topgun1918 Posted 7 November , 2015 Share Posted 7 November , 2015 Hi Graham No boundary changes - Essex is north of the River Thames and Kent, where Dartford is located, is south of the Thames, so the boundary between the two counties has always been somewhere mid-river. Joyce Green is on the outskirts of Dartford (just down the road from where I live) and I had to take my mother to hospital there some years back (the hospital closed in 2000); I did so without getting my feet wet :-) Looks like there was a genuine error made at the time document at Kew was compiled. Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddyO Posted 15 December , 2017 Share Posted 15 December , 2017 On 05/11/2015 at 12:42, ghc said: His gravestone in Streatham Cemetery, Tooting in the Borough of Wandsworth states that he died as Captain G.W. Mapplebeck, D.S.O. "The King's Regiment, Attd Royal Flying Corps", 24th August 1915, Aged 22. I often stopped by at this grave as my grandfather is buried in this cemetery and his birthday is 24th August which was how I found the grave - I had a copy of Terry Treadwell's RFC Archive Photographs: Images of Aviation and inside there is an image of the firing party volleying over Mapplebeck's burial, so on a visit on one 24th August (I used to live a couple of streets away) I tried to find the grave using this book going from the angle of a chapel seen in the picture. Apparently his brother Tom flew as well. An interesting cemetery; Edward Foster VC is also buried here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex revell Posted 16 December , 2017 Share Posted 16 December , 2017 More can be read about this gallant gentleman in a forthcoming book: Baptism of Fire. The Royal Flying Corps at War - the First Year in France 1914-1915. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aldlb57 Posted 27 February , 2018 Share Posted 27 February , 2018 (edited) In his book "The Queen of Spies - Louise de Bettignies" Constable & Co, London, 1935 (ASIN: B001L9PWYS), on pages 81 and following, writer major Thomas Coulson refers to a Royal Flying Corps lieutenant Maplebeck who was on a mission to deliver carrier pigeons to the intelligence network of Frenchwoman Louise de Bettignies. Her network was called the "Alice network" (her cover name was "Alice Dubois") or the "Ramble network" that worked for British Intelligence HQ in Folkestone. Louise de Bettignies is a French heroine (of Edit cavell's stature) and a national icon. The story told about Lt Maplebeck is exactly the same as the one about Gilbert Mapplebeck. Coulson does go on making writing errors when he talks about a wine merchant Jacquot (instead of Jacquet) that helped Mapplebeck escape. he also explains that Mapplebeck was hidden at Louise de Bettignies' home in Lille at 166, Rue d'Isly. I feel quite uneasy about these writing errors and I must question the reliability of Maj. Coulson as a historian. Major Coulson is best known because of his book about Mata Hari (ASIN: B003PO82EY). I am currently writing a book about the Great war history of the town of Saint-Amand-les-Eaux in France. Louise de Bettignies is mentioned in it because she was born in Saint-Amand. Please see the book poster. As I was checking written sources about her, I came accross Gilbert Mapplebeck. Could anyone acknowledge the fact that Mapplebeck flew carrier pigeons over to France for British Intelligence? If someone would be interested, I could scan the pages of Coulson's book and post them here as the book is extremely scarce. Thanking you beforehand. With kindest regards, Andre Edited 27 February , 2018 by aldlb57 type error Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tavern Druid Posted 6 March , 2018 Share Posted 6 March , 2018 On 11/5/2015 at 08:11, ghc said: I have just finished working on a book about the remarkable Gilbert Mapplebeck, in association with his nephew, Peter. It features the text of the two diaries that he kept, one including details of the Gembloux flight and other events, the second detailing the night bombing mission to Lille that ended with him being shot down, hidden by locals and then smuggled back to England. Using large amounts of archive material from the family and materials from the Records Office at Kew, we have been able to piece together the story of his 1 year in the RFC before he was killed at Joyce Green Aerodrome in Essex just two days short of his 23rd birthday. http://www.lulu.com/...t-22426137.html Hi GHC Just come across your 2015 post. I am researching the names on a War Memorial in Dartford and the Subject of you book is on the memorial. It's not spelt correctly the entry is as follows Mapelbeck G.W.R D.S.O The Church is St Alban's Church, St Alban's Road, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1FT There are 20 other RFC names on this memorial and 9 other RFC men not on this memorial. And I am interested to find out what connection they had, of did not have, with this church as it was not the nearest one to the airfield. As of now I have not found