Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Norman Edgar Chapman
In memory of:
Second Radio Officer Norman Edgar Chapman
January 14, 1942
Military Service
21
Merchant Navy
Canadian Merchant Navy
S.S. Coimbra (London, England) (165498)
Additional Information
February 23, 1920
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Son of Walter Chapman and Viney Emily Georgina Cox of Terrace, British Columbia. In the First World War, Walter fought in France with the 27th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, regimental number 187023, and was wounded in action. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
On 15 January 1942, the Coimbra was sailing unescorted off the coast of New York when it was torpedoed at 9.41 am by U-123. Its cargo ignited the ship. It received a second torpedo and quickly sank, in position 40°25'N/72°21'W. The captain, 29 crew members and six gunners lost their lives. Of the ten survivors, six were injured. Two were picked up by the American destroyer USS Rowan (DD-405) and landed at Argentia, Newfoundland. The other four were rescued by the American destroyer USS Mayrant (DD-402) and taken to St. John's, Newfoundland.
Commemorated on Page 111 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
HALIFAX MEMORIAL
Nova Scotia, Canada
Panel 20.
The HALIFAX MEMORIAL in Nova Scotia's capital, erected in Point Pleasant Park, is one of the few tangible reminders of the men who died at sea. Twenty-four ships were lost by the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War and nearly 2,000 members of the RCN lost their lives. This Memorial was erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and was unveiled in November 1967 with naval ceremony by H.P. MacKeen, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, in the presence of R. Teillet, then Minister of Veterans Affairs. The monument is a great granite Cross of Sacrifice over 12 metres high, clearly visible to all ships approaching Halifax. The cross is mounted on a large podium bearing 23 bronze panels upon which are inscribed the names of over 3,000 Canadian men and women who were buried at sea. The dedicatory inscription, in French and English, reads as follows:
1918-1945
IN THE HONOUR OF
THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE NAVY
ARMY AND MERCHANT NAVY
OF CANADA
WHOSE NAMES
ARE INSCRIBED HERE
THEIR GRAVES ARE UNKNOWN
BUT THEIR MEMORY
SHALL ENDURE.
On June 19, 2003, the Government of Canada designated September 3rd of each year as a day to acknowledge the contribution of Merchant Navy Veterans.
Digital Collection
Do you have photographs or personal memorabilia relating to Norman Edgar Chapman that you want included in our digital collection?
Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial
To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.
- Date modified: