Pte 11439 Reginald Stapleton

• Age: 18
• From: Battersea, London
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 24th July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Reginald Stapleton was born in the summer of 1898 in 3 Victoria Street, Battersea and was baptised on the 21st August 1898 at Battersea St Philip's Church, Wandsworth, London, his parents living at 49 Queen Square, father’s occupation barrack warden (a job usually filled by ex-army personnel). His father, Thomas Patrick Stapleton and his mother, Elizabeth (née Capps), who were married on the 03rd August 1897 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel & St Joseph, Battersea Park. They had seven children; his siblings were Donald, Sydney, Aileen, Thomas (who died at age 1), Patrick, and Kathleen.  Reginald was baptised in St. Philip’s Church, Battersea, on 21st August 1898, his parents living at 49 Queen Square, father’s occupation barrack warden (a job usually filled by ex-army personnel).

His father Thomas was born in 1861 in Corfu whilst his own father, John Stapleton, was serving with the 2nd Battalion 9th Foot (East Norfolk) in Cephalonia. Thomas was a boy pupil at Royal Hibernian Military School, Dublin, and was in India from 1889 until 1896 when he was discharged after 21 years service.

By the time of the 1901 Census his father’s job has taken them to Reading; they are living in Oxford Wood Barracks, where his father is aged 50, a barrack warden, his mother Elizabeth is aged 38, born in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, Reginald is 2, Donald 1, and Sydney 2 months old.   Between 1906 and 1909 they have moved to Portsmouth, where in 1911 they are living at 27 Hunter Road, with six children.  His father is still employed as barrack warden.  Reginald is 13, Donald 12, Sydney 11, Aileen 10, Patrick 4, and Kathleen 2.   It appears the family moved soon afterwards to Cork, Ireland, where his mother died the next year on the 16th February 1902, aged 38, from cardiac failure. 

Between 1906 and 1909 they have moved to Portsmouth, where in 1911 they are living at 27 Hunter Road, with six children.  His father is still employed as barrack warden. Reginald is 13, Donald 12, Sydney 11, Aileen 10, Patrick 4, and Kathleen 2.   It appears the family moved soon afterwards to Cork, Ireland, where his mother died the next year.

Her death was reported in the Reading Standard on Saturday 24th February 1912;

A Sad Case. 

The many friends of Mr Thomas Stapleton, who until about two years ago was barrack warden at the depot of the Royal Berks regiment and had lately been living in Ireland, will sympathise with him in his sudden bereavement. His wife died at Fermoy on Sunday, leaving six children.

On the 10th October 1912, Thomas married Mary Anne Guiver, a widow, of Mill Road, Fermoy, County Cork at the Catholic Church at Fermoy, County Cork. She had a 16 year old son, Charles (Frederick) Guiver.   

Reginald enlisted in Waterford (where his family were likely living in the infantry barracks), and served as Private 11439, 18^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. As he would have been only 16 years old when war broke out, it is not known when he enlisted but he must have lied about his age. 

After the Battle of Arras, in May 1917 the battalion moved north to the dreaded Ypres Salient.  

On 24^th July the battalion marched from Wippenhoek to Canal Reserve Camp, incurring some casualties killed, wounded, and missing.  Pte Reginald Stapleton was killed but his body was not recovered or was subsequently lost and he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres. He was 18 or had just turned 19 years old. 

He was reported killed in Weekly Casualty List on the 28th August 1917;

KING'S (LIVERPOOL REGIMENT) .- Ashcroft 240830 J. E. (Liverpool); Banks 235125 T. (Stoke-on-Trent); Berrington 49054 W. F. (Chester); Gaskell 25732 T. P. P. (Wigan); George 56392 W. (Miles Platting); Holden 38820 F. (Wigan); Jackson 240568 W. E. (Liverpool); Shanks 52114 H. (Ardwick); Stapleton 11439 R. (Waterford); Tait 235257 C. A. (Thornaby-on-Tees); Williams 44602 R. (Swansea). 

His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. 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.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Curiously, the name of Charles (Frederick) Guiver, 51976 Lincolnshire Reg. (previously 44513. 27/T.Res Bn) also appears on the pension card.  Pte C. Guiver (b.1896) enlisted on 17/9/13, and was discharged sick (tubercle) on 24/8/18, address Infantry Barracks, Waterford.  He received a Silver War Badge.  His connection to the Stapleton family is as Reginald's step-brother.

His Soldiers Effects, Army Pay of £7 0s 2d and £17 War Gratuity went to his father Thomas. His step-mother, Mary, of the Infantry Barracks, Waterford, received the pensions of Reginald and Sydney, also her son Charles Guiver.  

Reginald’s brother Donald (born in 1899) joined the Norfolk Regiment, served overseas, and survived the war.

His brother Sydney also served. Sydney Stapleton, 132515 25^th Bn, Machine Gun Corps, was captured at Neuve Eglise, unwounded, on 23rd  April 1918 and was held at Friedrichsfeld POW Camp (60 miles north of Cologne). Sydney was returned to the front (probably as forced labour) and died on the 08^th October 1918, of ‘general body weakness’ in a German field hospital in Hautmont. His P.O.W. records show date of birth as the 05^th January 1899, but as this does not agree with his birth registration or census ages, Sydney also must have lied about his age in order to enlist. He was just 17 years old. He now rests at Hautmont Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.

On the 1939 Register at 7 Morehall Avenue, Folkestone, his father Thomas, date of birth April 1861, is a retired barrack warden, step-mother Mary A., date of birth April 1874, with Nellie Stapleton (later Roberts), born 1914.

His father died, aged 80, in Crookham in 1941;

His death was reported in the Aldershot News on Friday 04th July 1941;

A FINE OLD SOLDIER.

Mr. Thomas Stapleton, who died at "Wandai," Bowenhurst-road, Crookham, on Saturday, at the age of 80, had a record of 45 years' Army service - 21 years in the 1st Norfolk Regiment and 24 years as a barrack warden. He was born in Ireland and served for 13 years in India before retiring to pension as a colour-sergeant. He came to Crookham recently from Folkestone when enemy action became heavy. He leaves a widow. four sons and four daughters, and in addition there were three sons who died in the last war.

After a service in the Roman Catholic Garrison Church, conducted by the Rev. Father Daly, C.F., interment took place in Crookham Churchyard. The mourners were Mrs. Stapleton (the widow), Gunner D. Stapleton (son), Corporal D. Roberts (son-in-law), Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Freeman.

Grateful thanks are extended to the Great War Forum for securing his father’s service details. 

Reginald is commemorated on the Waterford Memorial, Dungarvan Castle.

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