Wilfrid Stanislaus Stapleton-Bretherton 1886 - 1914
Loyola Hall west aspect c 1905
Wilfrid was born on 26th November 1886 at Fareham, Hampshire, the 11th child of Frederick Annesley and the Hon. Isabella Stapleton-Bretherton.
He was educated at Beaumont College
1906 - Given a commission as 2nd Lt. with the 3rd battalion of the Hampshire Regiment
1908 - Transferred to the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
1911 - Promoted to Lieutenant
1914 Feb. - Promoted to Captain
Military Service during WW1
August 1914 - The regiment moved from the Isle of Wight to Le Havre and was involved in the first skirmishes of the War in the Mons area.
25th October 1914 – Wilfrid Stapleton-Bretherton arrived in France and joined his unit 3 days later. His regiment had suffered heavy losses.
He was educated at Beaumont College
1906 - Given a commission as 2nd Lt. with the 3rd battalion of the Hampshire Regiment
1908 - Transferred to the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
1911 - Promoted to Lieutenant
1914 Feb. - Promoted to Captain
Military Service during WW1
August 1914 - The regiment moved from the Isle of Wight to Le Havre and was involved in the first skirmishes of the War in the Mons area.
25th October 1914 – Wilfrid Stapleton-Bretherton arrived in France and joined his unit 3 days later. His regiment had suffered heavy losses.
Manchester Courier 27th Jan 1915
8th November 1914 – Y Company suffered from heavy shelling in the trenches. The enemy were advancing towards the trenches. Y Company under Lt Wilfrid Stapleton-Bretherton charged the enemy and drove them back. Wilfrid and most of his Company were reported missing (2 officers and 62 men).
Despite other newspaper reports that Wilfrid died three days later on 11th November 1914, the family memorial show his death as 8th November 1914.
Despite other newspaper reports that Wilfrid died three days later on 11th November 1914, the family memorial show his death as 8th November 1914.
His name is on the memorial at the Menim Gate.
and on the memorial above in St Mary’s, Lowe House Church, St Helens.
This picture is reproduced from the
St. Helens Roll of Honour
FOOTNOTE
Wilfrid’s sister, Evelyn was exiled in Berlin during the War. She made a great effort to find where he was buried. She wrote in her memoirs
‘Berlin May 1915
I had been in correspondence with Prince Lowenstein about my brother, who was first reported missing after the battle of Ypres. He was quartered at Comines near the fighting line of that district, and the trouble and real sympathy he showed me in my anxiety impressed me in a way that few other things have done for a long time. He several times rode out specially to the surrounding district to make enquiries about him and rode up to the dressing stations and field-hospitals of the district, and also to the abandoned trenches and graveyards, in the hopes of getting a clue. And sometimes, when passing a wayside cross, he would get down from his horse and copy the name of the fallen officer to send to me in the hope that it might bring some consolation to a bereaved relative….. His real and intense kindness and sympathy touched me very much – the way he tried to give me every detail about the search, and at the same time, spare my feelings as to the hopelessness and sadness of the aspect of warfare in that particular part of the country.’
‘Berlin 8 November 1918 Today is the fourth anniversary of my brother Wilfrid’s death, who fell at the battle of Ypres.’
Wilfrid’s sister, Evelyn was exiled in Berlin during the War. She made a great effort to find where he was buried. She wrote in her memoirs
‘Berlin May 1915
I had been in correspondence with Prince Lowenstein about my brother, who was first reported missing after the battle of Ypres. He was quartered at Comines near the fighting line of that district, and the trouble and real sympathy he showed me in my anxiety impressed me in a way that few other things have done for a long time. He several times rode out specially to the surrounding district to make enquiries about him and rode up to the dressing stations and field-hospitals of the district, and also to the abandoned trenches and graveyards, in the hopes of getting a clue. And sometimes, when passing a wayside cross, he would get down from his horse and copy the name of the fallen officer to send to me in the hope that it might bring some consolation to a bereaved relative….. His real and intense kindness and sympathy touched me very much – the way he tried to give me every detail about the search, and at the same time, spare my feelings as to the hopelessness and sadness of the aspect of warfare in that particular part of the country.’
‘Berlin 8 November 1918 Today is the fourth anniversary of my brother Wilfrid’s death, who fell at the battle of Ypres.’