Harold Cope
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
He was born about 1894 the son of William and Jane Cope who had 13 children of whom only six were still living by the time of the 1911 census. In 1901 William, who worked in the lace trade, and Jane were living at 17 Red Lion Street, Sneinton. Four children were at home; Mary (17), William (14), Samuel (9) and Harold (8). William and Jane were still at the same address ten years later but only Samuel (18) and Harold (17) were still in the household. Harold joined the army the following year. Harold's father completed a form for the army in May 1919 giving details of Harold's living next of kin and listed himself, his wife and their son, Samuel (26), all of 17 Red Street, off Colwick Street, Nottingham, and Harold's two married sisters, Mary Jane Bentley (38), 8 Crocus Terrace, Crocus Street, Meadows, and Eliza Taylor (45), 17 Cavendish Street, off Colwick Street, Nottingham. Correspondence in 1921 from the army to William Cope about his son's medals was addressed to 17 Cavendish Street, Sneinton.
6th (Carabiniers). He time toward a limited engagement reckoned from 18 September 1912 when he joined the army at the age of 18 on a Short Service Attestation. He joined at Seaforth on 23 September 1912. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel Reference:5). He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged), 24 December 1914: ‘Private H Cope, 6th Dragoon Guards, 17 Red Street, Sneinton, killed in action November 1st (sic) age 29.’ Service document includes a travel pass for 23 September 1912 to travel on the Midland Railway from Nottingham to Seaforth, Lancs. His journey was detailed as follows: leave Nottingham Midland station from No 5 platform at 12.12pm, arrive Liverpool (Central) 3.50pm, leave Liverpool (Exchange, L&Y Railway) 4.50pm, arrive Seaforth & Sutherland (Dragoon’s Depot Barracks) 4.59pm. Note: the family's address was 'Red Lion Street', Sneinton, but all the records in Harold's service documents, including a form completed by his father, give the address as 'Red Street'.
