Hello My family for many years has been interested in a family friend who died in the Normandy campaign and who 30 years ago we searched for in cemeteries when on holiday near the D-Day beaches. His name is Robert ‘Bobby’ Chapman and we were unsuccessful but very moved by the search. Many years later I returned to looking into him and used the internet to discover that he was Robert Chapman of the 5th Battalion Coldstream Guards killed 03.08.1944 and buried at St. Charles De Percy cemetery. The story in my family was that he was wounded and taken in by a french family and tended to through the night but died there in the night or next morning. I notice from the cemetery consolidation records of the CWGC that he was originally buried in the Le Homme - La Ferronniere area whereas many others killed on the 3rd were buried further south near La Marvindiere. I wonder if that indicates that he was wounded earlier than the 3rd and does anyone have any records that would help in this matter? To end the story, apparently his mother travelled to France after the war and found the house he had been looked after in and his helmet was hanging on the wall kept by the family. Many thanks John
His initial burial is here Latitude : 48° 55' 28'' N Longitude : 0° 48' 28' W Latitude : 48.92439 ° Longitude : -0.80776 ° If you zoom in it appears to be next to some farm buildings at a hamlet called Le Homme, near to St Charles de Percy TD
Apologies if I’m wrong Richard as I haven’t read the whole thread today but have you posted this on the wrong topic? Should it be on this one just started this morning? Regards Steve R Chapman 5th Coldstream Guards PS I think you might’ve been posting when Owen moved the Chapman query in to a stand-alone topic. I’ll ask him to move this one to join it.
Hello Thank you so much for replying so quickly and already assisting me with locating the original burial position. Is there a war diary record that anyone has that might shed more light on action in this area do you think? Regards John
L-Cpl Robert Chapman (Unknown-1944) - Find A Grave... Lance Corporal CHAPMAN, ROBERT Service Number 2665349 Died 03/08/1944 Aged 20 5th Bn. Coldstream Guards Son of John William and Lily Chapman, of Newland, Lancashire. INSCRIPTION O VALIANT HEART Buried at ST. CHARLES DE PERCY WAR CEMETERY Location: Calvados, France Number of casualties: 705 Cemetery/memorial reference: IX. A. 3.
Thanks to everyone for your help Having looked the information provided and other materials I have a hunch that Robert Chapman and his comrade and friend Robert Middleton were wounded/killed on the 2nd as this would tie in with the alternative route taken by their battle group around St Charles De Percy. Only they were buried in Le Homme with the others at La Mavindiere which was where the battalion ended up on the evening of the 2nd. Only a guess but very interesting.
Hello John, Bob Chapman was a relative of mine, my grandma and his mum were sisters. I am interested in speaking with you to help with your search. I am still good friends with the family of M Delatroette who was the farmer who had Bob’s helmet.
