Heslop's Local Advertiser
Luke Chapman
The Chapman Brothers
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Luke Chapman was born at Houghton-le-Spring, June 22nd 1877, one of 13 children of whom only 9 survived, 7 sons and 2 daughters. His father Job Chapman born January 14th 1845 at Ilkeston, Derbyshire had migrated to the north east where he met Annie Liddle native of Hetton le Hole born 1852, whom he married, November 28th 1868 in the district of Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham. Job Snr was employed as a coal miner, the family were living in 1881 at 166, Chapel Row, Penshaw, however Annie appears as widowed on the census of 1891 living at 4, Chandler’s Row, Penshaw, supported by her elder sons John Thomas (21) and George (19) working as coal miners whilst Luke only 13 years old was employed as an iron moulder’s apprentice, the younger children were scholars. This fact is contradicted by the 1901 census although she still is listed as head of the family, it would seem Luke’s father returned to Derbyshire where he was living with his niece in 1911 and died there in 1918.
Luke Chapman married at West Rainton, March 24th 1900 Mary Ann Pearson born 1879 at Houghton-le-Spring. Their family consisted of 5 daughters and a sons, he worked as a coal miner/hewer, in 1911 they were living at 29, New Rows, East Howle, County Durham.
On the outbreak of war they were at Wardley Colliery, he enlisted aged 33 years 3 months, September 19th 1914 at Felling, for a period of 3 years or the duration of war and was assigned as Private 19216 to the 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. October 3rd 1914 the 15th Battalion was in tents at Halton Park where they were joined by the 14th Battalion and attached to the 64th Brigade, 21st Division. They trained without having any uniforms, with fake rifles and very few officers doing little more than drills until early December 1914 they were moved to High Wycombe and issued with their full equipment and training began in earnest. They returned to the newly refurbished huts at Halton park in early April 1915 along with the 14th Battalion for intensive training, transferring to Whitley Camp, near Aldershot in July. Private Chapman departed to France September 11th 1915 as part of the British Expeditionary Force landing with his regiment, attached to the 21st Division, at Boulogne. Two weeks later both inexperienced and unprepared battalions were sent into battle at Loos, in the first major British offensive on the Western Front. After a long march, wet, tired and hungry, the battalions moved forwards across the old British front line, reaching the old German front about 2am on September 26th. Both battalions attacked later that morning only to be driven back by machine gun fire. In the fighting, the 14th D.L.I. lost almost 300 men killed or wounded, whilst 15th D.L.I. lost over 450 men. The 15th Battalion spent the rest of the winter in the front line trenches around Armentieres.
It was here that Private 19216 Luke Chapman Durham Light infantry was killed in action December 30th 1915 and buried on the battlefield, his grave marked with a cross bearing his military details. After Armistice during the clearing of the battlefields his body was exhumed and further identified by his uniform, he was brought into Houplines Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France, for reburial with all honour and reverence grave II. C. 1. At the time of his demise he was 34 years old.
His widow Mary received all monies due to him, a pension of 29 shillings a week for herself and their 6 children as of July 17th 1916 and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 14, First Street, Wardley Colliery, Pelaw, County Durham.
Luke’s younger brother Job Chapman Jnr. also served during the conflict as Private 1254, 21st Battalion (2nd.Tyneside Scottish) Northumberland Fusiliers and died of wounds October 9th 1916, interred at Baileul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France, grave III. A. 256. Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, he left a widow and 4 daughters.
Their mother Mary Lizzie Chapman died in 1936 aged 84 years in the district of Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 18/02/1916:
"Pte. Luke Chapman, 15th D.L.I., killed in action in France, on Dec. 30th, 1915. Husband of Mrs. Chapman, First Street, Wardley Colliery.
The following is a copy of a letter received by Mrs. Chapman:
Dear Mrs. Chapman, it is with the deepest regret that I have to announce that your husband fell in action last week, when the battalion was holding part of the first line trenches.
Dear Mrs. Chapman, his is a loss that we all of us feel. Everybody in the Company knew your husband - always cheery, always working hard. We realise, however, that whatever we may feel, your loss must be far greater. Put your trust in God, and I can wish you no greater help than that He will watch over you and help you to bear up in a time like this.
Yours sincerely
L.H. Sanger Davies,
Lieut., 15th D.L.I., B.E.F., 6th Jan. 1916."
Luke Chapman is remembered at Wardley on W97.01 and at Heworth on H92.03
