Paul Mapplebeck was born in Inverness on 24 May 1920, the son of Thomas Mapplebeck and Jane Jamieson Mapplebeck (née Nelson). After leaving school he joined the Royal Navy for a twelve year Continuous Service Engagement.

Paul Mapplebeck was a volunteer for ‘Special Service’ and he trained as a charioteer at HMS VARBEL. He was selected for a team of charioteers formed for an operation to attack Italian shipping at the port of La Maddelena. The team was embarked in HMS P311 for the operation with three chariots - Nos. X, XVIII & one other. P311 had completed the passage through the Sicilian Channel - reported at 0130 on 31 December 1942 - but no further reports were received from the submarine and P311 was presumed lost with all hands in a minefield near La Maddelena on or about 2 January 1943. Also lost were the three chariots, the three chariot crews and the team of four dressers – ten personnel in all. The date of the loss of P311, her crew and her chariot passengers was assumed to have been 8 January 1943 which is the date that the submarine was due to arrive back at Malta.

Able Seaman Paul Mapplebeck was the husband of Margaret Mapplebeck (née Macrae).