Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Wapples, a quarry worker, born 1858 in Cosby, Leicestershire and his wife Emma Wapples (nee Starmer, married in the 4th quarter of 1877 in the Lutterworth, Leicestershire district), born 1857 in Primethorpe, Leicestershire. Fred was a schoolboy and was born in the 3rd quarter of 1887 in Primethorpe, Leicestershire, his siblings were, William, a shoe trade worker, born 1879, Kate, a schoolgirl, born 1880, Emma, a schoolgirl, born 1882, Alice, a schoolgirl, born 1884, Thomas Henry, a schoolboy, born in the 1st quarter of 1886 and Harriett, born 1890, all his siblings were born in Primethorpe, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at Broughton Astley, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Fred was employed as a hosiery trade ribbing machine operator and was residing in the family home at Main Road, Sutton in the Elms, Leicestershire together with his father, a stone quarry worker, his mother and siblings, William, a builder’s labourer, Kate, a hosiery trade shirt mender, Emma, a hosiery trade worsted winder, Alice, a hosiery trade shirt cutter, Thomas, a hosiery trade worsted winder and Harriet. In April 1911 Fred was employed as a hosiery trade worker and was residing in the family home at Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, together with his father, a quarry worker, his mother and siblings, Emma, a domestic worker and Thomas, a hosiery trade worker, also residing with the family was Fred’s nephew William, a schoolboy, born 1902 in Leicestershire.
The War Diary records: 17 Oct-16 – GUEUDECOURT. 11:30pm The Battalion moved back into the line, 2/Lt W. DAVIS having been previously detailed to lay out white tape parallel to the German front line over a length of about 400 yards varying from 50 to 100 yards in front of our own line. The Battalion objective being the German Front Line. (BAYONET TRENCH) N.20.a.8.2 to N.20.d.17 north west of GUEUDECORT. The War Diary records: 18 Oct-16 - GUEUDECOURT. 3:20am The Battalion was formed up in position on the tape each Company with two Platoons in the first wave and 2 Platoons 40 yards behind in the second wave carrying tools. By this time the ground was in a very heavy condition owing to the continuous fall of rain. 3:40am The Artillery barrage opened on the Battalion objective and both waves immediately advanced keeping perfect lines and as close under the barrage as possible, at 3:45 the Artillery lifted 150 yards by which time the leading waves were within 40 to 70 yards of the German line. B Company on the left gained its objective without difficulty, but B, A and D on the right were all held up by the wire which they found intact. The officers immediately commenced looking for gaps but as they attempted to penetrate the wire they were picked off from the trench by the Germans. Lt. C. J. BROWN in command of A Company succeeded in pushing his way through but 2/Lt H. DAVIS and 2/Lt A. Evans who were with him were both shot and believed to be killed. Finding himself unsupported and twice wounded he was obliged to retire without finding a gap to lead his Company through. B and D Companies were equally unsuccessful. All the Companies on the right retired, and C being bombed from both flanks found their position untenable and also retired. 12:00noon The Battalion were withdrawn from the line to MONTAUBAN where they camped for the night. Our casualties during the attack were found to be 7 Officers and 79 OR’s. The total casualties from the 12th to the 18th inclusive were 8 Officers and 151 OR’s. The Battalion was temporarily attached to the 36th Brigade.