Alfred Hopley

Alfred Hopley                      (see also Thomas Hopley, his brother)                                         Revised  23.1.2016

 

CWGC record:

 

HOPLEY, A

Gunner

1418

12/02/1919

21

Royal Field Artillery

United Kingdom

A. 35.

HALLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Son of John and Mary Hopley of Manley, Helsby, Warrington

 

Alfred Hopley was baptised at Ashton 3.4.1898 son of John Thomas Hopley and Mary

 

In 1911 Alfred was living with his parents at Ivy Cottage, Mouldsworth, aged 13 [the age fits with the above record]

 

The Medal Rolls for this man show that he served in France from 23.12.1915.

He was awarded the Victory Medal, the British War medal, and the 1914-15 Star.

There is nothing further to identify him on his card

 

Information preserved at the Albion Inn¹:

Alfred Hopley, born Ashton 22.1.1898 (son of Mrs J Hopley of Ivy Cottage), Gunner 4^th Battalion 76^th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, died and buried 12.2.1919

His memorial plaque reads: ‘Died of Pneumonia  Hal, Belgium February 1919’¹

 

He made a will – which I haven’t seen.

 

He is buried at Halle Communal Cemetery at Vlaam-Brabant, ten miles SW of Brussels

 

 

NOTES

1               See Appendix:  Albion Inn

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Appendix:   The Albion Inn                                                                                    Revised  23.1.2016

 

The Albion Inn at Chester is renowned for its collection of First World War memorabilia.

 

It is not recorded when, but four plaques were spotted in a skip when a building in Mouldsworth was being demolished (or gutted for reconversion?); it is thought that this was a chapel. The plaques were retrieved and presented ‘by a relative’ to the Albion Inn, where they are now preserved.

 

The chapel referred to may be the building in Chapel Lane, Mouldsworth, which has been converted into a private residence; ‘ a stunning conversion of a former chapel’.

 

The four plaques commemorate the two Ward brothers and the two Hopley brothers.

 

The Albion Inn has subsequently been given further documents and records relating to these men by their relatives.

 

The occupant at the Albion Inn has very kindly shared with me some of the information they hold and this has been very helpful. In particular it provided proof that the Wards and Hopleys were indeed two sets of brothers. I was very grateful for the details passed on to me, especially as it was done at a very busy time approaching Christmas 2015.

 

 

The four plaques read:

In Grateful  Memory of Alfred Hopley Died of Pneumonia Hal, Belgium February 1919 ‘Faithful unto Death’

 

In Grateful  Memory  of Thomas Hopley Killed in Action – Arras March 1918 ‘Faithful unto Death’

 

In Grateful  Memory  of James Henry Ward Killed by Shell Explosion in France October 1916 ‘Faithful unto Death’

 

In Memory of William Ward Born May 23 1891 Pte in 1 Battn Cheshire Regiment and Member of this Sunday School Killed in Action – Neauve Chappell  March 27^th 1915 ‘Erected by Scholars and Friends’