incredibly heavy bombardment of the town and its surrounds held by the Australians. At some point during this time Alf was wounded with a gun shot wound to the left hand.

Seen first by the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance on 23 Jul 1916, then the 44th Casualty Clearing Station before being placed on Ambulance Train No. 27 for the 23rd General Hospital in Étaples where he was admitted on 24 Jul 1916. Alf was evacuated to England from Calais on 1 Aug 1916 aboard HMHS Brighton. In England he was admitted to the 2nd Western General Hospital in Manchester on 2 Aug 1916 before transferring to the Saddleworth Military Hospital in Greenfields on 14 Aug 1916. Released to furlough between 16 and 30 Nov 1916, he reported to No.1 Command Depot at Perham Downs on 1 Dec 1916.

After a period with the Overseas Training Depot, Alf returned to France through Southampton on 25 Sep 1917 and initially was employed by 4th Command Depot. He rejoined his battalion on New Years Day 1918 in the front line near Wytschaete in Belgium. The unit War Diary described the day thus: "Enemy attitude quiet - weather cold- freezing." Alf was one of 5 soldiers to return from hospital that day.

From 28 Aug - 6 Sep 1918 Alf enjoyed leave in Paris, and then on 25 Sep 1918 he was granted leave in the UK, rejoining the battalion in France on 14 Oct 1918. On 12 Dec 1918 he visited the 1st Australian Field Ambulance, unwell and was sent on to the 55th Casualty Clearing Station two days later with Pleurisy. On 16 Dec 1918 he was admitted to the 83rd General Hospital in Boulogne, before being released on 21 Dec 1918 to the 1st Convalescent Camp. On 8 Jan 1919 he has returned to the UK through Southampton, and as an early 1915 enlistment is very quickly returned to Australia.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1931 Beaufort street, Maylands, moulder; 1943 at 85 Havelock street, West Perth, moulder; 1949 - 1963 at 74 Boulevarde, Mt Hawthorn, moulder