Lance Corporal Andrew (Audrey) McGregor Chapman
- Rank
- Lance Corporal
- Service number
- 19348
- Unit
- Royal Scottish Regiment
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Somme, France
- Date of death
- 1 July 1916
- Age
- 25
- Plaque number
- M349
- Dedicated by
- Brother on 3 August 1919
- More information
Biography abstract:
Andrew Macgregor Chapman, known through life as Audrey sometimes spelt Andrey McGregor, was born In North Leith, Edinburgh, Midlothian Scotland, 28 May 1891 to William Lennox Chapman and Eleanora (nee Crawford). He had two brothers James Lennox and William Edwin.
He arrived in Fremantle from London aboard the passenger ship Otway on 12 August 1909; he boarded with Miss Tomasina Laughton, a lass from Midlothian, living in Carr Street North Perth, before moving in with his brother William in Newcastle Street North Perth, where they both worked as travelling salesmen.
On 17 August 1914 he arrived back in London from Fremantle aboard passenger ship Osterley and from there to Scotland.
Audrey was a member of 16 Battalion Royal Scots, they formed in Edinburgh in late November 1914 by Lieutenant Colonel Sir George McCrae MP, and he was a keen supporter and director of Hearts Midlothian football club. Sir George enrolled eleven players to the Royal Scots and within days over eight hundred men had signed up, then other club players and supporters joined taking the number for 16 Battalion to over fourteen hundred men. The 16th Royal Scots were more commonly known as McCrae’s Battalion.
At the Battle of the Somme, the plan was for British forces to attack along a fourteen mile front, after a weeklong Artillery bombardment of German positions, then two minutes before zero hour nineteen mines were exploded under German lines. At zero seven thirty hours the troops went over the top at a slow and steady pace.
The 16th Royal Scots were assigned an attack on the village of La Boisselle, very little was gained on the day, debris and falling debris from the Lochnagar mine slowed progress, the Royal Scots, Suffolk’s and 27th Irish Tyneside manage to take Scots Redoubt in almost undamaged condition. By the end of the day, despite their valiant efforts the cost to the 16th Battalion of The Royal Scots was four hundred and seventy two casualties, Aubrey was one of these soldiers.
Aubrey’s brother James Lennox Chapman of the British Merchant Navy died at sea in 1928 while William Edwin Chapman ex 28 Battalion died Perth, Western Australia 1937. His nephew Captain James Hay Chapman MC of Durham Light Infantry was killed in action in Italy 1943 – sadly ending the family line.
Lance Corporal Aubrey McGregor Chapman, service number 19348 of Royal Scottish Regiment, was killed in action aged 25 at La Boisselle France on 1 July 1916. He has no known grave.