any evidence of these RFC men living in close proximity to the church. Would you have any evidence of Capt Mapplebeck connection might have been here? The majority of the men on the memorial from the other branches of service lived in close proximity to the church. So I find it a bit strange that these airmen are remember here. I am pleased that they are otherwise they might be forgotten altogether and that would be tragic. I would be very grateful if you could help. Have you ever seem confirmation of his Forenames from a birth or a baptism record ? David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghc Posted 3 February , 2019 Share Posted 3 February , 2019 Hi David, Feeling extraordinarily guilty that you left this message for me almost a year ago and I have only just logged on after over a year to find it. I am just preparing a talk that I'm givging to the RAF Club in London on 12th February about Gib. His full name was Gilbert William Roger Mapplebeck and he was the son of William and Sara Helen Mapplebeck. William was a dentist in Liverpool. Gib's name has been miswritten on a number of occasions - in Lille, where he was shot down in 1915, he is referred to as Robert Mapplebeck. I can only assume that the memorial is a collective one, covering all of ther airmen who lost their lives whilst at Joyce Green and who may have been based in the area. I have seen confirmation of his name on a birth certificate, although that has been returned to the family. I would be interested in the outcome of your research and once again apologise for the dreadful delay in getting back to you. Yours Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex revell Posted 3 February , 2019 Share Posted 3 February , 2019 May I call everyone's attention to my new book: Baptism of Fire The Royal Flying Corps at War. The First Year in France 1914-1915. which is now published. It gives full details of Gib Mapplebeck's activities in the RFC during that time, including the unusual nature of his wound! The book is available through my website, wickfordbooks.co.uk - where reviews can be read - or through the bookshop of Cross and Cockade International. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daryll pleasants Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 Can anyone please assist me with a WW1 Capt T G Mapplebeck RFC, was he related Captain G.W. Mapplebeck, D.S.O? I'm struggling to find any information apart from he repatriated on the Air Ministry Daily List No.240 in 1919 and he flew with 29 squadron Thank you in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 (edited) 8 minutes ago, daryll pleasants said: Can anyone please assist me with a WW1 Capt T G Mapplebeck RFC, Daryll, Welcome to the Forum. The International Red Cross have a PoW card for Thomas, here If you click on the above then enter the references that are on the card into the box on the right you get to the backing sheet which tells you about his captivity (more or less) Charlie Edit here is a snippet of one record: Is this the same family ? Note he was captured Proven, 9/11/16. Edited 19 March , 2021 by charlie962 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daryll pleasants Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 6 minutes ago, charlie962 said: Daryll, Welcome to the Forum. The International Red Cross have a PoW card for Thomas, here If you click on the above then enter the references that are on the card into the box on the right you get to the backing sheet which tells you about his captivity (more or less) Charlie Edit here is a snippet of one record: Is this the same family ? Note he was captured Proven, 9/11/16. Thank you Charlie for your assistance very kind of you to help me discover more about him regards daryll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 The Liverpool connection looks promising but he is not with his family on the 1901 nor 1911 census. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 He was with 40Squdn when he went missing- having been posted from 29 Squdn in Sept 1916 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 An Ancestry tree, to be treated with caution, claims they are indeed brothers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 You can download his RAFservice record and there are other files here at Discovery National Archives. Be quick, it is currently free if you register Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadbrewer Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 (edited) A sizeable article published in 1919 by Edgar C Middleton on Mapplebeck's escape. Apologies but FMP subscription needed. https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000164%2f19190523%2f043&stringtohighlight=mapplebeck Looks like they were brothers. Courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive Edited 19 March , 2021 by sadbrewer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 4 minutes ago, sadbrewer said: A sizeable article published in 1919 by Edgar C Middleton on Mapplebeck's escape That is about Gilbert rather than Thomas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadbrewer Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 1 minute ago, charlie962 said: That is about Gilbert rather than Thomas Thomas is mentioned in the other article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 6 minutes ago, sadbrewer said: Thomas is mentioned in the other article. Your edit crossed with my post perhaps ? I see it says Thomas was wounded at Neuve Chapelle- presumably with Liverpool Regt as infantry officer although article (1915) says he was in RFC. