Plaque for Captain Queripel VC unveiled for Remembrance Day

Captain Lionel Queripel VC, from Winterborne Monkton near Dorchester, was commemorated with a plaque on the county town’s war memorial yesterday.

It was organised by local man David Metcalfe and Dorchester Town Council, which paid for its installation on the side of the war memorial in Dorchester town centre, off South Walks Road.

The crowd gathered for the plaque unveiling (Image: Alfie Lumb) Captain Queripel, who died during the Battle of Arnhem in 1944 aged 24, was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously.

Mr Metcalfe led the unveiling with introductions and a brief history on the life of Captain Queripel, before the mayor of Dorchester, Cllr Robin Potter, gave a short speech.

Ken Chivers then played the Last Post and Reveille before a 30 second moment of silence.

Charles Norman, a distant cousin of Captain Queripel, then unveiled the plaque, before Reverend Keith Magee gave concluding prayers.

Charles Norman, speaking at the plaque unveiling (Image: Alfie Lumb) Speaking after the event, Cllr Potter, said: “It’s a great honour to be present as we honour a local hero by allowing his name to be added to this memorial- he was a well deserved recipient of one of this country’s highest honours.

“A huge thanks to Peter Metcalfe, Charles Norman, and all relatives of Captain Queripel for attending here both in body and spirit today.”

Mr Norman said: “I’m very touched that it was put on the memorial. I think that it is so sad that he died so young with no wife or children.”

Peter Metcalfe, with the plaque (Image: Alfie Lumb) Mr Metcalfe, added: “We arranged the plaque at the church in Winterbourne Monkton, and when we found out that there wasn’t a memorial, we thought it would be right

Born in 1920, Captain Queripel came from a distinguished military family that lived in Winterborne Monkton. His father, grand-father and great-grandfather were also soldiers.

His military career saw him evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940, followed by service in North Africa and Italy, before he took part in the Battle of Arnhem.

Despite suffering severe facial wounds in the battle, Captain Queripel continued to lead his men, and was seen carrying a wounded soldier to safety before leading another assault.

Captain Lionel Queripel VC (Image: Supplied) Later that day, wounded in both arms, he ordered his men to retreat while he single-handedly held the position. He was never seen alive again.

In recognition of his extraordinary courage, leadership, and devotion to duty, Captain Queripel was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross in January 1945.

He was laid to rest in August 1945 at the CWGC’s Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery in Plot 5, Row D, Grave 8 in the Netherlands.