Major General John Austin Chapman, CB, DSO & Bar (15 December 1896 – 19 April 1963) was a professional soldier in the Australian Army.

Volunteering for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), his first assignment was to 30th Battalion,[1] then being raised in New South Wales and destined for Egypt.

He was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his actions of 28 August 1918, when he carried out a reconnaissance of the front lines under heavy fire.

[4] Still in England when the Second World War broke out in September 1939, he was posted to the British 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division as a staff officer but returned to Australia in January 1940, having been promoted to lieutenant colonel in November 1939.

[1] Promoted to colonel in April 1940, he was chief of staff to Major General John Lavarack, the commander of 7th Division, until August 1941.

[5] Commencing on 8 June 1941, the division participated in the two-month-long Syrian Campaign against the Vichy French during which Chapman earned a recommendation for a Bar to his DSO.

[7] After the conclusion of the Syrian campaign, Chapman was promoted to temporary brigadier in August and became responsible for the AIF Base Area in the Middle East.