Captain, the Reverend James Leitch Cappell

Captain, the Reverend James Leitch Cappell James’s father was Thomas Cappell. He was born in 1827 in Clonnand, County Meath, Ireland. At the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot, on 17th April 1845, in Dublin. His attestation describes Private T Cappell, No 2428 as 5’ 7’’ tall, with a fresh complexion, green eyes, brown hair and by trade a ’labourer’. During his fourteen years in what was then known as the East Indies, Thomas was promoted to Corporal (17th April 1850) and four years later, to Sergeant (17th January 1854). The 78th (Highlanders) Regiment was in India from 1842, which is where Thomas joined them soon after his initial training was completed. His first taste of action was in Persia where the Anglo- Persian war broke out on 1st November 1856.i In February the following year, the regiment took part in the Battle of Khushab inflicting heavy casualties on the Persian army. After much diplomacy, the war came to an end and the Persians withdrew their forces from the disputed city of Herat, permitting the British to return their troops to India, where they were soon needed for combat as Indian troops (sepoys) in the service of the British East India Company rebelled in Meerut on 10th May 1857 in an uprising that is now known as the Indian Mutiny. Under the leadership of Sir Henry Havelock the 78th Highlanders helped suppress this Indian Rebellion. Its first action was the recapture of Cawnpore in July 1857 and then the relief of Lucknow. Three times the regiment advanced, but twice Sir Henry Havelock held back rather than risk fighting with troops wasted by battle and disease. Reinforcements arrived at last under Sir James Outram, and he was able to capture Lucknow on 25 September 1857. However, a second rebel force arrived and besieged the town again. This time Havelock and his troops were caught inside the blockade.ii Figure 1: Sir Henry Havelock Sir Henry Havelock died of dysentery a few days after the siege was lifted on 24 November 1857, He lived long enough to receive news that he was to be created a Baronet for the first three battles of the campaign; but he never knew that he had been promoted to Major-General shortly afterwards. Figure 2: The Relief of Lucknow by General Havelock, 25 September 1857. Engraving, 1858 It was during the siege of Lucknow that Thomas was injured in the thigh on 25th September 1857. The following year, on 17th August, he was promoted to Colour Sergeant. Historically, a Colour Sergeant protected the regiment’s ensign. For this reason, promotion to the rank of Colour Sergeant was considered a prestigious attainment, granted to those sergeants who had displayed courage on the field of battle. Thomas was allowed to ‘reckon one year additional service for entering Lucknow under Sir Henry Havelock’.iii He was also awarded the Indian Mutiny Medal 1857/1858 with two clasps. Figure 3: Indian Mutiny Badge with two clasps Having completed fourteen years abroad Thomas returned home in 1859 and on 16th December 1859, he married Mary Haig, at Ardersier, Inverness-shire.iv The 1861 census names Thomas in a list of soldiers guarding Edinburgh Castle. The following year, on 21st October 1862, he was transferred to the 13th Perthshire Rifle Volunteers as a drill instructor where he served out his time before he was discharged from the Service in Dublin, on 30th May 1865 having completed twenty-one years with the Regiment. During his twenty-one years of service, Thomas received five Good Conduct Badges (they were chevrons worn point up on the lower sleeve) awarded to soldiers after a given amount of time for each badge. The Individual soldier had to be clear of a ‘regimental entry’ (i.e. had not committed any military crimes like being AWOL or drunk). Each chevron entitled its wearer to an extra penny for each day’s service in their pay.v The 1871 census records Thomas and his wife Mary living at Pittenzie Street, in Crieff, Perthshire. Since their marriage, twelve years earlier Mary had given birth to seven children: Robert (b 1861), Thomas Henry (b 1862), David Haig (b 1864), Stewart McPherson and Sarah Elizabeth (b 1866), John Ferguson (b1868) and Mary Haig (b 1870).vi It also notes that Thomas continued his work as a Sergeant drill instructor with the Perthshire Rifle Volunteers after leaving the 78th (Highlanders) Regiment. By 1881, the Cappell family were still resident in Crieff but had moved to 32 High Street and Thomas was still engaged as a Sergeant Instructor with the Perthshire Volunteers. Three further children: Maggie Weir, George and James Leitch, were born in 1872, 1874 and the 31st October 1876 respectively.vii In 1891, only