Name
Frederick Ernest Hopwood
9 May !894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/10/1918
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Royal Engineers
Rail Operating Division
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BLARGIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
I.F.9
France
Headstone Inscription
AND FOR OUR COUNTRY 'TIS A BLISS TO DIE -POPE
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Harpenden
Pre War
Frederick Ernest was born on 9 May !894 in 1894 Edmonton, Middlesex to Ernest James Hopwood, a stockbrokers clerk, and Jessie Rosina (nee Searle).
On the 1901 Census the family were visiting relatives in Edmonton. By 1911 Frederick now 16 was an apprentice locomotive engineer working at the Midland Railway Works Derby, and lodging in Derby at Bloomfield Street.
Wartime Service
Frederick volunteered for the Royal Engineers as Second Corporal 40396 and was deployed to Railway Operating Division.
His past experience was likely to be put to use in the operation and maintenance of the standard gauge railway engines and rolling stock.
He went to Egypt on 21 Oct 1915. Fred was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant (from Corporal) on 4 Jan 1917 and Later promoted to Lieutenant. He died on 16 Oct 1918 and was interred in Blargies Cemetery, Dieppe, France. (Blargies was an Ammunition Base Depot and Railway Junction)
Additional Information
His father, Mr. E. J. Hopwood, 11, Copthall Court, London., ordered his headstone inscription: “AND FOR OUR COUNTRY 'TIS A BLISS TO DIE -POPE”. War Gratuity of £14 10s and arrears of £124 14s 1d, together with probate of £38 14s 2d paid to father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
