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 an iron furnace labourer, born 1865 in West Dereham, Norfolk and his wife Georgina, born 1875 in Horninghold, Leics. William Alfred was born in 1897 in Broughton, Northants., his siblings were, Mildred Agnes, born 1896 and Emily Blanche, born 1900, both his siblings were born in Broughton, Northants., in March 1901 the family home was at Kettering Road, Broughton, Northants. In April 1911 William was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home at The Lodge, East Carlton, Northants., together with his father, now a farm wagoner, his mother and siblings, Emily and Eva, born 1903 in Broughton, Northants.