CHAPMAN, Herbert Trewartha

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             10th Infantry Brigade
                                             44th Battalion - Winnipeg
                                             The Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   622967
RESIDENCE:                    Seaforth – Ontario.
DATE OF BIRTH:            September 3, 1888
                                             Mount Forest - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           October 25, 1916                 28 years     1 month
MEMORIAL:                    Vimy Memorial – Vimy –
                                             Pas de Calais - France
WIFE:                                 Emma Selena Chapman - Seaforth
PARENTS:                         Mr. and Mrs. William E. Chapman – Seaforth
Occupation:                        Tinsmith                               Religion:     Wesleyan
Enlistment:                         Camp Hughes – Gilbert Plains – Manitoba – September 30, 1915
Enlistment Age:                 27 years

Private Chapman arrived in Bramshott - Hampshire on October 30, 1915. He departed for France on August 10, 1916 and arrived in France at Havre on August 12, 1916.
What we know in this fight for the Regina Trench is that on October 25th the 44th Battalion advanced and pushed their way forward against the Regina Trench east of the Pys road, but they found that the artillery had not cut the enemy wire. The British Command again threw men at a defence position they knew little about and their poor and almost nonchalant planning resulting in the 44th suffering 200 casualties with no gains. 
The objective of the advance for October 25th was to capture and then consolidate Regina Trench where it crosses Farmers Road.
The morning began with rain falling but it cleared up as the afternoon continued.
The Battalion was positioned at the Bricklands.
The Battalion was ordered to advance and to take part of Regina Trench from the Farmer Road to where the 11th Brigade had set up their blocks, then clean up the area and when that took place the line would turn back along the Farmer Road to Dyke Road. The advance proceeded but because the artillery barrage that was to have come down on the enemy was so weak and insufficient the advance failed. 
With the lack of artillery support and the heavy enemy fire from rifles, machine-guns and artillery the 44th Battalion suffered heavily.
40 men were killed, 132 men were wounded, 13 men were missing and believed killed and another 8 men were missing.
Private Chapman was killed in action during military operations near Courcelette in France. He was immediately reported as being missing but later it was changed to say he was killed in action during this attempted advance onto Regina Trench.