Pictures courtesy of JB Military Antiques
IGS 1895 (2) PUNJAB FRONTIER 1897 – 98, TIRAH 1897 – 98, period engraved (3807 Lc Cp G H Chapman 1st Bn Gord Hrs);
QSA (5) CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902 (3807 SJT. H. CHAPMAN. 1ST GORDON HIGHRS).;
International Order of Good Templars Medal, engraved to reverse ‘South African Campaign 1899/1902 For Steadfastness Bro. Sergt. G. Chapman;
The Army Rifle Association’s ‘Queen’s Cup’ Medal, in silver, dated 1896, period engraved 1st Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders’. No. 3807 Lance Corporal G.H. Chapman engraved on rim; 47.5mm, 104.87g, in original box by Elkington (broken at hinge).
Described as:
Comes with copies of service papers, medal rolls and newspaper article. Sergeant George Henry Chapman was born in 1872 in Doncaster, Yorkshire. He was working as a board finisher when he enlisted in Leeds with the Gordon Highlanders on 2/4/1891, whilst serving with the 3rd Volunteer Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. After initial recruit training, he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion on 3/7/1891 and subsequently posted to the 1st Battalion on 5/4/1892. He joined the 1st Battalion in India, serving with there from 26/2/1892 – 18/10/1898. He was part of the 1st Battalion’s shooting team, winning the Queen’s Cup in 1896. He was present at the charge on the Heights of Dargai, during which two Victoria Crosses were won by the battalion. Lieutenant Tillard of the 3rd Gurkha Scouts described the charge:
“The scene makes me shake with excitement even now. The Gordons, pipers playing, and men cheering, never stopped or wavered although many of them were down. It was one wild continuous rush of men all eager to get to the enemy. The sight was magnificent and the excitement so intense that I for one, although I was shouting at the top of my voice, felt the tears springing up into my eyes and could not keep them back”.
The battalion lost 1 officer and 2 men killed, with 6 officers and 35 men wounded.
He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 8/3/1898 and served in Egypt from 19/10/1898 - 8/12/1898 and promoted to Corporal in April 1899. He deployed to South Africa between 16/2/1901 – 22/10/1902, being promoted to Sergeant on 4/1/1902. One medal roll records him having served with both the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders and the 23rd Mounted Company.
Post war he found employment as a school janitor in Dundee.