the youngest child, James, aged fourteen, was at home living with his parents in Burrell Street, Crieff. Thomas by this time had retired as an instructor and was a school Board Officer. Figure 4: Morrison's Academy in Crieff James studied at Morrison's Academy in Crieff before taking up a place at Glasgow University. He resided with his eldest brother Robert, a chemist, at 530 Great Western Road, throughout his time at the university. James studied Arts between 1894 and 1898 for his MA, but, in addition, took classes in Senior Latin, Middle Greek, and Mathematics in his first year, Logic and Literature in his third year and in his final year, classes in History and Moral Philosophy. On the 12th April 1898, James graduated and received a 'Highly Distinguished' prize in History.viii After graduation, James entered the Theological Institute of the Scottish Episcopal Church in Edinburgh. He was ordained in 1900.ix For a time, he was curate at Old St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Edinburgh and assistant to Rev A E Lawrie, Rector of the Church. In 1901, James was lodging with his sister Sarah at 15 Forrest Road, Old Town, Edinburgh. He was in post At Old St Paul’s Church until 1903.x James was then appointed as curate to Berkswich with Walton, Staffordshire under the Rev F G Inge.xi James served the community there for six and a half years and he was ‘exceedingly popular’ with them.xii Under his careful training, the church choir ‘made rapid progress’ and he ‘raised the musical part of the Figure 5: Old St Paul’s Episcopal Church, church services to a higher level’. He Jeffrey Street, Edinburgh performed his parochial duties with much ability and was an asset in the social life of the community he served.xiii James was ‘fond of sport’. He played football (with the Stafford Rugby Club), cricket, hockey and ‘liked a day’s shooting’. In the village of Walton he also organised a ‘glee club’ which had a successful run of four years.xiv A ‘glee club’ was a musical group or choir group, historically of male voices but also of female or mixed voices, which traditionally specializes in the singing of short songs or glees by trios or quartets. In February 1908, James became engaged to Beatrice Ada, eldest daughter of Mr Charles Chetwynd, JP, of Brocton Hall, Stafford, but at sometime over the next year or so the engagement was broken off.xv In 1910, James accepted the position of senior curate at St Mary the Virgin (now Blackburn Cathedral). Before he left, presentations were made to James at Walton School on Tuesday evening 6th May 1910. There was ‘much regret that he was leaving the parish’ but it was ‘understood that he had to advance in his profession’. James was given a roll top desk, a revolving chair and a purse of gold from the parishioners and a Bible from the teachers and pupils of Berkswitch School. The local cricket club at Walton presented James with a pair of silver candlesticks to mark his time there as treasurer.xvi Figure 6: St Mary the Virgin, Blackburn (now Blackburn Cathedral) James’s next posting was as a senior curate of Blackburn Parish Church. On 28th September 1910, he was appointed an ‘honorary member’ of the Loyal Economy Lodge of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows on its centenary.xvii During his time at Blackburn, one of James’s chief duties was the charge of Bible classes The women’s class was one of the largest in England and the men’s, the second largest. While resident in Blackburn, James lived at 198 Montague Street, with Jane Sweeting, the house keeper and her husband Charles.xviii In March 1911 James was given a new appointment at St Brides in Manchester.xix On Saturday, 1st June 1912 James became engaged to Edith Muriel, youngest daughter of Adam Dugdale. Her father was a cotton spinner and manufacturer, of Griffin lodge, Blackburn and Gilmonby Hall, Bowes.xx James’s tenure at St Bride’s was brief as, by November 1912, he was appointed the curate at St Mary’s Church in Moseley, Birmingham under Rev Canon Hopton. When the engagement to Edith was called off and whether James’s move to Birmingham played a part in this is not known. Two years later, on 15th April 1914, James married Alice Eleanor Pickop, the eldest daughter of the Rev Cannon Pickop BA of Winston Hall, East Park Road, Blackburn. The ceremony took place at St Mary’s Church, Blackburn, officiated by the Lord Bishop of Manchester (the Right Rev Dr Knox), Rev Canon Hopton MA, vicar of Moseley and Rev F Graham, the vicar of Rokeby. Alice’s sisters Belle and Christina were bridesmaids and the Rev H B Fulford Eales, curate of St Mary’s, Moseley was best man.

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