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Capt William Chaplin was awarded the Bronze Star Medal a first fime for heroic achievements in military operations against the enemy near Hambye, France on 30 July 1944. The citation for this Bronze Star mentioned the following, "when his company encountered heavy enemy opposition and a number of men were seriously wounded while protecting engineers constructing a bridge, Capt Chaplin skillfully maneuvered his unit into a more advantageous position and with effective rifle fire repulsed the hostile attack."

He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal a second time posthumously for his action during the battle for Aachen. The citation reads, "Despite heavy mortar fire, apt Chaplin moved fearlessly about exposed ground and directed the succesful defense of a tactically important terrain feature. In the performance of his heroic mission, Capt Chaplin was mortally wounded."

He was killed by mortar shrapnel.

Capt Chaplin was initially buried at Henri-Chapelle in a temporary grave at Henri-Chapelle on 18 October 1944. After being disinterred and after the cemetery was given a permanent status, he was given his final resting place on 1 July 1948.