CHAPMAN, Frederick Ernest
| Service Numbers: | 767, 2818 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 September 1914, Morphettville, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 26 May 1894 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Sturt Street Public School |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Keswick, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 31 October 1935, aged 41 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (AIF Section) Light Oval - Row 78 -C/E/W :E - Site 21 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Sturt Street Public School Great War Roll of Honour, Pinnaroo District Great War Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Morphettville, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1914: | Involvement Private, 767, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Sep 1914: | Embarked Private, 767, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Melbourne | |
| 21 Sep 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2818, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Adelaide | |
| 21 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2818, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 24 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Warrant Officer Class 2, 2818, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 30 Dec 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 2818, 50th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Frederick Ernest Chapman's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of George and Eleanor CHAPMAN, 344 Angus Street, Adelaide, SA
Biography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Frederick Ernest Chapman was born on the 26th of May 1894 in his hometown, Adelaide, South Australia. Before he went to war, he lived with his mother, Elanor Chapman, and his father, George Chapman and seven siblings. Frederick was educated at Sturt St Public School and worked as a farmer after he left. He had served with army cadets for four years prior to enlistment. Frederick Ernest Chapman, enlisted on the 7th of September 1914 at Morphettville at the age of 20.
After initial training he embarked 17th September 1914 on the HMAT Geelong. Frederick was assigned to the ‘f’ coy and was a regular soldier for the 12th battalion. Together with the other South Australia soldiers, he first sailed to Hobart, where he met the rest of his battalion from Western Australia and Tasmania. They then departed on the 20th October 1914 on the vessel HMAT A2 Geelong. The 12th battalion had originally planned to land in England to continue training but was redirected to Egypt. Here they completed more intense training and Frederick sprained his ankle, admitted to hospital with the sprain and a septic foot from 12th December - 21 December 1914.
He was then diagnosed on the 19th of February with a loose kidney, which created difficulties with his circulatory system, deeming him medically unfit to fight. After receiving 13 days of treatment, he was sent back to Australia on the 21st of March 1915 on the boat Ulysses and was discharged 5th May 1915.
Frederick was apparently stubborn and signed up again for the 9th reinforcement for the 10th battalion on June 8th 1915 in Keswick. He embarked once more on the 21st September 1915. Frederick first served the 10th battalion and then on the 26th of February 1916 he permanently transferred to the 50th Battalion. He rose through the ranks and by 14th August 1916 he was promoted to Sergeant. In March 1917 he spent two days in hospital with an unknown illness before returning to his unit. At some point he was promoted to Lieutenant but the timing is not clear from his service records.
Frederick Ernest Chapman married Cornelia Wilson in Scotland on 3rd January 1919 while waiting repatriation back to Australia. He arrived back in Adelaide 26 June 1919 after a bout of tuberculosis on the journey. In 1920 he and his wife moved to Avondale, Lyndhurst NSW to work on a sheep station. However, due to ill health he stopped farming and returned to live in Adelaide. Frederick and Cornelia had two children.
Frederick died 31st October 1935 and is buried at West Terrace Cemetery. His wife Cornelia lived until 1970.
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