B 73366 Joseph William Lapp enlisted with the 1st Battalion, 48^th Highlanders of Canada on 13 September 1939, just a few days after war was declared. He went overseas with the 1^st battalion, departing Halifax on the Reina del Pacifico on 18 December 1939 as part of the 1^st Canadian Contingent.  Landing in the Clyde, Scotland on 31 December the battalion went by train to Aldershot, Corunna Barracks. Lapp participated when the battalion went to France in June 1940, just two weeks after the evacuation of the British army from Dunkirk. The battalion returned to England that week and remained in England, training and acting as coastal defence until June 1943.  On June 28 they sailed on HMS Derbyshire and landed on 9 July at Pachino, Sicily. In early September the battalion crossed the straits of Messina to chase the retreating German army up the Adriatic coast of Italy. A/Sgt Lapp was killed in action in this chase, on 3 October.

Died during the first day of the advance through the Abruzzi Hills to Volturara and then forward to capture San Marco.

NOK: Son of William and Blanche Lapp, of Midland, Ontario;  husband of Elizabeth Hurst Lapp, of  39 Orchard View Blvd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.