53742: Letter to Evelyn concerning death of Douglas Aplin

<p dir="ltr">In Memory of Lance Corporal Douglas Aplin</p> <p>Douglas George Bartlett Aplin was born on 13th December 1895 in Durston, Somerset, and was the third child and first son for George Aplin and Jane (nee Bartlett).</p> <p>Douglas Aplin (service number 11537) joined the British Army late 1914, or early 1915. </p> <p>He served with the 15th (The King's) Hussars in France as a Cavalry Soldier, and fought in various battles, including the Battle of the Somme in 1916.</p> <p>Douglas was promoted to Lance Corporal in 1916, and was put in charge of a machine gun team.</p> <p>Douglas and his cousin Evelyn Vera Aplin (daughter of Edwin Aplin and Ellen Jane nee Samways) became very close and were briefly engaged after his last leave home in October/November 1917. However, Douglas was killed in action during the Battle of Cambrai on the 24th November 1917. Douglas was fighting dismounted during the action at Bourlon Wood. </p> <p>Unfortunately, like many soldiers of the First World War, Douglas has no known grave and is remembered with honour on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France. </p> <p>His friend, Harold Baker, who himself died as a result of the war in 1918 wrote a letter to Evelyn Vera Aplin explaining what happened to Douglas. </p> <p>Editor's Comment: Y.M.C.A. headed notepaper: 'On Active Service | With the British | Expeditionary Force'.</p>