SPENCER CHAPMAN, Frederick

Those that served

Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick SPENCER CHAPMAN DSO* TD

Seaforth Highlanders, SOE

Pre-war explorer and teacher; became Commando instructor in Australia, then Singapore, 1941.  Organised stay-behind parties during Japanese advance into Malaya, 1942. Disrupted enemy supply lines from jungle hide-outs: inflicted significant damage but ran out of supplies at fall of Singapore. Remaining in the jungle, separated from British colleagues, he made contact with Chinese guerrillas and trained them in jungle warfare. Suffered dreadful privations including capture, wounds and virulent tropical diseases; made contact with SOE operatives, December 1943: finally taken off by submarine, May 1945: parachuted back in August to liaise with guerrillas over Japanese surrender.

SPENCER CHAPMAN, Frederick

Those that served