Name
James Herbert Hopper
26 May 1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/01/1916
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
G/1866
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BECOURT MILITARY CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT
I. D. 16.
France
Headstone Inscription
HE PUT DUTY BEFORE LIFE ITSELF
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter's Church Memorial, Berkhamsted
Pre War
James Herbert Hopper was born on 26 May 1889 in Shrub End, Lexden, Colchester, Essex, the son and only child of James and Caroline Hopper. He was baptised on 28 July 1889 All Saints Church, Shrub End, Essex.
On the 1891 Census the family were living in Straight Road, Lexden, where his father was working as a general labourer. They had moved to Nascot Place, Watford by 1901 and moved again by 1911 to Prince Edward Street, Berkhamsted at which time James was working as a furniture porter and his father as a furniture foreman.
He married Kate Robina Fountain on 11 April 1914 at Great Berkhamsted, Herts and they had a daughter Lilian May who was born on 19 November 1914. They lived at The Gables, Prince Edward Street, Great Berkhamsted.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in St Pancras, Middlesex, and served as a Corporal with the 7th Battalion, East Kent Regiment in France from 28 July 1915.
He was killed in action on 31 January 1916, aged 26, and is buried at Becourt Military Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, France.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £6 10s and pay owing of £1 7s 11d. She also received a pension of 15s 6d a week for herself and her child.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
