Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Sergeant H. C. Chapman, 16th London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles), who died in May 1915 from illness caused by exposure in the trenches at the Front

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, South Africa 1901 (3728 Pte. H. C. Chapman, Vol: Co: K.R.R.C.); 1914 Star (1980 Sjt. H. C. Chapman. 1/16 Lond: R.) rank officially corrected; British War and Victory Medals (1980 Sjt. H. C. Chapman.16-Lond. R.); Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, E.VII.R. (5155 Pte. H. C. Chapman. 13/Middx. V.R.C.) officially impressed naming, the first and last mounted as worn, together with Bronze Memorial Plaque (Henry Charles Chapman) this an officially engraved late issue contained in original OHMS envelope addressed to Mr E. A. Chapman and post marked for March 1938 £200-£260

Henry Charles Chapman, Sergeant, “D” Coy., 1/16 London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) died on 10 May 1915, aged 45, and is buried in West Ham Cemetery.

Sold with silver cigarette case, hallmarked Chester 1908, the lid with engraved inscription, ‘D. Coy. Queen’s Westminster Rifles, 2nd Prize, won by L-Corpl. Chapman 1908.’, together with two enclosure letters for Great War medals addressed to Mrs E. M. Chapman, and an original news cutting announcing his death:

‘For many years deceased served with the Volunteers, and went through the Boer War, being in South Africa at the time of his father’s death. He had retired from the service, but on the outbreak of war was called upon, and given the rank of sergeant. For some weeks he was assisting in the training of new troops, but quite early in the war he went out to the front. He was at Armentieres when he was taken ill. He was brought home on March 3rd, and taken to the hospital at Manchester, where he died, his age being forty-six.’

His m.i.c. notes ‘1914 Star brought to change’, and ‘Rank amended Star re-issued 24.2.20’.

See Lots 479 and 527 for related family medals.