Lapsely joined the Royal Air Force as an Aircraft Apprentice in 1935 later being awarded a cadetship at the
RAF College Cranwell. In 1937 he was appointed to a permanent commission and a posting to
No. 32 Squadron. His last appointment was as Head of the
British Defence Staff in Washington, D.C. in 1970 before retiring in 1973. He is buried in the churchyard of St Mary's at
Benhall in Suffolk. ==References==