The Capewell headstone in West Norwood Cemetery
B. H. Capewell
Service no. M/15985
Ship’s Steward Assistant, Royal Navy, H.M.S. “Vala.”
Died age 23 on 21 August 1917
Son of Brian Charles and Lily Rosina Capewell, of 35 Union Road, Clapham, London.
Remembered at Plymouth Naval Memorial, West Norwood Cemetery, London SE27
Brother of Frederick Harold Capewell
HMS “Vala” was a Q boat was torpedoed on 21 August 1917.
Information from the Great War Forum
The Q boat “Vala” was sailing from Milford Haven to cruise between the Fastnet and the Scillies, she was one day out when last heard from. When she never returned to Queenstown, Q Ship Heather went to search for her in the Bay of Biscay. On 7th of September the German Government announced by wireless that the former English Steamer Vala had been sunk by a U-Boat (UB.54) . Commander Leopold A. Bernays CMG was in command.
Information from the censuses and from the family headstone in West Norwood Cemetery
In 1901 Brian Harvey Capewell was living with his family at 68 Paradise Road, Lambeth. By 1911 they had moved to 24 Union Road, London SW4 where they had 7 rooms.
In 1911, Brian’s father, Brian Charles Capewell, was a 47-year-old master plasterer born in Finsbury. The headstone states that he died on 20 October 1939, aged 76.
Brian’s mother, Lily Rosina Capewell (also shown on the headstone) was 47 in 1911. She was born in London. The children listed on the census were:
Isabel Capewell, 20, a college student, born in Battersea. She died 8 April 1963, aged 72.
Brian Harvey Capewell, 17, born in Clapham. He is shown on the headstone: “BRIAN HARVEY CAPEWELL. KILLED IN 1914-1918 war (NAVY) AGED 22”
Harry James Capewell, 15, born in Clapham. He died 27 November 1965, aged 70. (The headstone includes Harry’s wife Grace, who died 8 July 1988, aged 93.)
Frederick Harold Capewell, 12, born in Clapham. He shown on the headstone: “FREDERICK HAROLD CAPEWELL. KILLED IN 1914-1918 WAR (ARMY) DIED 6 APRIL 1918. AGED 19”
Richard Thomas Capewell, 2, born in Clapham.
The 1901 census also lists
Lily E. Capewell, 3, who died aged 7 on October 1904.
Daisy Capewell, 8
The headstone includes
Sidney G. Capewell, who died on 10 February 1905, aged 7 months.
