Trafford

Born during the December quarter 1882 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/178,
the youngest son of James & Elizabeth Chapman (nee Bradbury).  His family
were residing at 45 Egerton Street in 1881, so this is probably where
Thomas was born.    He was baptised at St. Anne's Parish Church on the 27th
May 1883.   His father was employed as a Carter and died in 1885, aged:
51.

1891 Census - 45 Egerton Street, Sale.   Son - aged: 8 - Scholar - born:
Sale.   Head of household - Elizabeth Chapman - Widow - aged: 54 - occ:
Laundress - born: Sale.   Plus 4 elder siblings and 1 Lodger.

WO96 - Thomas attested at Manchester on the 23rd October 1899 No. 6744,
into the 4th Battalion, Royal Lancaster Regiment and embodied on the 10th
August 1900.  Employed by Mr. Cordingley, Farmer, Temple Road, Sale Moor. 
He was then residing at 12 Sale Green, Sale Moor, employed as a Labourer
and aged 17 years 8 months.  He was 5 feet 3 1/2 inches in height, weiged
106 lb and had an expanded chest mesaurment of 31 inches with a 2 inch
expansion to 33 inches.  His complexion was described as Fresh, he had Grey
eyes and Brown hair.

His mother died in the spring of 1900, aged: 63.

He embarked for South Africa on the 19th September 1900.  He was discharged
by purchase (£1) on the 20th September 1902.

1901 Census - No Trace - Serving in South Africa in the Anglo-Boer War..

Married Annie Bardsley during the June quarter 1903 in the Bucklow R.D. -
ref: 8a/408.

1911 Census - 1 Sale Green Cottages, Sale Moor.    Head of household -
Married - aged: 29 - occ: Coal Carter - born: Sale.    Annie Chapman - Wife
- aged: 27 - born: Sale.  Plus 4 sons, aged: 7, 5, 2 & 8 months.

Member of St. Anne's Christian Brotherhood.  Employed by Mr. J.M.
Whitelegg, Furniture Removers, Sale but later by Mr. Joseph Whitehead,
Market Gardener, Gratrix Lane, Sale Moor.

Enlisted on the 3rd January 1915 and drafted to the front in October 1915.

MIC - Drafted to France on the 24th December 1915.   BWM - 15 Star -
Victory.

Served as the Cook to the Officers mess for some time.     Killed instantly
by shell fire.

Death reported in the 24th August edition of the Altrincham Guardian.

Cenotaph lists name simply as T. Chapman, as does St. Anne's.

Left a widow and 6 children.

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1918.