Benjamin Hopewell
He was a shop assistant, Co-operative Grocery, in 1911. On attesting in 1916 he gave his occupation as 'grocer's manager'.
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Benjamin was the son of John and Elizabeth Hopewell (née Gent).
His father was born in Leicester in 1850 and his mother in Selston in 1853. They were married on 9 September 1873 at Selston St Helen and had ten children, two of whom died in infancy.
All the children were born in Selston: Harriet b. 1874, Edith b. 1875, Sarah birth registered 1877 (JFM) died 1877 (JAS), William birth registered 1878 (JFM) died 1878 (JFM), John b. 1879, Arthur b. 1882, Annie Mary birth registered 1884 (JFM), Bertha b. 1889, Hilda Hannah birth registered 1891 (JFM) and Benjamin b. 1892 (AMJ).
John, a coal miner, and Elizabeth, were living in Inkerman, Selston, in 1881 with their three children, Harriet, Edith and John. Two children, a daughter and son, had died in 1877 and 1878 respectively.
They were at the same address in 1891 along with their seven surviving children: Harriet, a domestic servant, Edith, John, Arthur and Annie who were school age and Bertha and Hannah who was a few months old. Benjamin was born the following year.
Two of their daughters married before the next census. Harriet married John Hurt, a coal miner, in 1898 and they were also living in Inkerman with their daughter Hilda Hopewell [Hurt] in 1901. They had four more children, Barbara Annie, Ida, Ethel May and Frank Wallis. Her younger sister Edith married John Simpson, a printer compositor, at Inkerman Methodist Chapel in 1896 and they were living on Lord Street, Mansfield, in 1901. The couple had had five children by 1911, two of whom had died; their surviving children were Elsie, Marie Winifred and George Arthur. They had another daughter, Dorothy, in 1913.
Harriet and Edith's six siblings were still living with their parents at Inkerman Road in 1901: John and Arthur who were both coal miners, Annie a school teacher and Bertha, Hannah and Benjamin who were school age.
By 1911 0nly the youngest child, Benjamin, a shop assistant (Co-operative Grocery), was living with his parents; his father was now a coal miner/deputy manager.
Annie Mary married John George Dunn, a stationary engine man (above ground), in 1909 (JAS) and they were living in Inkerman with their son John (u/1yr) in 1911. Her sister Bertha married Roger Povey the same year (1909 JAS) and they were also living in Inkerman; her husband was a butcher (Co-operative Society).
John, a coal miner hewer, was living on Sherry Hill, Mansfield, with his wife Helen (née Swain, m. 1903) and their two sons Bernard and Everett. Arthur and his wife Sarah Alice (née Peach, m. 1904) were living with their son, Arthur Ernest, in Inkerman; they had a second son, Harry, the following year.
Their youngest sister, Hilda Hannah, was in Mansfield, a domestic servant (cook), one of two domestic staff in the household of Frederic Pickard, a jam manufacturer, and his wife and their two adult children. Hilda married John Edward Bunkle in 1911 (reg. JAS Mansfield); they had three children, John E (1912), Kathleen (1915) and Alan (1928). In 1921 Hilda, Edward and their two children were living in Mansfield.
Benjamin's parents were still living on Inkerman Road when the 1921 Census was recorded. John (age 70y 7m) gave his occupation as 'late miner Butterley Company, out of work'. (The Old Age Pension was introduced in 1909 when it was payable from the age of 70 although with certain conditions). Also in the home was their granddaughter, Ethel Hurt (15, parents Harriet and John), whose occupation was given as 'home duties.'
Both John and Elizabeth Hopewell died in 1931, she on 17 June aged 77 and he aged 80 in the August.
Benjamin Hopewell attested on 31 January 1916. He gave his age as 23 years and 266 days, occupation grocery manager, and named his father, John, as his next of kin.
Benjamin was posted to the Army Reserve the following day, 1 February. His Army Service record has a series of mobilization dates in 1916, 'having been found fit for service abroad by Medical Board', followed by reposting to the Army Reserve (see service record below). However, on the final occasion of mobilization in April 1918 he was posted to the Labour Corps (South Camp, Ripon) but a transfer to the Royal Engineers, effective 16 April, had been authorised on 13 April and Benjamin was then posted to the RE Transportation Branch.
He served with the BEF France from 18 April 1918; latterly with the 317 Road Construction Company of the RE Transportation Branch. He was admitted to hospital on 6 May, discharged 20 May, and arrived TTB (sic) on 24 May, rejoining 317 RCC on 11 June.
Benjamin died at No. 1 South African General Hospital, Abbevile, France, on 1 December 1918 of influenza and pneumonia. He was buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Service record: Home 31 January 1916-1 February 1916. Home 20 March 1916-21 March 1916. Home 23 September 1916-25 September 1916. Home 28 November 1916-29 November 1916. Home 4 April 1918-17 April 1918. BEF France 18 April 1918-1 December 1918.
He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
No.1 South African General Hospital arrived in France in July 1916 and was established in Abbeville adjacent to No.2 Stationary Hospital.
CWGC History of Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension (extract): 'For much of the First World War, Abbeville was headquarters of the Commonwealth lines of communication and No.3 BRCS, No.5 and No.2 Stationary Hospitals were stationed there variously from October 1914 to January 1920. The communal cemetery was used for burials from November 1914 to September 1916, the earliest being made among the French military graves. The extension was begun in September 1916.'
CWGC Additional information: Son of John and Elizabeth Hopewell, of Inkerman Rd., Selston, Notts.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Tho' lost to sight to memory ever dear'
Headstone, family grave, Selston: ‘In loving memory of Ben Hopewell who died in Abbeville France Dec 1st 1918, aged 26 years. Tho' lost to sight to memory ever dear. Also Elizabeth his beloved mother died June 17th 1931 aged 77 years. Also John his beloved father who died August (-) 1931 aged 80 years. Re-united.’
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: His mother, Elizabeth, was his legatee
Benjamin's mother completed a form for the Army listing her son's surviving blood relatives:
Parents: John and Elizabeth Hopewell, Inkerman Road, Selston.
Brothers: John Hopewell (40) Radcliffe Gate, Mansfield. Arthur Hopewell (37), Inkerman, Selston.
Sisters: Harriet Hurt (45) Inkerman Road, Selston. Edith Simpson (44) Portland Street, Mansfield. Annie Dunn (35) Queen Street, Sutton [Sutton in Ashfield). Bertha Povey (30) Inkerman Road, Selston. Hannah Bunkle (29), Lord Street, Mansfield.
Signed: Elizabeth Hopewell mother, Inkerman Rd Selston. Witnessed at (-) Villa, by George Peach JP, (-) Villa, Selston.
Note: Benjamin’s brother, Arthur, married Sarah Alice Peach in 1904.
Benjamin's personal belongings were returned to his mother in August 1919. These comprised: letters, photos, relig. book, 2 razors (remainder of list unclear). There is a set of correspondence between Elizabeth Hopewell and the Army, largely indecypherable, which relates to a delay in Benjamin's personal belongings being returned to his family. It seems that the Army had not received the necessary authority to release these items.
Updated/additional information RF (Sept. 2025).
Photo of Benjamin Hopewell
Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension (www.cwgc.org)