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Remembered Today:

Pte William Chapman 1/9 Durham Light infantry


SMG65

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As part of the CWGC tours of cemeteries in the UK I am doing some research on soldiers buried in Darlington.

I have what is available on William Chapman who died on 13 Feb 1915 at home in Darlington.

What intrigues me is that he was 48 years old and his regimental number is 3264, which suggests he joined in 1914, when war broke out.

Why would a battalion recruit a soldier aged 48 years old?

Is it possible he was an ex regular who they recruited to help with training?

 

Sean

 

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Interestingly his entry in the Soldiers effects Register shows him as 4th Company, National Reserve, Durham Light Infantry.

He died in the 1st Northern General Hospital in Newcastle.

Ken

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Ken

Thank you for that.

That has got me head scratching.

I'll see if I can shed some light in the next week on him.

 

Sean

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Even more interesting he has two pension cards...

died 13.12.15 of pneumonia on one

died 13.2.15 of pneumonia on other.

Mother's address is different on them as well...

Ivy Cottage Tuckwell(?) Row, Darlington

and Dryden's Yard, Subwell(?), Darlington on the other

George

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George

 

Thank you for this.

Tubwell Row in Darlington is one of the main 'streets' in the town centre.

I have spoken to the tour guide who is going to use the story of William and it will be the first grave visited.

Kind regards

Sean

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20 hours ago, George Rayner said:

Ivy Cottage Tuckwell(?) Row, Darlington

and Dryden's Yard, Subwell(?), Darlington

Are these the same place then?

Ivy Cottage, Dryden's Yard, Tubwell Row, Darlington as a complete address?

Am I right in concluding that his mother re-married when he was ten and that is why he is 'step-son' in 1911 census?

George

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2 hours ago, George Rayner said:

Are these the same place then?

Ivy Cottage, Dryden's Yard, Tubwell Row, Darlington as a complete address?

Am I right in concluding that his mother re-married when he was ten and that is why he is 'step-son' in 1911 census?

George

I'll have to dig out the old maps of Darlington, Tubwell Row is about 200 yards long and leads to the Market Place and the main shopping areas. It had a lot of yards and pubs (still has) and in 1915 was a very busy place, (full of bus stops now).

I don't know about the 1911 census, I tend to only renew Ancestry in October for 6 months as my research time in spring/summer is limited.

I attach a picture of Tubwell Row around 1920 to give you an idea of it.

 

Sean

R.jpg

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Thank you for that

George

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