Born in Claughton, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, he was the eldest son of Charles Verelst and his wife Anne Jane Willacy.

[2] He was a captain and honorary major in the Yorkshire Dragoons Yeomanry until he resigned his commission in April 1891.

[3] He was a justice of the peace for Derbyshire and JP and deputy lieutenant for the West Riding of Yorkshire.

[4] Verelst died in April 1918 at his estate of Aston Hall, Yorkshire.

His eldest son, Harry Wilson Verelst, was killed aged 26 at the Capture of Lesbœufs in 1916.