Name
Walter Cornelius Hopkins
1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/09/1915
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
57358
Royal Engineers
73rd Field Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 4 and 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial
Pre War
Walter Cornelius Hopkins was born in 1884 in Chelsea, London, the eldest child of Eli and Louisa Hopkins (nee Hambridge). His parents had married on 4 December 1881 at St Luke’s, West Kilburn, London. He was one of eight children, although two died in infancy.
On the 1891 Census, the family were living at 49 Pembroke Road, Willesden, with his father working as a Stationery Engine Driver. They had moved to Brightwell Road, Watford by the time of the 1901 Census and 16 year old Walter was working as a flagman for the steam roller (road labourer) and his father was the steam roller engine driver.
He married Gertrude Allum in Hemel Hempstead on 10 June 1905 at St John the Evangelist, Boxmoor, Herts and they had two children, Walter James (1907) and Dorothy May (1914).
His parents remained in Watford on the 1911 Census and his wife Gerty (Gertrude) and son (Walter) James were listed at the home of his grandfather Thomas Hopkins at 131 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead. Walter was not listed with them on census night and may have been working away.
His father Eli died in 1942 in Watford, aged 84, and was buried on 4 July in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford. His mother Louisa died in 1932 in the Watford district aged 70.
On enlistment he was living at 131 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead and working as an Engine Driver (Stoker).
Wartime Service
He enlisted on 30 November 1914 at Watford, Herts for Short Service (Duration of the War) and joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper. He was described as an engine driver and stoker aged 30, of Hemel Hempstead, Herts, 5’7¾” tall, C of E, & married.
He embarked with the B.E.F. on 9 July 1915 with the 73rd Field Company, Royal Engineers. He sailed from Southampton aboard the SS Chyebassa and arrived at Le Havre on 10 July. He worked around the Arras area in trench and fortification activities until the end of August, and in September the 73rd Company marched to Mazingarbe in preparation for the assault on Loos.
Walter took part in the assault on Hill 70 on 25 and 26 September 1915 but was seriously wounded on 26 September and died of his wounds at the 46th Field Ambulance, aged 31. His widow was initially informed that Walter was wounded but was not told of his death until 11 October 1915.
His service record states that he was buried in Bethune Cemetery and gives a reference of G.d.5.2 however this cemetery was later destroyed by German shelling and the grave was lost. He now has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.
Additional Information
His widow was awarded a pension of 21 shillings a week for herself and her two children. She also received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £11 1s 5d. Her address was later given as c/o Mr Warren, Midland Road, Leagrave, Luton, Beds in 1922. Walter and Gerty's two year old daughter Dorothy died in April 1916 a few days before the confirmation of her father's death.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), www.hemelheroes.com.
