Spr. Frank Chapman was a British sapper and bulldozer driver with the 619 Field Park Company, Royal Engineers, during the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, Germany in April 1945. His military ID number was 14322433. He returned from the war, married and owned an ice cream shop in Hawes, Yorkshire, England. He was involved in several remembrance events in England, Belgium, and Germany and returned to Bergen-Belsen for the 50th anniversary event.
EXTREMELY GRAPHIC FOOTAGE. For some duplicate (although poorer quality) footage, see Story 2653, Film ID 165.
LS (very jumpy at first) of scattered bodies, Nazis push two truckloads through field while British troops urge them on. Nazis look very haggard. MS to female SS in trailer, followed by a trailer with British troops. Crowd of women ex-prisoners gathered, clapping, rush after Nazis, angry. MLS of bulldozer digging communal grave. Lorry passes with female SS and accompanying British guard. SS women unload corpses from truck and carry bodies to edge of communal grave where they are dropped in. Male SS doing the same at the other end of the grave. MS of women carrying and swinging corpses into grave. Two LSs, bulldozer (barracks in BG) slowly pushes pile of corpses towards edge of pit; the bodies slide down with dirt. More bulldozing towards camera. Bulldozer lifts up. In FG, two women with kerchiefs watch. More bulldozing, driver with bandanna, hand over mouth. The bulldozer is operated by 14322433 Sapper Frank Chapman, age 21, 619 Field Park Company, Royal Engineers, pushing bodies into Mass Grave 1. LS, push slowly towards camera. MS as bulldozer advances into camera, scoops up dirt as it passes over nearly filled grave. Mostly dirt and bodies. In BG, silhouettes of women standing at edge of pit watching.
Burial at Belsen