Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joel Chapman a coal man, born 1856 in Kilby, Leics., and his wife Eliza, born 1855 in Fleckney, Leics. William was born in 1890 in Kilby Bridge, Wigston, Leics., his siblings were, Sarah Jane, born 1879, Ernest, born 1887 and Alice H., born 1891, all his siblings were born in Wigston, Leics., also residing with the family was his widowed maternal grandfather, Henry Gamble a general labourer, born 1819 in Fleckney, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at Kilby Bridge, Wigston, Leics. In March 1901 William was residing in the family home at Welford Road, East Wigston, Leics., together with his father, now a farm carter, his mother and siblings, Ernest, Florence, born 1893 and Alfred, born 1895, the latter two siblings were both born in Wigston, Leics. In April 1911 William was employed as a hosiery trade winder and was residing in the family home at Kilby Bridge, Leics., together with his widowed father, now a coal carter and his siblings, Florence and Alfred, also residing with the family was his married sister Sarah Jane and her husband Frederick Young a stove fitter, born 1872 in Rotherham, Yorks. On Saturday January 27th 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR” - (A photograph accompanied the article). Pte. W. Chapman, South Staffs., missing since August 31st 1916. Wife and child live at Fleckney. Information welcomed.