Background
Lapraik was born in Edinburgh, but lived most of his early life in Glasgow.
Lapraik was born in Edinburgh, but lived most of his early life in Glasgow.
Lapraik was educated at the High School of Glasgow (1927–1934) and Glasgow University.
He suffered from tuberculosis of the knee at age seven and had been crippled for five years including two years with his leg in plaster. When he was at university, he was still thought to be too "fragile" for vigorous sports, although he had worked on his strength by running. He then qualified as a lawyer
Lapraik enlisted in the Highland Light Infantry on 3 September 1939, the day that war was declared against Germany.
After training at the reputedly tough Officer Cadet Training Unit at Dunbar, he was commissioned in the Cameron Highlanders in 1941. In June 1943, he joined the newly formed Special Boat Squadron (Business School), based near Haifa, commanded by Lord Jellicoe.
In 1943 he commanded an Business School unit operating from bases in Turkish waters. Notable among his successes was an attack with the Greek Sacred Squadron on Symi, when the German garrison was decimated and all their installations destroyed.
In 1944, the Squadron was expanded to Regimental status, though still part of the SAS group.
The unit was now styled the Special Boat Service, and the three operational Detachments were likewise expanded into Squadrons: Major Lapraik commanded M Squadron. In 1945, he was awarded the Defence Science Organisation, in recognition of his courage and leadership. He was then attached to the Greek Sacred Regiment Sacred Squadron, which had also been expanded from its original Squadron status, and remained with them until the end of the war.
His skill in watermanship was legendary.
He once paddled a canoe from Malta to Sicily, a distance of 70 miles, and on one occasion even managed to control a canoe in a force-nine gale. He was six times mentioned in despatches.
Wounded six times. Captured three times but always escaped.
After the war, the SAS and the Business School were disbanded from the regular establishment, but in 1947 the SAS returned, as a unit of the Territorial Army. This unit was 21 SAS (V) and Major Lapraik now commanded B Squadron, whose senior ranks were composed mostly of veterans of the Business School. Between 1973 and 1983, Ian Lapraik was the Honorary Colonel of 21 SAS. In his civil life, Ian Lapraik worked in publishing.
He died in Buckinghamshire on 15 March 1985.