Charles (Charlie) Lapsley likeness

Charles (Charlie) Lapsley cap badgePrivate Charles (Charlie) Lapsley

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

Charles (Charlie) Lapsley grave

1743

1

4

0

90
Personal details

Family Information

Son of Edward and Bridget Carton Lapsley of 272 Dundyvan Rd, Coatbridge. His mother Bridget died at home on the 30th January 1934 aged 34. 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' stepmother's son, 2nd Lieutenant Herbert McVie of the 16th (Service) Battalion Royal Scots (2nd Edinburgh), died in 1923 and is listed on the Coatbridge Memorial but 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 his wife claimed for his Pension. It was awarded to his father Edward of 2 Miller St, Coatbridge on the 20/09/1920.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 46 Frederick St, Wakefield Rd, Bradford.

Died

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

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 (2nd West Riding) 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. SEE PHOTOS x 14 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FROM 29th OCTOBER (the day Charles joined the Battalion) - 20th NOVEMBER 1915 (the day Charles was Killed in Action). The War Diary states - YPRES SALIENT NOV. 20th "Work in all Trenches overnight improving parapets - quiet night with occasional bursts of M/Gun fire from enemy traversing in rear of Trenches - Work where possible by day in all Trenches. Lt. Col. G.K. SULLIVAN wounded by shell - enemy shelled CANAL BANK as usual during afternoon. 1647 Pte. H.E. YARNOLD bullet head. 2648 G. WORMERSLEY bullet arm". Charles was formerly with the 7th (Service) Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, "D" Company (12052) but after joining on the 30/08/1914 he was discharged after 1 month. The cause of discharge was - "Worthless and not likely to become an efficient soldier". He re-joined the West Riding Regiment on the 22/03/1915. He was at home until he embarked from Southampton aboard troop carrier S.S. "Mona's Queen" on the 12/10/1915 arriving at Le Havre on the 13/10/1915. He then proceeded to the front on the 27/10/1915 and joined his Battalion in the field on the 29/10/1915. 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. See Directory for Charles' stepmother's son 2nd Lieutenant Herbert McVie's page. See Charles' 1/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) Service Record (10) for a list of Charles' effects being sent to his wife Mary. See photos for Charles' Medal Index Card, his and Mary Elizabeth's Marriage Certificate, his father and mother's Marriage Certificate, his mother Bridget's Death Certificate, his sister Catherine's Marriage Certificate, his sister Catherine's Death Certificate, Charles' sister Elizabeth's Birth Certificate, Elizabeth listed on the 1911 Census, Elizabeth's Death Certificate, Charles' half-sister Jane's (Jean) Baptism Certificate, Jane (Jean) and Charles' stepmother Catherine and Charles' half-sister Jane (Jean) x 3. Finally, see photos for Charles' CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Menin Gate Memorial Panel List, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his name on the Menin Gate Memorial x 2, Charles' Pension Records x 3, Memorial Certificate available to print above, Memorial Certificate available from the CWGC, his King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Service Records x 5, the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Cap Badge, his Service Records with the 1/4th Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) x 20, the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) Cap Badge, PAGES x 17 FROM THE HISTORY OF THE 1/4th BATTALION DUKE OF WELLINGTON'S (WEST RIDING REGIMENT) BOOK NOVEMBER 1915, the 49th (West Riding) Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division Charles was with when he fell) and a Newspaper clipping from the Coatbridge Express 08/10/1915.

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

War Diaries

The battalion War Diary is available on the National Archives website.

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