In Harton Cemetery is the family grave of Captain Frederick Ernest Chapman, who served in the Royal Army Medical Corps in WW1, he died 08/05/1938.

Frederick ‘Freddie’ Ernest Chapman was born on the 11th July 1887, one of eleven children to Henry Chapman, (a Chartered Accountant), born 1851, died 5th February 1936, and Dora (nee Gibson), Chapman, born 1856, died 17th May 1938, she was the eldest daughter of a George Gibson, born 1825, died 30th January 1865, and his wife Marion Gibson, (born 29th August 1862), died 1940. Henry and Dora were married on the 8th August 1876 at St Peters Church in Harton, Henry moved from his parents’ residence at Challoner Terrace, Westoe to 34 Winchester Street.

The other children were:-

• Ethel, born 3rd May 1877, died 10th December 1938.
• Henry, ‘Hal’ born 21st August 1878, died 29th January 1926.
• Robert Chapman, born 3rd March 1880, at 6 Wood Terrace, died 31st July 1968.
• George Gibson, born 3rd May 1882, died 31st December 1954, in Canada.
• Laurence Alfred, born 18th March 1886, died 3rd February 1943.
• Charles Lancelot Chapman born 1st August 1892, at ‘Seacroft’, Westoe Village, South Shields.
• Alan Edward, born 1884, died 1898.
• Marion Dorothy Chapman, born 10th September 1890, died 10th August 1918.
• Dora Elizabeth, ‘Bessie’ born 20th December 1884, died 26th July 1935, she married Wallace Moir Annand, [and they had one child Richard Wallace Annand, ‘Dickie’].
• Hilda born 1881, died 6th July 1929, {she had married Sidney Howard Smith, (born 3rd February 1872), on the 18th October 1905 In 1911, they were residing at ‘Beech’ Cottage, Rodborough, Near Stroud, Gloucestershire, with one child Elizabeth Howard Smith born 15th August 1906, baptised 10th February, she died 12th November 1975}.

Henry Chapman had built ‘Seacroft’ on the eastern edge of Westoe Village in 1887. It was a mansion with over twenty rooms. He also received a commission in 1884 as a Lieutenant in the Volunteer Forces.

Frederick Ernest Chapman was educated at the South Shields High School from the 1st May 1895, and left in April 1905 to go to Durham University’s College of Medicine where he qualified as a doctor. In 1901 he was residing at ‘Seacroft’. Westoe Village, South Shields.

Frederick was the best Rugby player within the Chapman family. He was a member of the Westoe Rugby Club. He played from 1902 to 1912, playing 67 times. 6 games with the second XV, and 61 times for the First XV. He also played for Durham University usually as captain, for 31 times and scored 14 tries 12 goals and 3 penalties.

In 1908, he was with the Anglo-Welsh touring team playing against Australia and New Zealand. He has been credited as scoring the first try, the first penalty goal and the first conversion at the first ever international match at Twickenham Stadium (opened in 1909) on the 15th January, 1910. See Dingle, who played alongside with him. There are many reports about his Rugby career and as well as his tennis game, as he also played at the Westoe Tennis Club.

On the 24th December 1910, Frederick Ernest Chapman broke his collar bone whilst playing for Westoe against Percy Park.

Frederick played for the Midland Counties Rugby Team at Leicester on the 28th March 1914.

He played for England Seven times between 1910 and 1914. In the very first minute of his first game against Wales he had the unique distinction of scoring a try.

By 1911, Frederick became the House Physician at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne. He was appointed the House Surgeon at the Hartlepool Hospital, where he also joined the Hartlepool Rovers Rugby Club. He resided at this time at 12 Cliff Terrace, Hartlepool.

On the 24th October 1914, he was appointed as a Temporary Surgeon to the Royal Navy and initially served on the steamship SS Rohilla, ship number 124149, but was posted to HMS Neptune.

He was transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps as temporary Lieutenant from the 19th May 1915. Then temporary Captain from the 19th May 1916. He had been wounded very slightly, location unknown, possibly at Gallipoli.

After the war had ended, he returned to his Medical Practice.

On the 26th October 1922, a 15-year-old boy named Anthony Barclay was admitted into the Cameron Hospital with his right thigh broken. He stated that he collided with a car driven by Dr F.E Chapman. It happened near St Paul’s Church. The boy resided at 32 Stranton, West Hartlepool.

Frederick Ernest Chapman died of pneumonia on the 8th May 1938 aged 50, nine days before his mother passed away on the 17th May 1938.

There was a fund organised to provide a memorial to Dr F.E Chapman, one suggestion was a Rugby match to be known as the Dr Chapman memorial Match.
Source: Hartlepool Daily Mail Tuesday 01/05/1938.

The Dr F. E. Chapman Memorial Fund was closed in September 1938. The total amount raised was £544 12s. There was a new operating theatre which had been added to the extension within the hospital and it had been agreed that it would be called the ‘Dr F. E. Chapman Memorial theatre’ and a suitable plaque put up in prominent position. The whole amount of the fund was given to the hospital to use at their discretion.
Source: Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail Monday 10/10/1938.

Research: James Hoy Archive /Mike Todd /The British Newspaper Archive /James Pasby.

Frederick Ernest Chapman is remembered at Durham in D47.091, page 111.

There is an excellent book on the Chapman family titled A Tyneside Heritage by Peter S. Chapman. The History Press 2021. ISBN 978 075099626 6.