Private Karl Chapman aged 20

Karl Chapman was born in 1896. In 1911, Karl lived at 2 Old Lane with his mother Ruth and father Edmund (both in their sixties) and was working (aged 14) as a Worsted Doffer. He was one of 9 children. In 1901 the family was at Halifax Lane Fold and 1881 on Church Hill. Karl attended both St James and Midgley Sunday Schools and had moved to Dove’s Rest, Midgley by 1916. He signed up in Hebden Bridge in January 1916 for the Kings Royal Rifle Corps and was sent to Salonika (now Thessalonika) in November 1916 with the East Yorks Regiment. The poor conditions during the Salonica campaign meant that hundreds of men died of dysentery including Karl.

He’s buried in Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece and is commemorated on both the St James (Luddenden Methodist) Roll of Honour (now kept at Zion Chapel at Odgen) and the Providence (Midgley) Roll of Honour (now housed in the Midgley Community Rooms).