Claude Cowpe
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- Military History
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COWPE formerly Pendleton or Cowpe-Pendleton Claude was the son of Henry Pendleton (also Cowpe-Pendleton) and his wife Sarah (also Sally) née Warren. Both his parents were born in Mansfield Woodhouse, his father Henry in about 1849 and his mother Sarah in 1848. She was the daughter of Frances (Fanny) and James Warner, a hosiery manufacturer who in 1881 employed 45 men. Henry and Sarah were married at Mansfield Woodhouse St Edmund King & Martyr in December 1869 and had at least nine children, two of whom died in infancy. All were born in Mansfield Woodhouse and baptised at St Edmund: Henry James Cowpe b. 1870 d. 1870; William Edward Cowpe b. 1871; John Cowpe b. 1873 d. 1873; Mary Cowpe b. 1874; Albert Harry b. 1876; Florence Cowpe b. 1879; Frank Warner Cowpe b. 1883; Maude Cowpe b. 1886 and Claude birth registered 1889 bap. 10 April 1889. Henry, described as a landowner, and Sarah were living on Back Lane, Mansfield Woodhouse, in 1871. Their first child, Henry, had died the previous year and their second son, William, was born later in 1871. A third son, John, was born in 1873 but died the same year. They were still living on Back Lane in 1881 when Henry was described as a farmer of 30 acres employing one man. Also in the home were three of their four surviving children, Mary (6), Albert (4) and Florence (1) Their eldest surviving son William (Pendleton) was living with his maternal grandparents, James and Fanny Warner, at Spring Hill, Mansfield Woodhouse. Ten years later in 1891 William (Cowpe) was still living with his grandparents at Spring Hill as was his younger brother Albert (Cowpe); both were working as stocking makers. Their parents had moved to Grove Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, by 1891; Henry (Pendleton) was still a farmer. In the home on the night of the census were his wife and their other children, Mary, Florence, Warner (Frank) (9), Maude (4) and Claude (2) The family was still at 15 Grove Street in 1901 but Henry was now working as a hosier. Of their seven children, only Mary, Frank a butcher, Maud a pupil teacher and Claude were still living at home. The census gave their surnames as Cowpe-Pendleton. Albert and Florence, now using the surname 'Cowpe', were living with their grandmother, Frances Warner, a widow 'living on own means', at 5 Spring Hill. William had married Ada Wilkinson in 1896 and they and their three children were living at 17 Grove Street, Mansfield Woodhouse. Henry died in December 1905 and in 1911 his widow Sarah was living on Priory Road, Mansfield Woodhouse, with her son Albert a hosiery maker, Frank a butcher, Maude an assistant school mistress and Claude an ironmonger. All five were using the surname 'Cowpe'. Mary had married George Thomas Watkinson in 1904 and they and their daughter were living in Mansfield Woodhouse. Florence had married in 1901 (J/A/S). Claude (Cowpe) married Florence May Baldry (b. 1893) in 1914 (J/A/S Basford) and they had three children: Winifred Baldry Cowpe b. March 1912, Claude Cowpe b. May 1914 and Frank Cowpe b. January 1916. The probate record gave Claude's address as Priory Road, Mansfield Woodhouse; this was probably his mother's address. His widow Florence married secondly Frank Smith in 1920 and the WW1 Pensions Ledgers gave her address as Mapperley, Nottingham. The later CWGC record gave her address as 40 The Bungalows, New Edlington, Doncaster. She and their three children were still living in Doncaster in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Florence later remarried (Simpson). Claude's brother, Albert Harry (Cowpe) predeceased him. Albert, of Priory Road Mansfield Woodhouse, and employed as a hosier, died in September 1917. Their mother, Sarah Cowpe, died in December 1918, she was still living at Priory Road.
