Charles Hopewell
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Charles was born in 1882 in Arnold and was the son of Charles, a waterman (barge), and Mary Ann (Annie) Hopewell née Bradbury. His father Charles was born in 1851 in Arnold and his mother Annie Bradbury was also born in 1851 in Arnold. They were married in 1873 (Basford Registration District). Annie already had a daughter, Ruth Bradbury, who was born before her marriage to Charles. (Ruth Bradbury Hopewell b. 1873, J/A/S Basford, married Joseph Orton 1897, Ruth Bradbury Orton d. 1973). Annie and Charles had the following children, all of whom were born in Arnold; Catherine b1875, Lucy b1877, Elizabeth b1880, Charles b1882, Joseph b1885, Harold b1887, William b1890 and John b1892. His father Charles died in 1892 at Arnold aged 41. In the 1911 census his mother was living at Hardstaff Yard, Arnold. She was shown as being a hosiery seamer 60 yrs a widow and living with her youngest son John 19 yrs a bricklayer's labourer. Charles married Annie Elizabeth Alvey (b. 5 May 1883) in 1905 (Basford Registration District). In 1911 he lived on Smithy Row, Front Street, Arnold, with his wife of five years, Annie. They had three children: Charles b. 1905, Harold born 1909 and Elsie Annie b. 1910 (J/A/S Basford). They had another child, Catherine, b.1912.
Lance Corporal Charles Hopewell enlisted at Hucknall and served with the 7th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps. During the Battle of Arras, Charles was wounded and after initial treatment was sent to a casualty clearing station and then back to a hospital in England. He died of wounds at Bevan Military Hospital on 21st May 1917 and is buried in Arnold Cemetery, Redhill, Nottingham (grave ref: C.C.1322).
His brother Harold Arnold Hopewell, who enlisted on 31st August 1914, had been discharged from the Royal Garrison Artillery on 30th June 1915, being no longer physically fit for service. He saw no service overseas. His daughter, Edna, two years old, was killed in a tram accident on 16th May 1916. Another brother, Joseph Hopewell, was also a member of the Royal Garrison Artillery, enlisting on 29th August 1914. Serving as a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery, he landed in France on 26th May 1915. He was discharged to Class 'P' Reserve on 7th December 1916. Above information is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Charles' brother-in-law, George Alvey, served with the 7th Bn Leicester Regiment (12389 Private) and died of wounds on 12 November 1917. (See record on this Roll of Honour) WW1 Pension Ledgers: dependants widow Annie Elizabeth Hopewell of Arnold and children Charles (b.1905), Elsie Annie (b. 1910) and Catherine (b. 1912). The name of Charles is duplicated and as his brother Harold Arthur (b. 1909) appears to have lived into old age, the second entry for Charles is probably a transcription error for Harold.
