Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Chapman a canal labourer, born in the October quarter of 1860 in Kilby, Leicestershire and baptised on the 27th December 1860 in the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Kilby (son of William Chapman and Charlotte Tyler) and his wife Sarah Ann Chapman (nee Moore, married on the 7th October 1886 in the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Kilby), born in the July quarter of 1858 in Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire and baptised on the 10th September 1858 in All Saint’s Church, Husbands Bosworth (daughter of Thomas Moore, 1831 and Sarah Moore, 1832). Arthur Edward was born in the April quarter of 1889 in Kilby Bridge, Leicestershire and baptised on the 22nd December 1889 in the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Kilby, his siblings were, William Thomas, a schoolboy, born in the April quarter of 1887 and baptised on the 29th May 1887 in All Saint’s Church, Husbands Bosworth and John George, a schoolboy, born in the April quarter of 1888 and baptised on the 22nd December 1889 in the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Kilby, both his siblings were born in Kilby Bridge, in April 1891 the family home was at Main Street, Kilby. In March 1901 Arthur was residing in the family home at Canal Lock House, Welford Road, East Wigston, Leicestershire, together with father, a canal lock keeper, his mother and siblings, William, a canal horse driver, John George, a plough boy, Harry, born in the April quarter of 1892 in Kilby, Cecil, born in the July quarter of 1895, Ernest Tyler, born in the April quarter of 1898 and Ellen Kathleen, born on the 26th June 1900, the latter three siblings were all born in Wigston. In April 1911 Arthur was employed as a biscuit maker and was residing in the family home at Lock House, Kilby Bridge, together with his father, a canal labourer, his mother and siblings, William, a farm labourer John, a farm labourer, Harry, a farm labourer, Cecil a biscuit maker, Ernest and Ellen. Arthur now employed as a tram conductor, married Mary Ellen Ward on the 6th November 1915 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Glen Parva and South Wigston, Leicestershire. Mary Ellen was born on the 6th June 1890 in Derby (daughter of William Ward, 1864 and Mary Ann Brownhill, 1867). His brother, Cecil fell in action on the 13th October 1915 and William Thomas died on the 23rd October 1916 from wounds received in action.
On receiving the news that her third and last son had fallen in action his mother Sarah took her own life by jumping into a canal lock on the 8th May 1917.
Arthur’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Regular Army, date not known.
Joined. At Leicester, date not known.
Posted. To Leicestershire Regt. Pte., date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 27052.
Posted. To 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte., date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Killed in action. In the Field. 2/2/17.
Buried in Vermelles British Cemetery, France. Headstone inscription. “Ever remembered by his sorrowing wife and friends.”
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Arthur nominated his wife Mary Ellen as his sole legatee.
On the 16th August 1917 Arthur’s widow Mary, of 58, Healey Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire, was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of thirteen shillings and nine pence, commensurate on the 27th August 1917.
The War Diary records: 2 Feb-17. The Battalion was in the MAZINGARBE sector and provided working parties of 132 other ranks and 5 officers for front support line work. At 10.50am Operational Order 135 received as to proposed raid. Captain H. BARRINGTON- BINN re-joined the Battalion. No casualties.
On the 1st April 1917, The Leicester Mercury carried the following entry under the heading - ROLL OF HONOUR: Pte. A. E. Chapman, Leicester's, killed in action Feb. 2nd, aged 27, son of Mr Chapman, Lock House, Kilby Bridge. His widow resides at 58, Healey Street, S. Wigston. The article also carried his photograph.