Archibald John Chapman

Archibald John Chapman was the son of John Edward Chapman of Monkstown, Co. Dublin. His mother was the third daughter of Sir A Weldon 4th Bt of Rahinderry and Kilmorony, Athy, Queen’s County. He was commissioned in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers from the Militia on 14 May 1884. His pre-war career displays the hallmarks of the serious professional. He was Adjutant 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers (December 1889-December 1893), he passed Staff College in 1899, he saw active service in the South African War (1899-1902), in which he was three times mentioned in despatches, and he commanded 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers (June 1906-June 1910).

Chapman’s career then experienced the common hiatus of full colonels. He was on half-pay until June 1911 before finding a berth in the new Territorial Force as Commander of the Staffordshire Brigade (June 1911-October 1912). When the European War broke out he was GSO1 Northern Command (October 1912-December 1914).

On Christmas Eve 1914 he became the first commander of 85th Brigade, part of the 28th Division, then in the process of being assembled from Regular troops recalled from imperial garrison duties. Both 28th Division and its sister formation, the 27th, experienced considerable difficulties of discipline and morale on the Western Front in 1915.

Billy Congreve was able to observe 85th Brigade at close quarters while it was attached to 3rd Division (December 1914-April 1915).

‘The Brigadier of our new Brigade, the 85th came to see the General [Aylmer Haldane] about midday,’ he wrote in his diary on 19 February. ‘I sincerely hope his Brigade has not got their tales [sic] down as badly as their Brigadier! He arrived saying he had brought a “shattered brigade”, that the position there was hopeless, etc.’

Congreve amended this opinion on 23 March:

‘The 28th Division - like the 27th - seem unable to manage their business properly. We have found the 85th Brigade to be first-class in every way; General Chapman commands and Deveril [sic] is brigade major.’ 

Having the formidable Cyril Deverell as Brigade Major was clearly an asset, but it was not enough to save Chapman, who was sent home on 18 May. He was 52. His experienced was utilised as Inspector of Infantry. He commanded 2nd Cyclist Brigade from October 1918-August 1919 and retired from the army the following December.