Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Roy Benjamin Chapman
In memory of:
Aircraftman 2nd Class Roy Benjamin Chapman
December 12, 1942
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Military Service
R/173157
25
Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
Torbay Base, Newfoundland (RCAF)
Defense Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and clasp.
Additional Information
September 21, 1917
Burlington, Ontario
June 19, 1942
Hamilton, Ontario
Son of the Rev. James Chapman and Edith Anna Vanzant, of Hamilton, Ontario.
He was a reservist in the 1st Field Squadron of the Royal Canadian Engineer – NPAM. He was a private in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada – NPAM – service number B-572263, in Galt, Ontario, from November 22 to December 21, 1940 in order to receive 30 days of compulsory basic training under the Mobilization Act. of National Resources (NRMA) of 1940.
He died of burns sustained in the Knights of Columbus Hostel fire in St. John's, Newfoundland, on December 12, 1942, which claimed 99 civilian and military casualties. Doubts have hovered and still hover about an act of Nazi sabotage, the cause having never been determined. The medical report written on December 14, 1942 claims that Chapman died on December 13, at 1:15 a.m., at Fort Pepperell Air Force Base Hospital in St. John's.
He served in Canada for 133 days and in Newfoundland for 43 days.
Commemorated on Page 64 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
GANDER CEMETERY
Newfoundland, Canada
Plot 5. Row 12. Grave 30.
Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Digital Collection
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Details
Newspaper clipping – From the Hamilton Spectator c. 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
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Newspaper clipping – From the Hamilton Spectator c. 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
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Newspaper clipping – From the Hamilton Spectator c. 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
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Grave Marker – Photo Courtesy of Gander War Cemetery: A Digital exhibit sponsored by Canada's Digital Collection
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