Arthur Hopcroft
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Arthur Hopcroft was the son of Thomas [William] Hopcroft and Emma Beardsley who married in the Radford registration district in 1878. When they married Emma appears to have called herself Emily. Their children included: Albert (b.1880), Lily (b.1882), William (b.1884), Herbert (b.1886), Tom [Thomas] (b.1888), Arthur (b.1890) and May Emma (b.1898). The family lived at; 1 Abbey Buildings, Ilkeston Road [C.1891]; 11 Middleton Street, Radford [C.1901]; 6 Cricketers Cottages, Bright Street, Radford [C.1911]. Thomas William Hopcroft who was a coal dealer, died at Nottingham, aged 81 in 1939. His wife, Emma, had predeceased him, dying at Nottingham in 1911, aged 52. Arthur Hopcroft married Alice Maud Burchell at Nottingham in 1910. In 1911 they were living at 17 Wentworth Road, Sherwood, Nottingham. His death notice in the local newspaper stated his widow lived at 57 Kennington Road, Radford [n.e.p.12.5.1917]. Her address as stated in the CWGC records was: 8 Holland’s Place, Ilkeston Road, Old Radford. The only puzzling fact is that she was called Florence in the CWGC records. Their children included: Frank (b.1910), Ida (b.1912/d.1912), Ida (b.1914) and Dorothy G. (b.1916). Alice Maud Hopcroft did not remarry and died at Nottingham in 1967 aged 76.
Driver Arthur Hopcroft enlisted at Nottingham; from his 1911 census entry he had previously been a regular soldier in the Royal Field Artillery; died of his wounds; his body was buried at Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, Pas de Calais, France.
Nottingham Post notice (abridged), 12 May 1917: 'Hopcroft. Died of wounds April 23rd, Driver Arthur Hopcroft RFA, age 27, late of 57 Kennington Road, Radford. Wife and children.' His brother Private Herbert Hopcroft enlisted at Nottingham whilst residing at Radford and served with the 9th battalion Sherwood Foresters . In September 1916 the battalion held front line trenches on the Somme near Thiepval and had to endure constant enemy artillery barrages. Herbert was the only man to die on 10th September but it was a period of many losses. He is buried at Ovillers Military Cemetery, grave I.C.19.
