Albert Edward Hopewell
1906: engine cleaner, Great Central Railway.
At the time he enlisted he was a lace hand at Carey and Sons, Southwell.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Albert Edward Hopewell was the son of Henry and Alice Alexandra Hopewell (née Bull).
Both parents were born in Lenton, Nottingham. Henry was born on 4 June 1862, the son of Philip and Elizabeth Hopewell, residence King's Place, and was baptised at Nottingham St Mary on 22 August 1866. Alice Alexandra was born on 25 March 1863, the daughter of William and Hannah Bull, and baptised at Lenton St Anthony on 4 October the same year.
The couple were married at Nottingham St Saviour on 15 July 1882 and had thirteen children, nine of whom survived infancy. Their first child, William Henry H. was born in 1882 (OND) but died aged five weeks. Their other children were: Florence Annie b. 1884 AMJ, Robert Arthur (Arthur) b. 1886 JAS, Albert Edward b. 1888 OND, John Henry b. 1890 JAS, William birth registered 1894 JFM, Millicent b. 1891 d. reg. 1893 JFM and Alice b. 1896 AMJ who were born in Kimberley, then Gordon b. 1898 JAS, Evelyn b. 1900 AMJ, Ada b. 1901 OND d. 1901 OND and Elsie May b. 1905 JAS who were born in Bulwell and Ethel Ada b. 1907 JFM d. 1907 AMJ whose birth was recorded in the Southwell registration district.
Henry Hopewell and five siblings were living with their widowed mother, Elizabeth, at 8 King's Place, Nottingham, in 1881. He married Alice the following year and they lived in New Lenton. Their first child, William was born the same year but died aged 5 weeks and was buried in Lenton St Anthony churchyard on 6 January 1883.
By 1891 they were recorded at Noel Street, Greasley, Nottinghamshire: Henry (29) a lace patttern corrector, Alice (28) and their four surviving children, Florence, Robert, Albert and John. A second daughter, Millicent, was born later that year but died in 1893.
The family had moved to 91 Austin Street, Bulwell, Nottingham, by 1901: Henry, Alice and their eight children, Florence a slip winder (lace factory), Arthur, a carder (lace factory), Albert, John and William who were school age, and Alice, Gordon and Evelyn. A daughter, Ada, was born later that year (reg. Nottingham) but died before the year end. Henry and Alice were still living at the same address when Albert attested in the Territorial Force in February 1906 and named his parents and two of his brothers as his next of kin.
The eldest daughter, Florence (residence Deal, Kent), married George William Mackey, a sergeant in the Royal Marine Light Infantry (residence Walmer, Kent), at Deal St Leonard on 18 July 1906. They were to have four children, George Henry, Florence May, Miriam Evelyn and Lucy, who were all born during the time George was serving with the RMLI. After George's discharge from the RMLI in 1919 he joined the Civil Service and the family returned to Nottingham latterly living in Sherwood. Florence died in 1959 (buried Redhill Cemetery); her husband survived her. (See 'Extra information' for George's service record.)
Florence's brother, Robert Arthur, married Ethel C0les in 1910 (reg. Nottingham).
Henry and Alice were probably living in Southwell when their last child, Ethel Ada, was born in 1907 (b/d. 1907 reg. Southwell), and were recorded at 8 Chatham Street, Southwell, in 1911: Henry was a lace curtain corrector and he and two of his sons were probably employed by Carey and Sons who had a factory in the town. Six of their children were in the home on the night of the Census, John and William who were both threaders in the lace trade, Alice who was aged 15 had no occupation but was recorded as 'home', and Gordon, Evelyn and Elsie were school age. Also in the household was their granddaughter, Florence Mackey (3).
Albert has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, but he married Sarah Ethel H Green in 1911 (OND) and their daughter Hannah May was born in Southwell two years later on 25 June 1913. They were living on West Gate, Southwell, when Albert attested in 1914 but this address was later amended to 8 Chatham Street, Southwell.
Albert's parents were still living in Southwell in 1921. Henry was now employed by Carey & Sons as a lace pattern corrector. Only three children were still at home, Gordon who was a farm worker employed by Mr Starkey of Norwood Hall, Evelyn who was also working for Carey & Sons, and Elsie (15) whose occupation was given as 'home duties'.
Henry Hopewell died in 1925 age 63 (reg. JFM Nottingham); his widow Alice died in 1947 aged 85 (reg. OND Southwell).
Albert's widow Ethel married Thomas Dudley Waistell in 1923 (reg. Leicester) and were living at 23 Mere Road, Leicester. They were still at the same address in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled; also in the household were Joyce E Waistell (b. 1929) and Richard Green (b. 1873), a widower, probably Ethel's father. The record of one other member of the household remains closed. Ethel's daughter Hannah May had moved to Leicester with her mother and had married Lewis J Spooner in 1935. Ethel died on 15 April 1980 (reg. Leicester).
Albert Edward attested 'For Militia or Reserve Division of the Militia'on 3 February 1906, 1188 Private Albert Edward Hopewell, 4th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, Notts & Derby Regiment. He was 17 years 6 months old, born Kimberley, resident Bulwell, and working as an engine cleaner with the Great Central Railway. He named his parents and brothers Arthur and John of 91 Austin Street, Bulwell, as his next of kin. He completed 49 days training before obtaining a discharge by purchase, 10 April 1906.
