Arthur Gilbert Cope
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Father: John G. Cope, born 1867 at Nottingham and working as a railway carrier before becoming a gas works labourer. Mother: Florence, born 1868 at Spondon, Derbyshire. Pte. Cope had one brother, Henry, born in 1902 and one sister, Edith, born 1898. All the children were born in Nottingham. The family lived at 4 Lucia Terrace, Hawksley Road, Hyson Green, Nottingham before moving to 7 Moreland Avenue, Moreland Street, Meadow Lane, Nottingham.
Pte. Cope was called up and attested on May 7, 1917 at Nottingham. His medical records indicate that he was only 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighed 82 lbs. and had a chest measurement of 29 inches. He also wore glasses. His physical development was categorised unsurprisingly as poor, and he was passed CII. He initially was sent to train with the Durham Light Infantry, but on 26/04/1917 he was posted from the Newcastle Depot to 298th Depot Labour Company at Catterick. Unfortunately on 28/03/1917 he accidentally drowned whilst bathing in the canal at Ripon, Yorkshire. An inquest was held at the Military Hospital, Ripon and it confirmed that he had accidentally drowned. His body was brought home and he was buried at the General Cemetery, Nottingham.
In memoriam published 28th May 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “COPE. – In loving memory of my dear son, Private Arthur Gilbert Cope, who was drowned at Ripon on May 28th, 1917. When alone in sorrow, bitter tears flow, there stealth a dream of sweet long ago; unknown to the world, he stands by my side, and whispers, dear mother, death cannot divide. – From his loving mother, father, sister, brother, 7, Moreland Avenue, Meadow Lane.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
