George Herbert Hopewell
1939: school
Nottinghamshire Archives: William Hollins & Co, Pleasley Mill. Extensive records relating to the Company's war memorial. Ref. DD/2091/4/2: G H Hopewell, RN, Despatch Dept.
- Family History
- Military history
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George Herbert (known as Herbert) was the only son of Cyril and Florence May Hopewell (née Burton).
His father Cyril was born in Nottingham in February 1902, one of the ten children of Herbert and Annie Hopewell. In 1911 the family was living at 3A Newbridge Street, Nottingham: Herbert a joiner, Annie, and their eight surviving children, Ethel, Henry, John, Walter, twins Cyril and Mabel, James and Florence. By 1921 Herbert and his wife had moved to 23 Page Street, Castle Road, Nottingham; only Cyril, a coal miner (Clifton Colliery Co.), Mabel and James were in the home on the night of the census.
His mother Florence May was born in 1901,the daughter of William and Florence Burton. She was baptised on 21 August 1901 at Bulwell St John. In 1911, William, his wife and their three children, Florence, George William and Ida Ellen, were living at Easthorpe, Southwell. By 1921 Florence was employed as a domestic servant (nurse) and living at 44 Park Terrace, The Rope Walk, Nottingham, in the household of Charles Shelton, estate agent, his wife and their two infant sons.
Cyril of Page Street, Nottingham, and Florence of 1 New Street, Southwell, were married at Southwell Minster (St Mary) on 30 June 1923. Their son was born on 13 December 1923 (reg. 1924 JFM Basford) and his sister Margaret A, in 1927 (reg. JFM Southwell). In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, the family was living at Spital Cottage, Blidworth, Nottinghamshire. Cyril's occupation was given as under gardener/sexton and his son George was still at school. George later worked for William Hollins & Co. in the Despatch Department.
The later CWGC record gave Cyril and Florence's address as Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, but at the time of Cyril's death on 6 January 1954 the couple were living at 49 Meadow Lane, Nottingham. Cyril had probably been employed by Northern Dairies. His widow died on 18 May 1969. She was survived by their married daughter, Margaret (Chamberlain m. 1949 Nottingham).
The trawler Kingston Beryl was built by Cook, Welton & Gemmill, Beverley, Hull, for the Kingston Steam Trawling Company Limited. She was launched in October 1928 and completed the following month. The trawler was requisitioned by the Admiralty on 26 August 1939 and Commissioned in September 1939.
HMT Kingston Beryl (T/Sub. Lt. Alan William John Baker RNVR) was on convoy escort duty when on 25 December 1943, north-west of Islay, Scotland, she hit two British laid mines which had broken free. She sank in position 56º12’N, 07º30’W. 27. There were no survivors from a ship's company of 28.
George Herbert was reported missing, believed drowned. His body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Lowestoft Naval Memorial, Suffolk ((Panel 11, Column 3).
CWGC History of Lowestoft Naval Memorial (extract): 'Lowestoft was chosen as the site for the Memorial to those men of the Royal Naval Patrol Service who have no other grave than the sea. This was because it was the Depot for the Royal Naval Patrol Service during Second World War, developed from the pre-war Royal Naval Reserve Trawler Section Depot. At the outset of the war the men of this service were mainly the fishermen of the requisitioned trawlers and drifters used on patrol work, but later it included men from all walks of life and various types of small craft. In the spring of 1944 the Royal Naval Patrol Service reached its maximum strength of some 57,000. Between 1942 and 1946 new construction ships and craft manned by the Service totalled 1,637, among them minesweepers of various kinds, corvettes, fuel carriers, motor launches and naval seaplane tenders. Their objective was to maintain wartime patrols and safeguard the coasts of Britain.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC Additional information: Son of Cyril and Florence May Hopewell, of Ruddington, Nottinghamshire.
The following are examples of the brief reports published in numerous newspapers about the loss of HMT Kingston Beryl:
Daily Record, 7 January 1944: ‘Trawler Lost. An official Admiralty communique last night states that HM trawler Kingston Beryl (Sub-Lt. WJ Baker, RNVR) has been lost. The next-of-kin of casualties have been informed.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Portsmouth Evening News, 17 January 1944. ‘Lost in Trawler. The loss early this month of the trawler Kingston Beryl involved the loss of two officers and 26 men missing, presumed drowned.’ and Hull Daily Mail, 17 & 18 January 1944, also reported the loss of 2 officers and 26 men in the trawler, referring to the Admiralty casualty list [No. 316] published on 17 January. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
HMT Kingston Beryl was adopted by the town of Ongar, Essex, and there are various reports in the Chelmsford Chronicle referring to fund raising events for the ship's 'Comforts Fund'.
A number of post-war Hull trawlers continued the name 'Kingston Beryl'.
Bramley Newspaper website, 30 April 2020: ‘Southwell Yarn Bomb Group was planning to Yarn Bomb the town to commemorate VE Day. As this can no longer go ahead due to current restrictions [Covid lockdown], they plan to share photos of their bollard hats each day on Facebook leading up to VE Day … Herbert Hopewell 1923-1943 Able Seaman, Royal Navy. Missing, presumed drowned 25th December 1943. Royal Navy Patrol Service, HM Trawler Kingston Beryl. Son of Cyril and Florence Hopewell of Ruddington.’ www.bramleynewspaper.co.uk/ve-day-yarn-bomb-tribute
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, January 1954. 'Hopewell. Cyril, beloved son of Mrs and the late Herbert Hopewell, loving brother of Ethel, Harry, Jack, Jim and twin brother to Mabel.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Acknowledgements’, 14 January 1954: 'Mrs Cyril Hopewell, 49 Meadow-lane, wishes to thank relatives, friends and neighbours, also Northern Dairies and the (RAOB) for sympathy and floral tributes in her sad loss.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 20 May 1969: ‘Hopewell. Florence May, passed peacefully away May 18th, aged 67 years. Dearly loved mother of Margaret and Bill, grandma of Ann and Graham. Cremation Wilford Hill, Thursday 11.10am. Flowers to Bamfords, please.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
George Herbert Hopewell
Nottingham Evening Post 01/01/1944
Photo of George Herbert Hopewell
Commemorated on the Lowestoft Naval Memorial, Suffolk (www.cwgc.org)
Photo of George Herbert Hopewell
www.bramleynewspaper.co.uk/ve-day-yarn-bomb-tribute/ 30 April 2022