Background
Born 16 May 1891 at Wandsworth, London, son of Frederick Chapman, a geologist"s assistant, and his wife Helen Mary, née Dancer.
Born 16 May 1891 at Wandsworth, London, son of Frederick Chapman, a geologist"s assistant, and his wife Helen Mary, née Dancer.
In 1902 the family came to Australia where Frederick took up his appointment as paleontologist at the National Museum, Melbourne, and served as the first Australian Commonwealth Palaeontologist 1927–1935. Enlisted 7 June 1915
Egypt & France
Commissioned 29 September 1917
France
Discharged 31 July 1919
1946 joined the Commonwealth Department of Transport as director of civil engineering in the railway standardisation division
From 1946 he had been vice-chairman of the Standards Association
1949 Chapman was one of three distinguished engineers upon whom the University of Western Australia conferred a doctorate of engineering honoris causa – a distinction in which he took such pride that he thereafter styled himself Doctor Chapman. Called up for part-time duty on 1 January 1940
lieutenant colonel, he commanded the 2nd/2nd Army Field Workshop which he took to Palestine
colonel, chief ordnance mechanical engineer at A.I.F. Headquarters
He made some important innovations in the design of mobile workshops and was mentioned in dispatches
In January 1943 he was made chief superintendent of design.
Promoted temporary brigadier in August
In November 1945 he transferred to the Reserve of Officers as an honorary brigadier.