Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Brothers died in same week during First World War
Memorial service for siblings and 10 more heroes ‘We will think how deeply the loss of these young men was felt by all’
Jack, left, and Charles Chapman served with the Royal Flying Corps
Two heroic brothers who tragically died in the same week during the First World War are to be remembered at a special service in their home village of Nackington.
Charles and Jack Chapman served in the Buffs territorial battalion and were wounded in frontline action in France.
Both then enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps but were killed on separate missions.
Charles, a decorated squadron commander, died following an air raid while visiting gunners under his command at an aerodrome near Poperinghe.
Aged just 25, he succumbed to his wounds in the early hours of October 1, 1917 – Jack’s 21st birthday.
Jack attended his brother’s funeral in France two days later, but on October 7 died after being shot down while on an observer mission over enemy lines near Lille.
The brothers were among 12 men from Nackington who gave their lives in the First World War. Others named on the village stone cross memorial, unveiled in 1919, who will also be remembered are F Butler, A Cook, E Denne, W Eldridge, H Gardner, W Hedley, J Knott, H Maple, C Murton and E Williams.
The Chapman brothers grew up in Nackington with sister Violet but their parents, William and Maud Chapman, who were grief-stricken at the loss of their sons, died in 1930 and 1931. Violet died aged 49 from cancer.
The service at St Mary’s Church, Nackington, at 11.15am on Sunday will mark the 100th anniversary of the brothers’ deaths.
It is being organised by their nephew, Gospatrick Home, 84, who lives in Buckinghamshire.
He served in the Korean War with the Royal Fusiliers and will give the tribute to his uncles.
The memorial will also be attended by members of the Canterbury Royal British Legion, including president Gerry Ferrett, who will give the oration.
Mr Home said: “The deaths of the brothers was a devastating loss for their parents.
“But we will also remember the other 10 men of Nackington who died in action during the First World War and think of the suffering of their parents, families and friends from within the small and close-knit community and how deeply the loss of these young men was felt by all.
“We have tried to trace other family members of all the men of the village who were lost without much success, but anyone connected to them will be very welcome to attend.”
“We will also think of Charles and Jack’s sister, my mother Violet, who was a nurse in the Great War and whose own memorial service was held in this church in 1944.”