Current Information:

Age-31

Alscot Road, Bermondsey

Bailleul Communal Cemetery, France

On 1st June, 1915, the 1st Dragoon Guards of 8 (Lucknow) Brigade, 1st Indian Cavalry Division were in the line at Hooge Chateau and Zouave Wood in the Ypres salient. Trench warfare meant that there was little or no role for the cavalry to play so they were dismounted and holding the trenches there in the same way as the infantry would. From 5 am to 8.30 am and again between 2 pm and 4 pm, the enemy shelled their trenches, causing a number of casualties. At 5am on the following day, 2nd June, the chateau was heavily shelled and to avoid being blown to bits the men of 1st Dragoon Guards retreated to the cellars. When the shelling stopped the trenches were manned and a German infantry attack was driven off everywhere except at the stables of the chateau. 1st Dragoon Guards took part in a counter attack here and managed to regain some of the lost ground. Alfred Chapman died from wounds on 4th June and it is likely that he was wounded during this action.