Pte 86428 Henry Copp

Henry (Harry) Copp was born in Salford in the March Qtr of 1892, the youngest son of William James Copp and his wife Sarah Jane (née Wendon).  His father was born in Devon and his mother in Cornwall; they married in Cardiff in 1875 and had 14 children, three of whom died young. William was born in Cardiff, then the family moved to Salford by 1878, where James, Fanny, Alfred, Joseph, Elizabeth, Charles, Charlton, Albert, Harry, and Ethel were born.   

In 1901 the family is living at 11 Lord Street, Lower Broughton, with ten children. His father William is aged 48, a joiner, born Exmouth, mother Sarah is aged 50, born Tywardreath, Cornwall. Children William 25, a wood machinist, James 24, a joiner, Fanny 22, Joseph 19, a bricksetter, Elizabeth 14, a box maker, Charles 13, Charlton 12, Albert 10, Harry is 9, and Ethel 7.   

They are still at 11 Lord Street in 1911. His father is aged 59, a workman joiner, mother Sarah is aged 60. They advised that they had been married for 36 years, and had 14 children, 11 of whom survived. They have seven children declared in the household; James, 34, a joiner, Elizabeth, 24, is at home, Charles, 23, is an electrician, Charlton, 22, is a plumber, Albert 20, is a pattern card maker, Harry, 19, is a warehouseman (tailoring), and Ethel, 17, is a ladies’ mantle maker. 

Unfortunately, Harry’s military record has not survived, so the details of his service are not known.  We do know that Harry enlisted in Manchester, as Private 5086, Manchester Regiment. He would have trained in the U.K. for about a year before shipping to the front. At some point he was transferred to the 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, then onto the 17th Battalion K.L.R.

 

 

Harry was 25 years old.

 

He now rests with his Pals in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Kemmel Chateau was north-east of Kemmel village and the cemetery was established on the north side of the chateau grounds in December 1914. It continued to be used by divisions fighting on the southern sectors of the Belgian front until March 1918, when after fierce fighting involving both Commonwealth and French forces, the village and cemetery fell into German hands in late April. The cemetery was retaken later in the year, but in the interval it was badly shelled and the old chateau destroyed. There are now 1,135 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery and 21 from the Second World War (which all date from the Allied withdrawal ahead of the German advance of May 1940). The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

 

Harry’s death was announced in the Manchester Evening News on 20th November 1917:

“Roll of Honour:  Private H. Copp, King’s Liverpool Regt., killed by shell on the night of November 7-8, employee of the G.P.O.  Home address: 11, Lord Street, Lower Broughton.”

He earned his two medals.

His parents, living at 11 Lord Street, Lower Broughton, received his effects, Army Pay of £4 19s 7d and a War Gratuity of £3-10s. His pension card does not indicate the amount awarded.   

On the 1921 Census at Lord Street, father William is aged 69, a retired joiner, mother Sarah is aged 70, Thomas is 37, Elizabeth 35, and Ethel 27.

His brother Thomas served in France with the Royal Horse / Royal Field Artillery and survived the war.

 

Charlton served in the Royal Garrison Artillery and was discharged in November 1918 with a Silver War Badge. 

Albert, 4230 Royal Naval Division, died of disease at home on 24th July 1920.

 

His father died in 1930, aged 78.  His mother lived through the Second World War, dying in 1946 at the age of 95, having outlived at least eight of her children.

 

Sadly, Harry has not been found on any memorial.

We currently have no further information on Henry Copp, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.