John Henry Hopewell
1911: lace threader with Carey & Sons, The Burgage, Southwell.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
John Henry (Jack) 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 John's brother 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.)
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 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 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.
John's parents were still living in Southwell in 1921. Henry was now employed at 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).
John Henry Hopewell enlisted in the Territorial Force at Southwell on 1st April 1908.
He was embodied in the Army on 5 August 1914, the day after the outbreak of war. He was posted to BEF France and disembarked France on 2 March 1915. Five months later John was killed in action at Hooge on 30 July 1915.
The Battalion had had a short period out of the trenches, having been relieved by the 7th Battalion [Sherwood Foresters] on 23 July 1915. However they then had 'in front of us what turned out to be the longest and most trying of all the Battalion's experiences in the trenches, for after relieving the 7th Battalion in trenches B 3, 4, 7 and 8 at 'Sanctuary Wood' on the night of 29/30 July we did not get out for 19 days ... At 3.30am on July 30th, immediately after stand-down, and within a few hours of our arrival in the trenches, on a perfect summer morning, the whole of the wood was suddenly surrounded by a ring of fire, while at the same time a heavy bombardment was opened, concentrating apparently on the trenches around 'Hooge Crater.' Under cover of this bombardment and behind 'flammenwerfer' the enemy attacked the point of the salient held by C Company ... Further attacks by the enemy on the point of the salient were made during the day, and a more serious one early next morning ... Our casualties during the activities of July 30th and 31st amounted to 21 killedand 40 wounded.' (History of the 1/8th Battalion', Captain WCC Weetman MC CdG)
John Henry has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 39 & 41).
He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC History of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (extract): This is 'one of four memorials to the missing in Belgian Flanders which cover the area known as the Ypres Salient. Broadly speaking, the Salient stretched from Langemarck in the north to the northern edge in Ploegsteert Wood in the south, but it varied in area and shape throughout the war. The Salient was formed during the First Battle of Ypres in October and November 1914, when a small British Expeditionary Force succeeded in securing the town before the onset of winter, pushing the German forces back to the Passchendaele Ridge. The Second Battle of Ypres began in April 1915 when the Germans released poison gas into the Allied lines north of Ypres. This was the first time gas had been used by either side and the violence of the attack forced an Allied withdrawal and a shortening of the line of defence. There was little more significant activity on this front until 1917' and the Third Battle of Ypres.
CWGC Additional information: Son of Henry and A. A. Hopewell, of 8, Chatham St., Southwell, Notts.
John's brother Albert Edward Hopewell also served with the 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (2059 Private). He was killed in action on 15 April 1915 aged 27 and was buried in Kemmel Military Cemetery. See record on this Roll of Honour.
Two of their brothers, Robert Arthur and William, 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.
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.' Courtesy of Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
Updated and additional information RF (Sept. 2025).
Photo of John Henry Hopewell
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium (www.cwgc.org)