Thomas Percy Chapman MM

Thomas (Percy) S. Chapman MM. (Military Medal)

Personal Details:

Born in 1886.

Locating Percy’s family history in Ancestry has proved difficult and the best possibility is that he grew up in the York workhouse, which was in Clifton. There is a record for a Chapman family with Percy of the right age.

Son of Thomas Chapman.

Percy married Maud M. Mould of Kidnal House, Malpas at St. Oswald's Church on 14th July 1917.

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Military Details:

Regiment:          1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment.

Rank:                 Sergeant.

Serial Number:   8359 (48355?) 

In May 1917 Percy was awarded the Military Medal for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire.

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Record of Death:

Killed in action in France on 22nd March 1918 in the final German offensive of the war. Aged 32.

Buried in Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, France. IV.4.F10.

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Medals and Awards:

Percy was awarded the Campaign Medals (14/15th Star, British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal).

Percy was awarded the Military Medal for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty.

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Further information:

Percy Chapman came to Malpas in March 1915 as a patient for The Bolling VAD Hospital on Church Street, after being injured at Ypres. (Gunshot wound to the right shoulder.)

This is where it is believed he met his future wife Maud Mould of Kidnal House, Malpas.

Percy was then sent back to fight, leaving his wife and future widow in Malpas.

It has been established that Maud is recorded as a visitor to Kidnal House, Malpas as recorded in the 1911 Census.

Percy's widow had associations with the place as she was shown to be living there after her husband's death.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) record indicates Percy's widow lived in Malpas.

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The Moulds originally lived in Chorley, Lancashire (1891 Census), owning a hotel, then in Chester (1901 census).
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Note*

Percy is not currently recorded on the Malpas War Memorial or any other UK civic memorial.

It is suggested that this is because he was only in Malpas for a short length of time whilst he was recovering from his wounds, and had no association with the local community in Cliffton.

Remembered with Honour in the Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, Epehy, France14/15th Star, British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal.