Date of birth: 26/12/1897

Place of birth: Breadsall, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom

Profession: Day laborer

Country: England, United Kingdom

Force: British Expeditionary Force

Rank: Private

Service number: 47860

Enlistment place: Derby, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom

Units:  —  Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), 2/7th Bn.  (Last known unit)

Date of death: 26/09/1917

Place of death: Kansas Cross, Langemark, Belgium

Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.)

Age: 19

British War Medal Medal

Victory Medal Medal

Henry Thomas Hopkins was a 20 year old from Breadsall Derbyshire. Private Hopkins was part of the 2/7 Battalion Sherwood Foresters, 178 Brigade, 59 Division. In September 1917 his battalion took part in the Battle of Passchendaele. On 24 September the 2/7 Sherwood Foresters relieved the North Staffords in the front line round Schuler Galleries and Hindu Cottage. Two day later, on 26 September they went into attack. In two waves the first objective was reached, taking Kansas House, Cross Cotts, Kansas Cross, Green House, Road House and Fokker Farm. From there the 2/8th Sherwood Foresters took over and advanced to the second and final objective. All objectives were gained and maintained despite of heavy counter attacks. Pte Hopkins was killed in action during this attack and buried at Wieltje Farm Cemetery. Where he is still remembered today.

Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Sources used

CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/451488/H%20HOPKINS/ Sources used

McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, London, Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018, pp. 96-97 Sources used

n.n., The Robin Hoods, 1/7th, 2/7th & 3/7th Battns. Sherwood Foresters, 1914-1918, Naval and Military Press, s.d., s.l., pp. 357-369 Sources used

The Long Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/ Sources used

War Diary 2/7th Sherwood Foresters http://nmarchive.com Sources used