Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry Chapman a bricklayer, born 1860 in Countesthorpe, Leics., and his wife Emily, born 1859 in Countesthorpe, Leics. John Alfred was born in 1887 in Countesthorpe, Leics., his siblings were, Annie Mary, born 1886 and Edith B., born 1890, both his siblings were born in Countesthorpe, Leics., also residing with the family was his paternal uncle, John Thomas Chapman a bricklayer, born 1873 in Countesthorpe, Leics., and his widowed maternal grandmother, Ann Jarratt, born 1823 in Countesthorpe, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at Jacksons Lane, Countesthorpe, Leics. In March 1901 John was employed as an apprentice bricklayer and was residing in the family home at Station Road, Countesthorpe, Leics., together with his father, now a builder, his mother and siblings Annie, Edith, Florence Tompkin Chapman, born 1892, Bernice Jane Beale Chapman, born 1894, Samuel Arthur Tompkin Chapman, born 1897 and Archibald Henry, born 1899, the latter four siblings were all born in Countesthorpe, Leics. In April 1911 John was employed as a builder and was residing in the family home at Station Road, Countesthorpe, Leics., together with his father, now a highway surveyor, his mother, now a dressmaker and his siblings, Annie, Edith, Florence, Bernice, Samuel, Archibald, Margery Jane, born 1902 and Lionel Edgar, born 1904, the latter two siblings were both born in Countesthorpe, Leics. In the July, August, September quarter of 1912, John married Sarah Cox in the Blaby, Leicestershire marriage registration district. John enlisted on the 10th July 1917 and embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 5th November 1917, joining his unit, the Nelson Battalion on the 24th November 1917, and served with this unit until he was posted to the Hood Battalion on the 7th February 1918, and while serving with this unit he was killed in action on the 16th February 1918.