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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
F/O. John Collier Frederick Hopkins
Royal Flying Corps 83 Sqdn.
from:Rypeck, Long Ditton, Surrey
My father Jack Hopkins left school in 1916 and signed up with the Honourable Artillery Company on 30th October 1916 where he was placed in the reserve Battalion, his service number was 9287. In May 1917 Jack was commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). His service number was 12073. The need for pilots was urgent and losses were high. Consequently training occurred hastily and involved gaining experience on different aircraft. His own record of events is almost a catalogue of the aircraft available then. He flew solo on a Maurice Farnham Shorthorn at Shoreham, trained on Avros and Sopwith Pups at Dover, obtaining his wings in July. At Wye he flew Sopwith Camels after which he served on Home Defence at Hornchurch on Sopwith 11/2 Strutters.
At Dover his fighting instructor was James McCudden who became the most famous fighter pilot of the war earning the Victoria Cross in April 1918. Jack recalled that he was a brilliant pilot who enjoyed demonstrating the abilities of an aircraft by doing “hair-raising stunts round the aerodrome”. Sadly, McCudden was accidently killed over his aerodrome not long after he received his award.
Ultimately Jack was to serve as a night fighter on FE2B aircraft. This machine looks strange today with its propeller behind the cockpit. A front section, the nacelle, was for the observer who usually operated the machine gun and released the bombs singly using very simple equipment although the pilot or observer often lifted a bomb over the side by hand and dropped it. The cockpit and nacelle had no cover, so the crew must have been extremely cold.
Jack’s night flying training commenced with a posting to Marham in Norfolk in November 1917 followed by a posting to 83 Squadron at nearby Narborough then an overseas posting with the Squadron in March 1918 to Auchel in northern France. Most aircraft of the time could not fly long distances so could not attack from Britain.
When making the change to night flying Jack was initially nervous as he tackled the business of taking off while dazzled by flares along the runway and so was unable at first to see the horizon. The latter was very important at night to enable the pilots’ sense of balance to be maintained because they relied on this to fly the machine properly. No sophisticated instruments were available to help them in those early days of flying. All they had of any real use were an air speed indicator and a rev indicator. It was also important to gain enough height before making turns because, if not correctly done, the aircraft could stall and, if too near the ground, recovery was not possible and a crash was inevitable. Landing an aircraft at night also required new skills, particularly having to judge the distance of the aircraft from the flare path in order to avoid reaching the runway too early or too late.
Soon after arrival in Auchel the Squadron started bombing German structures such as aerodromes and railways. Reconnaissance was another valuable activity and photography was very important in this regard. Despite the unsophisticated cameras available at that time, RFC aerial photographs came to be regarded highly during the war. Jack discovered that much could also be learned from visual observation and remembered a mapping officer who flew out each night and made a mental picture of the ground. On returning he painted a map on large sheets of paper salvaged from the blue sugar bags they used at that time. Jack considered these maps to be surprisingly realistic and helpful in locating places they were ordered to attack.
Jack’s active service in France occurred during the last German offensive in March 1918. By early May some Germans set up a base within site of the Auchel aerodrome and began to attack it with artillery fire. This led to evacuation to a safer location joining with 101 Squadron. In the ensuing confusion little attention was paid to updating the men from Auchel regarding differing procedures. Unfortunately for Jack this led to his making an error during takeoff on his first mission at the new base and, with a full load of bombs, could not gain height properly. The plane hit a haystack in an adjoining field and cartwheeled several times before coming to rest. None of the bombs exploded but Jack was severely injured and spent several months in hospital, by which time the war was over. However, once he recovered from his injuries he was posted to 199 Squadron, Harpswell where he was an instructor on FE2Bs until his discharge in May 1919. Much later, in September 1972, the Imperial War Museum made a sound recording of Jack’s recollections of his night flying experiences which can be accessed by visitors to the museum.
Pte. John Alfred Hopkins
British Army 50th Btn. Machine Gun Corps
from:Nuneaton Warwickshire
(d.17th Oct 1918)
Pte. Lionel Raymond Hopkins
British Army 10th Btn. A Coy. Middlesex Regiment
from:St. Johns Green, Battersea
(d.27th April 1916)
Lionel Hopkins, born on 26th July 1894 in Turvey. Bedfordshire was the son of George Edward and Francis Maud Hopkins of 1 Burnham Road, St. Albans, Hertfordshire. From 2nd January 1912 he was a teacher at Elstow Board Lower School. When he enlisted in Battersea on 1st November 1912 he was living in St. Johns Green, Battersea. He served with A Company 1st/10th Battalion Middlesex Regiment. He died of a fractured skull received in a fall on 27th of April 1916 aged 21 years in India and is buried in Kala Khan Cemetery, Naintal, India. He is commemorated on the Madras 1914-1918 War Memorial, Chennai, India and on the War Memorial, All Saints church, Turvey, Bedfordshire. A pupil of Bedford Modern School 1907-11, he is also commemorated on the School War Memorial. Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com
Pte. Sidney Hopkins
British Army 2nd Btn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
from:Birmingham
(d.13th March 1915)
Sidney Hopkins is my great great uncle. I have his WW1 Victory Medal and Plaque.