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daryll pleasants Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 19 minutes ago, sadbrewer said: A sizeable article published in 1919 by Edgar C Middleton on Mapplebeck's escape. Apologies but FMP subscription needed. https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000164%2f19190523%2f043&stringtohighlight=mapplebeck Looks like they were brothers. Courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive Thank you so much for your help I was really struggling to find details ,cant thank you enough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadbrewer Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 12 minutes ago, charlie962 said: Your edit crossed with my post perhaps ? I see it says Thomas was wounded at Neuve Chapelle- presumably with Liverpool Regt as infantry officer although article (1915) says he was in RFC. ? Yes I thought that was intriguing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 (edited) On the RAF Museum Storyvault you will find several cards. here is one and if you hover over the images below you get an enlarged view of his record. Don't forget to look at the back of the card. Edited 19 March , 2021 by charlie962 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 6 minutes ago, sadbrewer said: Yes I thought that was intriguing. Gunshot wound jaw 27/4/15 with 4th Bn King's Liverpool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 27 minutes ago, daryll pleasants said: was really struggling to find details There are quite a lot of records covering his service. When he gained his aviator's certificate in 1916 his photo was here (if you have acces to Ancestry) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topgun1918 Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 Since this post crosses threads, just let me say that I started compiling this message before the request for assistance with Thomas Mapplebeck and the subsequent responses were posted. Gilbert Mapplebeck: The confusion regarding the ‘double DSO’ awarded to Gilbert Mapplebeck appears to have arisen from the fact that the award was announced twice in the London Gazette. The first announcement appears on page 1688 of Gazette number 29074, the Fourth Supplement to the London Gazette of Tuesday, the 16th of February 1915, published on Thursday, 18 February, 1915: War Office, 18th February 1915. His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the undermentioned awards for services rendered in connection with Operations in the Field. Dated 18th February 1915. Royal Flying Corps. To be Companions of the Distinguished Service Order. … Lieutenant G W Mapplebeck (The Liverpool Regiment) The second announcement appears on page 2940 of Gazette number 29111, the Second Supplement to the London Gazette of Tuesday, the 23rd of March, 1915, published on Wednesday, 24 March, 1915: War Office, 18th February, 1915. The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointments to the Distinguished Service Order in recognition of the meritorious services of the undermentioned Officers during the war: — To be Companions of the Distinguished Service Order. Royal Flying Corps. … Lieutenant Gilbert William Mapplebeck (Liverpool Regiment). His Mention in Despatches, a necessary precursor to the award of the DSO, appears of page 8347 of London Gazette number 28942. Thomas Mapplebeck: The Army List shows Capt T Mapplebeck as a Flying Officer with the RFC with effect from 17 December 1915 (although I have a note that he was under instruction at No 1 (Reserve) Aeroplane Squadron as early as 22 October). He received RAeC certificate number 2754 on 18 March 1916 and joined No 29 Squadron on 22 June 1916 before being posted to No 40 Squadron on 1 October where was appointed a Flight Commander on 1 November; he was shot down and taken prisoner eight days later. With No 40 Squadron, he claimed a Roland Scout out of control on 21 October and a Balloon in flames on 9 November. Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nils d Posted 19 March , 2021 Share Posted 19 March , 2021 1 hour ago, charlie962 said: An Ancestry tree, to be treated with caution, claims they are indeed brothers: no caution needed here , they are indeed brothers. Thomas Mapplebeck told me so himself.There was a younger brother who was in the RAF in WW2 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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