Albert then enlisted at Southwell on 6 August 1914 on a Territorial Force Engagement (4 years UK). He was 25 years 11 months old, occupation ?labourerer, Carey & Sons, Southwell. He was married to Ethel with a daughter, Hannah May. Address West Gate, Southwell (later amended to 8 Chatham Street, Newark). He declared that he had previously served with the 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (engagement terminated).
He landed in France with the 1/8th Battalion on 25th February 1915. He was killed two months later on 15th April when he was shot in the back while in a patrol checking the German wire.
Albert was buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (grave reference: E 59) on 16 April 1915. The service was taken by the Brigade Chaplain, Rev. JP Hales.
Service: Home 6 August 1914-1 March 1915: 208 days. BEF France 2 March 1915-15 April 1915. Served 253 days.
He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC History of Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery (extract): The Cemetery is 8kms from the town of Ieper (Ypres). 'Kemmel Chateau was north-east of Kemmel village and the cemetery was established on the north side of the chateau grounds in December 1914. It continued to be used by divisions fighting on the southern sectors of the Belgian front until March 1918, when after fierce fighting involving both Commonwealth and French forces, the village and cemetery fell into German hands in late April. The cemetery was retaken later in the year.' (www.cwgc.org)
Albert's younger brother John (Jack) Henry Hopewell also served in the 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters and was killed in action on 30 July 1915. See record on this Roll of Honour.
Two other brothers also served in the war, both survived:
Robert Arthur attested in the Territorial Force on a 4 year engagement (service UK) in May 1913. He was a lace hand at Carey & Sons, The Burgage, Southwell, and married. He attended annual camp at Thoresby 27 July 1912-10 August 1913 and at Normanby 26 July 1914-3 August 1914. He enlisted for Embodied Service with the 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters on 5 August 1914 but was discharged, TF Regulation 156 (11), on 6 August having been found medically unfit on mobilisation. Service 27 May 1913-5 August 1914 (1 year 70 days).
William served with the RMLI (Ply 15995) and took part in the Zeebrugge raid in 1918 for which he was awarded the CGM.
Their sister Florence married Ply8261 Serjeant George William Mackey, Royal Marine Light Infantry, in 1906. Her husband, who was born in Old Basford in 1878, had joined the RMLI on 9 October 1896 and was discharged on 22 May 1919 in the rank of Company Sergeant Major RMLI. George was awarded the Military Cross and qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Albert's widow was awarded a pension of 15 shillings a week for herself and her child, first payment to be made on 29 November 1915.
A War Office memo of October 1915 instructed OIC Infantry Litchfield to return Albert's personal property to his widow, Mrs Sarah EH Hopewell, West Gate, Southwell. This comprised: 2 (-) in cases, cigarette case, tobacco box, tobacco pouch, pipe, 3 knives, pencil (-), purse, ring, metal watch and chain, (-) service badge, identity disc, pocket book, photos, 2 prayer books, holdall containing shaving bowl, razor, strop (+ 1 other item). Note: a letter to Albert's widow dated March 1924 was sent to 'Mrs Hopewell, 23 Mere Road, Leicester'. Ethel had married Thomas Duncan Waistell of Leicester in 1923.
Newark Advertiser, 21 April 1915: ‘Southwell Territorial Killed. Mrs Hopewell has received a notification from colleagues in the trenches that her husband, Private Albert Hopewell of the 1st 8th Sherwood Foresters, was killed in the fighting on April 15th. Deceased, who is the first Southwell Territorial killed, was an employee of Messrs Carey and Co., who have contributed so many men to the Forces in the present crisis.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Newark Advertiser, 28 April 1915: ‘Southwell News. Memorial Service. On Friday night a large congregation assembled at the Minster to do honour to the three brave men who went from the Minster town to lay down their lives in a great and righteous war – Privates Sidney Deeley, (sic) Harry Wilkins, and Albert Hopewell. The prayers were taken by the Rev. TA Lee, and the rector very impressively, amid the silence that was broken only by the grief of relatives and friends of the departed, read a part of the burial service, after which an address was given by the Bishop of the Diocese on the subject of St George, the Patron Saint of England. After the service, Mr RW Liddle played the Dead March in ‘Saul’. The hymns sung at the service were ‘Brief life is here our portion’ and ‘Now the labourer’s task is o’er.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Newark Advertiser, 22 September 1915: Extract ‘Newark & District Roll of Honour. Southwell. Rank and File ... Hopewell. Pte A, 8th Sherwood Foresters. Hopewell. Pte JH, 8th Sherwood Foresters.’ This list was published regularly throughout the war.
Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam', 2 August 1916: 'Hopewell. In loving memory of our affectionate sons Jack [John Henry] Hopewell, August 1st (sic), 1915, Albert Hopewell, April 15th, 1915, brothers killed in action. Went from home for love of duty. Sadly missed. – Mother, father, brothers, sisters.' Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
Updated and additional information RF (Sept. 2025).
Albert Edward Hopewell
Buried Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, France. Photograph Murray Biddle.