Pte. Thomas Hopkins
British Army 1st/8th Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers
(d.13th Feb 1918)
Thomas Hopkins served with the Lancashire Fusiliers 1st/8th Battalion. He was executed for leaving his post on 13th Frbruary 1918 aged 26 and is buried in Gorre British and Indian Cemetery, Gorre, France.
Pte. Thomas Henry Hopkins
British Army 2/7th Btn. Sherwood Foresters
from:Breadsall, Derbyshire
(d.26th Sep 1917)
Henry Hopkins was my great uncle on my mother's side of the family. He was killed in action on 26th of September 1917 during the attack on Polygon Wood during the Third Battle of Ypres, probably somewhere near Saint Julien. He died during the day when, reputedly, the Germans fired their biggest barrage of WW1 - 1.6 million shells I believe. He is buried in Wieltje Farm Cemetery on the outskirts of Ypres.
Pte. William Hopkins
British Army
from:Binfield Bracknell Berks
(d.27th May 1916)
William Hopkins of the 8th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, died on the 27th May 1916 and is remembered at Loos British Cemetery. He was one of two Brothers, both killed. William Hopkins would have been my great uncle.
Capt. Charles Reginald Thompson Hopkinson
British Army attd. 3rd Bn. Nigeria Regiment, W.A.F.F. East Surrey Regiment
from:Hurst Grove, Bedford
(d.6th September 1914)
Charles Hopkinson was the Son of the late Mr. C.R. Hopkinson and Mrs. E. Hamilton Hurst, of Hurst Grove, Bedford; husband of Beryl Hopkinson. Served in the South African Campaign.
He was 34 when he died and is remembered on a special memorial in the Limbe Botanical Gardens Burial Grounds in the Cameroons.
Pte. R Hopkinson
British Army 1/5th Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
(d.16th February 1916)
Sgt. William Hopkinson
British Army 6th Btn. East Lancashire Regiment
from:Colne
(d.12th July 1915)
William Hopkinson enlisted in Burnley and lived at Danil Smiths House, Colne. He died on 12th July 1915 and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.
Sgt. William Hopkinson
British Army 11th Btn. Sherwood Foresters
(d.31st July 1916)
Pte. Thomas Hopley
British Army 1/5th Battalion Cheshire Regiment
from:Ashton
(d.28th March 1918)
Have recently just found out my great great uncle Thomas Hopley was killed in action. He was laid to rest in France. Any photos of the 1/5th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment would be appreciated. Or any info on the Battalion at all.
So nice to feel so connected to him and his brother Alfred who also died from pneumonia on the 12th of February 1919. He was a gunner in 4th Battalion 76th Brigade Royal Field Artillery. He is buried in Halle, Belgium.
Hopper
Army 7th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Pte. George Henry Hopper
British Army 19th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
from:West Rainton, Durham
(d.29th March 1918)
Lt. J. Hopper
Army 8th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Pte. John Hopper
British Army The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
from:Abbeyleix, Ireland
(d.14th March 1918)
John Hopper was the son of Mrs. Hopper, of Rathmile Road, Abbeyleix, Co. Leitrim. He died on 14th March 1918 aged 32 and is buried in the Abbeyleix Catholic Churchyard, south of the middle path.
Pte. John Hopper
British Army The King's (Liverpool Regiment) Depot
from:Abbeyleix, Ireland
(d.14th March 1918)
Private Hopper was the Son of Mrs. Hopper, of Abbeyleix.
He was 332 when he died and is buried in the Abbeyleix Catholic Churchyard in Ireland, South of middle path.
Pte. Robert Hopper
British Army 15th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:Blaydon on Tyne
(d.7th November 1918)
Pte. Thomas Hopper
British Army 4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Willington Quay
(d.28th Sep 1916)
Thomas Hopper served with the 4th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He was aged 41 when he died on 28th September 1916. He was born in Jarrow 1875, son of Thomas and Margaret Hopper (nee Burns). He lived in Willington Quay and enlisted in North Shields. Thomas Hopper age 35 Cooper in Chemical Works is with his wife Mary Jane Hopper and children at 94 Stephenson Street, Willington Quay on the 1911 census.
Thomas is buried in Wallsend (Church Bank) Cemetery.
Pte. Walter Hopper
British Army 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards
from:Enfiled, Middlesex
(d.October 1914)
Walter Hopper is remembered on the Roll of Honour at Bush Hill Park United Reformed Church, 25 Main Avenue, Enfield. He was only 19 when he died in October 1914
Private Frederick Arthur Hopps
Army 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers
from:27, Harehills Terrace, Roundhay Rd., Leeds.
