Charles Lapsley likeness

Charles Lapsley cap badgePrivate Charles Lapsley

1/4th Battalion Duke of Wellingtons (West Riding Regiment)
Service No: 3798

Charles Lapsley grave

1438

1

4

0

46
Personal details

Family Information

Son of Edward and Bridget Carton Lapsley of 272 Dundyvan Rd, Coatbridge. His father later married Catherine Devitt/Devite (15/03/1866-11/07/1957) who had been married to James McVie and they had 3 children. Husband of Mary Elizabeth Lapsley of 46 Frederick St, Wakefield Rd, Bradford. They were married on the 13/04/1915 in Halifax (married just 7 months). Mary went back to her maiden name of Cragen after Charles' death. Charles' step mothers son 2nd Lieutenant Herbert McVie of the 16th Battalion Royal Scots died in 1923 but is listed on the Memorial by NOT with the CWGC. From the 1901 Census - Address - 58 Middle Row, Coatbridge - Edward Lapsley aged 41, Catherine Lapsley aged 21 (24/03/1880-28/09/1959), Charles Lapsley aged 14, Mary Lapsley aged 12. Charles also had a sister named Elizabeth Lapsley (28/03/1883-03/06/1911) and 1 half sister Jane (Jean) Veronica Lapsley (01/04/1904-18/01/1980) and 1 half brother Thomas Harold Lapsley (22/01/1906-29/01/1976). Pension Records state both Charles' father and wife claimed for Pension. Records show father Edward was awarded.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 46 Frederick St, Wakefield Rd, Bradford.

Died

Killed in Action on the 20/11/1915 in Ypres

Enlisted

Halifax 22/03/1915 previously Bradford 30/08/1914

Employed

Labourer. Previously a Miner in Rosehall Colliery.

Age

28 / DOB - 18/08/1887

Buried / Remembered

Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 20), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, often referred to simply as the Menin Gate, bears the names of more than 54,000 soldiers who died before 16 August 1917 and have no known grave. Between October 1914 and September 1918 hundreds of thousands of servicemen of the British Empire marched through the town of Ypres's Menin Gate on their way to the battlefields. The memorial now stands as a reminder of those who died who have no known grave and is perhaps one of the most well-known war memorials in the world. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

Additional Information

The 1/4th Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 14/04/1915 and were part of the 147th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division when Charles fell. Charles' Company were heavily shelled whilst occupying the left hand sector along the Ypres-Commines Canal. He was Killed in Action just 22 days after being with his Battalion at the front. He was formerly with the 7th Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, "D" Company (12052) but after joining on the 30/08/1914 he was discharged after 1 month. He re-joined the West Riding Regiment on the 22/03/1915. Charles was previously with this Regiment in India before the outbreak of war. A huge thank you to Harry Breen in Essex (Jane/Jean Lapsley's son) for information on Charles' family and for photos. Much appreciated. See Directory for Charles' step mothers son Herbert McVie's page. See Charles' West Riding Service Record 10 for a list of Charles' effects being sent to him wife Mary. See photos for Charles' Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Menin Gate Memorial Panel List, his name on the Menin Gate Memorial x 2, Charles' sister Elizabeth McGowan (nee Lapsley listed on the 1911 Census, Elizabeth's Birth Certificate, Elizabeth's Death Certificate, Charles' sister Catherine's Marriage Certificate, Catherine's Death Certificate, Charles' father and mother's Marriage Certificate, Charles' mother's Death Certificate, his half sister Jane's (Jean) Baptism Certificate, Jane (Jean) and Charles' stepmother Catherine, photos of Jane (Jean) x 3, Charles' Service Records with the 7th Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry x 5, his Service Records with the 1st/4th West Riding Regiment x 20, his previous Regiment the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Cap Badge, the West Riding Regiment Cap Badge, Charles' CWGC Memorial Certificate, his Pension Records x 3 and finally Charles and Mary Elizabeth's Marriage Certificate.

Photos
Charles Lapsley Medal Index CardCharles Lapsley newspaper clippingCharles Lapsley remembered at homeCharles Lapsley remembered at homeCharles Lapsley remembered at homeCharles Lapsley remembered at homeCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photoCharles Lapsley additional photo

Creative Commons License

We have made this information and the images available under a Creative Commons BY-NC license. This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement: © coatbridgeandthegreatwar.com

Comments

There are no comments yet for Private Charles Lapsley. Be the first to leave one.


Do you have any information about or memories of Private Charles Lapsley that you would like to share?

Or even if you would just like to leave a message to say you've been here, please leave a comment below.

*Please note that all comments are verified by a moderator before appearing on the site. All fields are required except links to photos.