Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Leading Seaman F. Chapman, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (J.18773 Boy 1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.18773 A.B., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue (J.18773 L.S., H.M.S. Pembroke) mounted as worn, fine and better (4) £90-120

Fred Chapman was born in Risbridge, Suffolk on 18 March 1897. From the Training Ship Arethusa Chapman entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on Ganges on 4 July 1912, being advanced to Boy 1st Class in January 1913. From September 1914 he served on the battleship Goliath being present in the operations to blockade the German light cruiser Konigsberg in the Rufiji River and at the bombardment of Dar es Salaam in November 1914. In March 1915 Chapman was promoted to Ordinary Seaman and on the Goliath was transferred from East Africa to service in the Dardanelles. It was there on 13 May 1915, whilst at anchor in company with Cornwallis in Morto Bay, that the old battleship was attacked by the Turkish destroyer Mouavenet-Millieh, which in fog, evaded the allied destroyer screen and fired three torpedoes in quick succession. The first hit Goliath abreast the fore turret, the second abreast the foremost funnel and a third abreast the after turret. So swiftly did the battleship sink that many of those below were drowned before they could reach the upper deck. Of the 750 on board Goliath about 570 died, Chapman being one of the lucky ones to survive. Chapman was promoted to Able Seaman on 14 May 1915 and attained the rank of Leading Seaman in April 1924. With copied service papers and other research.