(d.2nd September 1918)
Frederick Hopps was compulsorily transferred from Army Service Corps to 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers mid January 1918 and was killed in action 2nd September same year. Grave at Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery (near Ypres) - Grave reference IV.G.17. At rest with about 20 (actually 21 others) comrades from the same battalion who died on the same day. R.I.P. He was the son of Mrs. A. E. Hopps and was aged 24 when he was killed. The others who died that day are: BOYLEN J 41678 7TH BN CROWTHER H 41905 1ST BN DOORIS T 26917 1ST BN HARDY C J 49978 1ST BN HEATH G D 49993 1ST BN HEATHMAN H 50019 1ST BN HOLLAND H 49811 1ST BN HOPPS FA 41860 1ST BN HYLAND J 11056 1ST BN JAGGER E 41882 1ST BN JONES WJ 49911 1ST BN KOSZEGI F 29616 1ST BN LEAH J 23478 1ST BN LINNEY E H 41811 1ST BN MCGEEHAN N 40134 1ST BN MONTGOMERY S 2482 1ST BN O'CONNOR H 6964 1ST BN PARFITT F E 50018 1ST BN PARTINGTON M R 49980 1ST BN SHERIDAN P 23754 1ST BN
Pte. Joseph Hopps
British Army 15th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:Coundon
(d.1st July 1916)
Pte. Thomas Hopps
British Army 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Binchester, Co. Durham
(d.1st Jul 1916)
Before the war, Thomas Hopps (1891-1916) worked at Westerton Colliery. At age 27, just before the war broke out, he married Florence Robinson. He joined up with a Pals' Battalion in 1915 - the 20th Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Scottish).
Four of these battalions made up the 102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade. While an application for kilt or trews was rejected, they were granted pipe bands and use of the Glengarry cap, with a small patch of tartan to be added behind the fusilier's badge after the soldier's first action. The CSM joked that if enough of them got killed the survivors could club together to make a kilt from the remaining patches.
At Christmas 1915, they were granted their first home leave but reported back to barracks a day late. Although it looks like this was a genuine administrative error, it was decided to make an example of them anyway and they were placed in the first wave of the Battle of the Somme on the 1st July 1916. After two huge mines were exploded in the sector, they were sent over the top at 7.30am to attack the fortified village of La Boiselle, across 3km of open ground in the face of withering German machine gun fire. By 8 o'clock there were just a handful of survivors. The Tyneside Scottish suffered the worst casualties of any brigade that day. The 1st Battalion (about 800 men) lost 584 men, the 3rd lost 537 men while the 4th Battalion lost 629. All four battalion commanders were killed. In total, the British lost 5,000 at Ovillers; the Germans only 280.
As they went 'over the top' each company was played over by their pipers, and they played on as they advanced into a deadly crossfire from machine guns. In a matter of about 10 minutes some 80 per cent of the leading battalions had become casualties, including all four Tyneside Scottish Battalion commanders and 15 out of the 16 company commanders. Many senior NCOs had also been killed or wounded. One old soldier remarked, 'It took twelve months to build our battalion but just twelve minutes to destroy it'.
The body of Thomas Hopps was found at Trench Map reference 57d X14, to the north of La Boiselle. He was exhumed from a temporary grave with a wooden cross that he shared with an unknown corporal of the Middlesex Regiment and reburied at Ovillers Military Cemetery XIII. F. 4. He is also commemorated on a plaque ('Pvte T. Hopps N.F.') in Whitworth Church, in the grounds of Whitworth Hall.
His name appears on the Somme Roll of Honour.
Pte. Wilfred Hopps
British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Commissioned & continued serving after the war
William Hopson
British Army 250 Tunnelling Coy. Royal Engineers
Pte. John "Hoppy " Hopton
British Army 10th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment
from:Stourton, Yorkshire
Pte. Walter Hopwood
British Army 2/5th Btn. Manchester Regiment
from:Salford
Walter Hopwood joined the British Army on 20th of September 1916. After being shipped to the Western Front in France, he was assigned duty in Belgium near Poelcappelle until his unit was pulled back to the trenches west of St. Quentin, where the British forces were defending the front lines. He was captured by the German Army on 21st of March 1918 somewhere west of St. Quentin, France during the German Spring Offensive named Operation Michael. During the day of his capture, he suffered from inhaling liquid flame, which burned his lungs and made breathing difficult for the remaining portion of his life. After the end of World War I, Walter returned home to Salford, UK and lived until June 1937.
Pte. Eaton Horace
British Army 2nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
(d.8th May 1915)
Sgt. P. Horan
British Army 3rd Bn. transfd. to (86917) Royal Defence Corps Royal Irish Fusiliers
Serjeant Horan died on the 21st March 1919 and is buried In the South-East corner of the Monaghan (Latlorcan) Catholic Cemetery, Latlorcan, Co. Monaghan, Ireland.
Pte. Horace Hord
British Army 1st Battalion, C Coy. Monmouthshire Regiment
from:Stacksteads, Lancashire
(d.12th April 1918)
Horace Hord is my husband's great, grand uncle, the brother of his great grandmother Frances Hord Howorth. Horace was born near Bacup, Lancashire, England in about 1897. Frances' husband, James Howorth, also served in WWI, we believe in the Royal Flying Corps.
Page 67 of 89
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