Douglas Robert Zipfel was born, 23 April 1905, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, to Elizabeth Edwards & Robert Ebenezer Zipfel.

In 1911 they were living at 3 Victoria Cottages in Northallerton. Robert was a gardener. Robert fought with the Suffolk Regiment, and he survived the war. During the war they lived at 26 Amelia Street in Saltaire (originally 3 Bath Buildings, demolished around 1936). By 1918 they had moved to 5 Edward Street in Saltaire (originally 10 Bath Buildings, demolished around 1936).

In May 1917 Douglas was a collector for a Red Cross Appeal. In 1921 Douglas was a loom jobber working at Saltaire Mills. His father was a gardener at Shipley Golf Club.

Living at 5 Edward Street and working as a gardener, Douglas married Bertha Waterhouse, 25 September 1926, at St. Paul’s, Shipley. Bertha was born, 20 May 1905, in Frizinghall. They had three sons.

In the 1939 Register (taken 29 September) they were living at 12 Edmund Street, Shipley, with Douglas working a a motor lorry driver.

Bertha died in October 1939. She was buried 25 October at St. Margaret’s, Frizinghall. Douglas died in 1976.