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. Thomas Henry was a schoolboy and was born in the 1st quarter of 1886 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, Fred, a schoolboy, born in the 3rd quarter of 1887 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 Thomas was a hosiery trade worsted winder 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, Fred, a hosiery trade ribbing machine operator and Harriet. In April 1911 Thomas, 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 Fred, a hosiery trade worker, also residing with the family was Thomas’s nephew William, a schoolboy, born 1902 in Leicestershire. Thomas attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War) on the 25th October 1915 in Leicester. He gave his place of residence as Soar Mill Lane, Broughton Astley, Leicestershire and his age as 28 years and 305 days, he gave his trade or calling as hosiery hand. He confirmed that he was unmarried. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 22001 on the 25/10/15. Posted to the 10th (2nd Reserve) Battalion Leicestershire regiment on the 25/10/15. Embarked from Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force on the 17/2/16. Joined the 37th Infantry Brigade at Etaples, France on the 18/2/16. Joined unit in the field on the 9/3/16. Posted to the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 19/6/16. Killed in action, in the field between the 14-17/7/16. The following information was provided by Thomas’s father Tom on the 20th June 1919, and was witnessed and signed by Wilfred Hodges, a Clerk in Holy Orders of Broughton Astley Rectory, Leicestershire on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Tom Wapples of Broughton Astley, Nr. Leicester. Mother of soldier, Emma Wapples of Broughton Astley, Nr. Leicester. Full blood brothers of soldier, William Wapples, age 41 of Broughton Astley, Nr. Leicester. Full blood sisters of soldier, Mrs Kate -?-, age 39 of Sharnford, Nr. Hinckley, Mrs Emma Chamberlain, age 37 of Broughton Astley, Nr. Leicester, Mrs Alice Horton, age 35 of Broughton Astley, Nr. Leicester and Mrs Harriett -?-, age 29 of Broughton Astley, Nr. Leicester. Thomas’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 14-17 July-16 - FRICOURT. The 110th Brigade attacked and captured BAZENTIN – LE – PETIT WOOD and village and held same. Appendix I. The action attached.
Narrative of action of the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment from 3:00am 14/7/16 to 8:00am 17/7/16.
The Battalion moved from FRICOURT WOOD via the southern and eastern edge of MAMETZ WOOD and reached the north east corner of this wood just before 3:00am. The Battalion was formed in four lines by 3:15am under a fairly heavy bombardment and lined up with the 7th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. on its left about 100 yards in front of MAMETZ WOOD. At 3:25am 1st and 2nd lines advanced on German first line, and five minutes later the third and fourth lines advanced, and, crossing first line, assaulted and took the German second line. The first German line was very much knocked about and some 25 or 30 prisoners were taken in it. The right Company blocked German first line trench on right of the attack, and also the same in the German second line. While crossing “No man’s” land the barrage was not very severe but the two right Companies suffered a good many casualties from enemy machine guns in BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD, which had not then been cleared by 7th Division on our right. There were also two enemy machine guns in the south east corner of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD. These were charged by the third and fourth lines and the detachments killed, and the guns taken. There were not a large number of Germans in second line when it was entered. The trenches had been so knocked about that it was difficult to consolidate them. At 4:00am first and second lines, leaving small parties to deal with any dugouts, advanced to German second line, which was also being consolidated by the third and fourth lines. At 4:20am three platoons remained in German second line, and the rest of the Battalion advanced to the “one hour” line, which was reached after suffering a good many casualties from enfilade fire from the direction of BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD. Soon after this the enemy, retiring in front of the 7th Division from BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD on our right, were enfiladed from the eastern edge of the wood by our Lewis guns, and suffered heavy losses. For some time the right Company had to form a defensive flank as many of the enemy were trying to get from BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD. At 5:20am the Battalion advanced to the “two hour” line and remained there till 6:00am, waiting for the 7th Division to come up on our right. At 6:00am the Battalion was reinforced by several platoons of the 9th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. At 6:05am the line advanced against the village, and, the left of the 7th Division not being up, the whole village was assaulted and taken, and 3 officers and 200 prisoners. At 6:40am the ROYAL IRISH RIFLES entered the village and the eastern portion was handed over to them. At 7:15am the Battalion occupied and began consolidating the line from the northern end of the village, thence southwards to the north eastern point of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD, thence along northern edge of wood halfway to the railway. An attempt to get the real objective was heavily enfiladed from a point just outside the wood near the railway. About 50 prisoners were taken in a trench along northern edge of wood. At 8:30am the enemy made a counter attack against the northern portion of village. The 7th Division who were not very strong here fell back on cemetery. The Battalion conformed and held northern edge of wood and the prolongation of same through the village. At 9:15am the 7th Division were reinforced and retook eastern portion of village, and the Battalion resumed its previous line, joining up with the 7th Division north of the village. At 3:00pm the enemy made another counter attack against northern and north eastern edge of village. Many of them reached the road running from north end of village to railway and were at once stopped by our rifle and Lewis gun fire. The Battalion held and consolidated this position on the night of the 14th and also on the 15th there was no change. At 2:00am on the 16th a party of one officer and 50 men were sent out to try to consolidate the original objective along the road. They were preceded by a party of one officer and 40 men of the YORKSHIRE REGT. The latter party got to the road and held it for some time while our party was trying to consolidate, but were heavily bombed and enfiladed from enemy post just outside wood near railway, and was forced to retire. On the night of the 16th the Battalion was relieved by the 10th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY and the Battalion went into bivouac just south of FRICOURT WOOD, arriving there at 1:00am the 17th instant. The Battalion suffered the following casualties 7 officers killed and 20 wounded. 500 other ranks killed, wounded and missing.
The War Diary records: 16 July-16 – 6th Battalion right supported by 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. 7th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. on left supported by 8th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT.
The War Diary records: 17 July-16 - The Battalion marched from FRICOURT WOOD at 7:45pm and arrived at RIBEMONT at 12:30am 18th July 1916.