Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Errol Laurie Chapman was born in 1896 in Grafton, New South Wales, Australia(1) Chapman’s childhood was mainly situated at Randwick (4). At age 2, his younger sister was born, Gladys A Chapman(5). Tragically, ten years later his father Norman Chapman passed away on the 31st of June 1909 at Narrabri(6). After his father passed away, his family unit was composed of his single mother, two older brothers and his younger sister. However, on the 17th of January 1910 both his mother and sister passed away(7). This left him with his two brothers, Norman Fredrick Chapman and Clarence Ernest Chapman. With the oldest sibling being only 18, they had to learn to survive without their parents for the remainder of his childhood. He then attended Sydney Technical High school in 1912 and placed 15th in class 1C(8). During his education, he  served in the Engineers Corps(9).  He then found interest in sharing his experiences through writing and became a cadet reporter(10). 

Enlisting at the age of 20 on February 1 1916, Chapman was initially assigned to the 11th Field Artillery Brigade on the 2nd of February(11). In the 11th Field Artillery Brigade, he learned to operate the artillery and served in Egypt in early 1916 to support the 4th division(12). He then was transferred to the 1st Cyclist Battalion, where he embarked on the HMAT A46 Clan Mcgillivray at Sydney which was sent to Egypt(13). In Egypt, Chapman went through training where the unit wasmainly  used as dispatch riders(14). On the 27th of August 1916, Chapman was transferred to the 1st Infantry battalion and served on the front lines at the Western Front(15). He then endured the hardships of the front line for a year before he was wounded in action. Chapman ended up in the 16th General Hospital called ‘Panama’ on the 21st of October 1916, where his gunshot wound on his left thigh was treated(16). After this encounter, Chapman was deemed ineligible to return to the military and was discharged(17). He then returned to Australia on the 31st of January 1918.

After arriving back in his hometown, he started to write about his experiences in the war. Chapman soon discovered love and married Constance May MacCarthy at St Leonards in 1923(19). He then stopped being a journalist and switched to a hotel keeper at Girral in 1930. Chapman then began his career voyage as he switched from job to job. In 1958, he then became a Budgerigar breeder before finally retiring in 1977. Sadly, Chapman outlived his siblings and spouse. His brother Clarence Ernest Chapman passed in 1974 followed by his spouse who passed on the 2nd of June 1983. His last known family Norman Fredrick Chapman also passed away in 1989(20).

References

1. Vwma.org.au. (2024). Errol Laurie CHAPMAN. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/170164 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].

2. Terrace, V. (2024). View digital copy. [online] Naa.gov.au. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3232518 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].

3. LBID

4. Adfa.edu.au. (2024). Details. [online] Available at: https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=50462 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].

5. Ken Stevenson, Research on Google Drive

6. LBID

7. LBID

8. LBID

9. Terrace, V. (2024). View digital copy. [online] Naa.gov.au. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3232518 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].

10. LBID

11. Terrace, V. (2024). View digital copy. [online] Naa.gov.au. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3232518 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].

12. Awm.gov.au. (2024). AWM4 Class 13 - Artillery. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338644 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].

13. Terrace, V. (2024). View digital copy. [online] Naa.gov.au. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3232518 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].

14. vwma.org.au. (n.d.). 1st ANZAC Cyclist Battalion. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/202.

15. Terrace, V. (2024). View digital copy. [online] Naa.gov.au. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3232518 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].

16. LBID

17. LBID

18. LBID

19. Ken Stevenson, Research on Google Drive

20. LBID

Bibliography

Terrace, V. (2024). View digital copy. [online] Naa.gov.au. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3232518 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
Awm.gov.au. (2024). AWM4 Class 12 - Cyclists. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338643 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
Awm.gov.au. (2024). AWM4 Class 13 - Artillery. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338644 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
Awm.gov.au. (2024). AWM4 Class 23 - Infantry. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338654 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
Adfa.edu.au. (2024). Details. [online] Available at: https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=50462 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
Vwma.org.au. (2024). Errol Laurie CHAPMAN. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/170164 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
Awm.gov.au. (2024). Private Errol Laurie Chapman. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10838577 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2024].
vwma.org.au. (n.d.). 11th Field Artillery Brigade. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/225.
vwma.org.au. (n.d.). 1st ANZAC Cyclist Battalion. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/202.
www.awm.gov.au. (n.d.). 1st Australian Infantry Battalion. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51441#:~:text=After%20the%20withdrawal%20from%20Gallipoli.