The Upfill-Brown Collection

Three: Captain H. Chapman, Canadian Forces, late Yorkshire Regiment and British South Africa Police

QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Rhodesia, Relief of Mafeking, Transvaal (Lieut., B.S.A. Police); KING'S SOUTH AFRICA, 2 clasps (Cpt., B.S.A. Police); 1914-15 STAR (Capt., York R.), very fine (3)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The AA Upfill-Brown Collection.

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Harold Chapman was born in 1877 and after attending Eton he opted for a colonial life, joining the British South Africa Police in Southern Rhodesia during 1897. He possibly fought in the Matabeleland and Mashonaland rebellions, although no official entitlement has yet been traced for the medal, and in the Boer War he was with General Plumer's column at the Relief of Mafeking. He resigned in 1910 and settled in Vancouver. On the outbreak of hostilities in 1914, Chapman returned to the U. K. and was gazetted a Captain in the 6th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, sailing to Gallipoli with his unit soon afterwards, where due to mounting casualties he found himself a Battalion Commander with the temporary rank of Major. He was subsequently wounded and invalided home where he relinquished his commission. However, as soon as his health was restored, Chapman joined a Canadian Regiment as a Private and once more set sail for the Front. Recommended for the Military Medal 'for great courage and ability displayed in an attack,' he was killed in action in May 1917. He is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial. See John Sly's article, 'Dulce et Decorum est..., ' O.M.R.S. Journal, Winter 1984, for further details.