15th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) Lance Corporal Claude Cowpe enlisted in 1915 and probably served with the BEF France from 1916. He was in the battalion's Lewis Gun team. Claude was struck by a shell and killed on 17 July 1918 while he was in a dugout in the support trenches shortly before his platoon was relieved. He is buried in Abeele Aerodrome Military Cemetery, Belgium (grave ref. II. B. 3). A memorial service was held at Mansfield Woodhouse St Edmund King and Martyr on 25 August 1918 for Claude and two other Mansfield Woodhouse men who had been killed. CWGC - History of Aerodrome Miliitary Cemetery (extract): 'Abeele Aerodrome Military Cemetery is located 16 Km west of Ieper [Ypres]. The cemetery, which took its name from an aerodrome that was opposite the site, was begun by French troops in April 1918 (Plot I) and extended by Commonwealth forces in the following July and August (Plot II). After the Armistice, the French graves were removed to other burial grounds and the resulting space was re-used to accomodate 25 Commonwealth burials (from April to August 1918) from the French Extension of Boeschepe Churchyard.' (www.cwgc.org)
SURNAME: Claude and his siblings births were registered in the surname 'Pendleton' although some of the children had 'Cowpe' as a second name. Census returns were in the surname 'Pendleton' until 1901 when Henry and Sarah and the four children still living with them were recorded as 'Cowpe-Pendleton'. Their other three children were using the surname 'Cowpe' in 1901. By 1911, six years after their father's death, all the children were using the surname 'Cowpe' as was their mother. CWGC: 'Son of the late Mrs. Cowpe, of Mansfield Woodhouse, Notts.; husband of Florence May Smith (formerly Cowpe), of 40, The Bungalows, New Edlington, Doncaster.' CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'A noble life, a noble, death they miss him most who loved him best' Probate: Cowpe Claude of Priory-road Mansfield Woodhouse Nottinghamshrie died 17 July 18918 in France. Probate Nottingham 30 December to Frank Warner Cowpe butcher. Effects £10 Mansfield Reporter, 26 July 1918: ‘Mansfield Woodhouse. Killed. We are deeply sorry to learn the news this week that Lance-Corporal Claude Cowpe has fallen in France. The news is not official, but has come through a comrade, who, in a letter, states that he met with his death whilst in the support trenches some distance behind the line. An enemy shellburst, it is stated, and he with several others were hit. Lance Corporal Cowpe is the brother of Councillor WE Cowpe, and has been in France some 18 months. He was attached to the Sherwoods.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 2 August 1918. Report of a meeting fo the Mansfield Woodhouse Urban District Council. ‘Before the ordinary business of the meeting was proceeded with a resolution of sympathy was passed to Councillor [WE] Cowpe on the loss of his brother, killed in France after 18 months service overseas.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Report published on 30th August 1918 in the Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times :- “CORPL. CLAUDE COWPE. “Mansfield Woodhouse Killed. “We much regret to announce the death in action of Lance-Corporal Claude Cowpe, of the Lewis Gun Platoon of the 15th Sherwood Foresters, during the night of the 16th and 17th July last. Lance-Corpl. C. Cowpe, who was the son of the late Mr. Henry Cowpe and Mrs. Cowpe, of Priory-road, Mansfield Woodhouse, and an old Brunts scholar, joined the army in 1915, and had been in France a year and eight, months when he met his untimely end, being struck by a shell, while in the support trenches, just when his platoon was about to be relieved. A Mansfield man, one the stretcher bearers who was called out at the time, says he died almost instantly and is buried in the cemetery of a pretty French village at the back of the line, a cross erected by the battalion marking the position of his grave. “Lance-Corporal Claude Cowpe took part in resisting the great German offensive of March 21st last, which had such disastrous results for the British arms, and in which he rendered very good service. He was much esteemed by all who knew him. as the following letters from his Officer and the Chaplain testify: — “15th Sherwood Foresters, B.E.F. “Sir, — I much regret to inform; you that your brother, Lance-Corpl. Cowpe, was killed in action on the 17th of July. A shell fell into his dugout and killed him outright. He was a very reliable man, and I esteemed him greatly. His loss is great to his comrades out here, by whom he was well liked. Offering you this small comfort in your bereavement, sincerely yours. C. WITHS, 2-Lt., O.C. 11th Platoon, Y. Company. “Dear Mr. Cowpe, .— You will have received word ere now that your brother, Lance-Corpl. C. Cowpe 60662, was killed in action three days ago. I want simply to express my deep sympathy with you. I knew your brother intimately and liked him as a man, and admired him exceedingly as a soldier. The Lewis Gun Officer has just remarked to me, “Cowpe was one of my best men,” and I can easily believe that. I pray God to comfort you in your sorrow, yours sincerely, GEO. SMISSON, C.F., Attd. 15th Sherwood 'Foresters. “A memorial service, attended by various members of the deceased's family and friends, was held on Sunday, [25th August 1918] by the Rey. E. T. Harcombe, at St. Edmund's, Church, at which the deceased worshipped.” Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Mansfield Reporter,’Deaths’, 30 August 1918: ‘Cowpe. 16/17 July 1918, Claude Cowpe (Lance-Corporal), Lewis Platoon, 15th Sherwood Foresters, BEF. Killed in Action. ‘They miss him most who loved him best.’ From his loving Wife and Children.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, ’Deaths’, 30 August 1918: 'Cowpe. 16/17 July 1918, Claude Cowpe (Lance-Corporal), Lewis Gun Platoon, 15th Sherwood Foresters, BEF. Killed in Action. ‘’Ever in our thoughts.’ From his loving Mother, brothers and Sisters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter,’Deaths’, 30 August 1918: ‘Cowpe. 16/17 July 1918, ‘Claude Cowpe (Lance-Corporal), Lewis Gun Platoon, 15th Sherwood Foresters, BEF. Killed in Action. ‘Death divides, but memory clings,’ Ever remembered by his loving brother Warner [Frank Warner].’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 30 August 1918: ‘Mansfield Woodhouse. Memorial Service. The doleful muffled peal of the church bells on Sunday [25 August] was another reminder that more of our brave Woodhouse boys have made the supreme sacrifice in the war. The service was in memory of Private (sic) Claude Cowpe, Private Harry Cope and Private Walter Cooper, and was conducted by the Rev. J Redfern.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Note: 92222 Private Walter Cooper East Yorks Regiment, 2 August 1918 and Private Harry Cope 31822 Private 9th Bn Sherwood Foresters, 4 October 1917. (See records on this Roll of Honour) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: widow Florence Cowpe was his sole legatee.
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