 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Akagadzwa muBengal Artillery muna 1858, iyo yakazobatanidzwa muRoyal Artillery. Akakurumidza kubata ngwariro yaSir Frederick Roberts uyo akafanotaura kuti Chapman aizoita chiratidzo chake. Akasarudzwa zvakakodzera kuti arwe muBritish Expedition kuAbyssiniapakati pa1867 na1868 semutungamiriri weNo. 5 Battery, 21st Brigade. Akanga aripo pakuita kweArogee uye pakudonha kwaMagdala, achishanda semubatsiri weBrigadier-General Petrie uye achitaurwa mumatare ebasa rake. Chapman akanga ari mutezo webasa rokuenda kuYarkand muChina muna 1874. Akashanda muHondo yechipiri yeAnglo-Afghan kubva muna 1878 kusvika muna 1880, uye aive Sir Frederick Roberts Chief of Staff panguva yekufamba kubva kuKabul kuenda kuKandahar. 