Henry Cope
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Henry was the twin son of Henry George Cope and his wife Ann (née Howden). Henry George was born in Newark in about 1854 and his wife Ann Terrace Howden was born in Pastney, Lincolnshire, in about 1853. They were married in 1873 (reg. Louth Lincolnshire) and according to the 1911 Census when they had been married for 37 years they had had ten children of whom only six were still living. The census returns between 1881 and 1911 record seven children: Elizabeth b. 1878 Beeston Nottingham d. 1888 (reg. Newark); Emma b. 1881 Carlton Scroop Lincolnshire; Annie Eliza b. 1883 Carlton Scroop bap. Carlton Scroop October 1883; Ethel b. Newark birth registered 1886 (J/F/M); Henry and Thomas b. Sibsey Lincolnshire births registered 1891 (J/F/M) and James b. 1893 Cotham. In 1881 Henry senior, a railway signalman for the Great Northern Railway, was living at Carlton Lodge, Carlton Scroop, Lincolnshire, with his wife Ann and their daughter Elizabeth. Elizabeth died 7 years later in 1888 when she was 10 years old. By 1891 the couple were living on Station Road, Sibsey, Lincolnshire; Henry was still employed by GNR as a signalman. Henry and Ann now had five children: Emma, Annie, Ethel and twin sons Henry and Thomas, both four months old. Henry had moved to Cotham by 1901 and was living at Cotham Station, where he worked as a signalman, with his wife and three sons, Henry, Thomas and James. Their two eldest daughters had left home and were in domestic service. Emma was a housemaid in the household of William Roberts, a retired grocer, and his wife at Acacia House, High Road, Beeston, Nottingham, while her younger sister Ethel was a domestic servant in the household of Thomas Beecroft and his brother Albert, both toy and fancy good dealers, at 20 Zulla Road, Nottingham. The third daughter, Annie Eliza, has not yet been traced on either the 1901 or 1911 Census. Henry and his wife were still living at Cotham in 1911 but only Thomas, a labourer at a 'plaster pit', was still in the family home. Henry's three daughters and youngest son James have not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, but Henry, a railway engine cleaner, was living on Bourne Street, Netherfield, Nottingham, in the home of his uncle, James Cope and his wife Hannah. Henry's home was at 41 Victoria Road, Netherfield, Nottingham, at the time of his death in 1915. His mother Ann died in 1914 (reg. Newark) at the age of 61 while his father Henry died in 1919 (reg. Nottingham) at the age of 65. The notice of their son's death in 1915 gave his father's home as Cotham but the later CWGC record gave his address as 10 New Road, Balderton, Newark. Henry's brothers Thomas and James were also killed in the war. (See 'Extra information')
2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. The 2nd Battalion was serving in South Africa on the outbreak of war but returned to England in the middle of September. It landed at Zeebrugge on 7 October 1914 and came under order of 21st Brigade, 7th Division. In 1915 the battalion was engaged in the Battle of Neuve Chappelle (March), The Battle of Festubert (May), second action at Givenchy (June) and the Battle of Loos (25 September to October). The Battle of Loos was an attempt by the British and French to break through the German defences in Artois (Pas de Calais), and Champagne with British divisions attacking German defences in an area around the mines and mining villages near Lens, a town north of Arras. Although the German army lost some ground it contained the attacks through its defensive superiority while the British artillery bombardment failed to destroy barbed wire and machine gun posts and the use of chlorine gas (the first time it was used by the British) made insufficient impact on the defenders. Henry served in France from 24 April 1915 and was killed in action five months later on 25 September 1915, the first day of the Battle of Loos. He is buried in Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France (grave ref. I.F.36). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Vermelles British Cemetery (extract): The village of Vermelles is 10km from Lens. 'Vermelles was in German hands from the middle of October 1914 to the beginning of December 1914, when it was recaptured by the French. The cemetery was begun in August 1915 (though a few graves are slightly earlier), and during the Battle of Loos, when the Chateau was used as a dressing station, Plot I was completed. It was laid out and fenced by the Pioneers of the 1st Gloucesters, and known for a long time as "Gloucester Graveyard".' (www.cwgc.org)
Henry's twin brother Thomas served in the 1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters (2832 Private) and was killed in action in France on 24 June 1916. Buried Fonquevillers Military Cemetery. He left a widow and one child. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Nottingham Evening Post, 25 July 1916, photographs with caption: ‘Twin brothers killed in action: ‘Pvte T Cope, Sherwood Foresters, 25, Cotham, Newark killed in action June 24th, Pvte H Cope, Bedfords, killed in action Sept. 25th last, twin brothers, 44 Wilford-crescent W. Nottm.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Their brother James served in the 2/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters (305813 Lance Corporal) and was killed in action in France on 7 April 1917. Buried Vadencourt British Cemetery. (See record on this Roll of Honour) CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Ever remembered by his loving father and sisters' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 15 November 1915: ‘Cope. Killed in action, September 25th, Harry Cope of Cotham. We miss him and mourn him in silence (-) and dwell on the memories of joys that have been. From his sweetheart Edith.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 16 & 17 November 1915: ‘Cope. Killed in action, September 25th, Private Harry Cope, 2nd Bedfords, aged 25 years, dearly-loved son of Henry Cope, Cotham, Newark. A sacrifice supreme. Dad, brothers and sisters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: His father, Henry, was his sole legatee. Probate: Cope Henry of 41 Victoria-road Netherfield Nottinghamshire private in HM Army died 25 September 1915 in France Administration (with Will) Nottingham 5 May [1916] to Henry Cope signalman. Effects £72 16s. 6d.
