Cornelius James Rapley

Story:
Cornelius James Rapley was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on 12 Jun 1895 the son of Walter James Rapley and Mary Rapley (nee O'Neill).  His family had moved to Brixton, London, by 1901 and Cornelius spent most of his early life in that area.  He had enlisted and joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 44271).  He served some time in France and Flanders from 10 Sep 1915 but had postings elsewhere as yet not determined.  He contracted Malaria for which he eventually received a pension for two years.  He was discharged on 14 Mar 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  He gave his address at the time as 5 Laundry Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset , as well as in the 1921 Census where he was shown working as a Chauffeur and Gardener for Dr. Harris of Avishays, Shaftesbury.  He married Hannah Kate Arnold in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 13 Mar 1919 and they went on to have three children.  On 1 Jan 1923 he had signed on in the Territorial Unit of the Royal Artillery (Service No. 748410) as a Lance Sergeant in the Reserves. He was eventually discharged on 31 Dec 1927. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 77 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Driver (Car & Coach).  His death was recorded in Shaftesbury during 1960 and he was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 9 Apr 1960.