CHAPMAN Marion Dorothy

Marion Dorothy Chapman was born at South Shields on 10th September 1890, the 3rd daughter of Henry Chapman (Chartered Accountant) and his wife Dora. Marion had 7 brothers and 3 older sisters. In 1891 the family consisting of Dora and her 10 children, Ethel aged 13, Henry aged 12, Robert aged 11, Hilda aged 10, George G. aged 8, Alan Edward aged 7, Dora E. aged 6, Laurence A. aged 4, Fred Ernest aged 3 and Marion aged 6 months were living at Seacroft, Harton, South Shields along with Dora’s sister-in-law and 4 servants. Henry was not at home on the night the census was taken. In 1901 the family were still living in the same residence with 3 servants, 4 of the older children had left home and Marion had a younger brother, Charles L. Chapman aged 8.

It is not known when or where Marion undertook medical training but in 1915 she worked as a nurse in a VAD Hospital in South Shields and later, a hospital at Alnwick in Northumberland. Wanting to serve overseas, she enrolled as a nurse with Durham 2 Voluntary Aid Detachment on 3rd January 1917 and was posted to Egypt where she worked at No 17 General Hospital, Alexandria. Marion Chapman died of pneumonia at the hospital on 10th August 1918, almost a year after her younger brother, Major Charles Lancelot, MC, aged 25, died of wounds in Belgium on 22nd August 1917. Marion was 27 years of age. She was buried in Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt Grave B. 76.

She is commemorated on the reredos of St Michael’s Church and on a roll of honour plaque at South Shields Golf Club.

Photograph of Marion Chapman courtesy & © IWM (WWC H2-110)