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Lieutenant Colonel
NORMAN JOHN HOPKINS
Royal Engineers  

by

Lieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis, MSCE, P.E., MInstRE
(June 2022)  

Figure 1.  Lieutenant Colonel Norman John Hopkins, R.E.
(Photograph courtesy of the Imperial War Museum)  

1.  INTRODUCTION  

            The principal references used in the preparation of this narrative were from a number of sources.  They include census records, official registries in the United Kingdom, medal rolls, family trees, Army lists, service papers and The London Gazette.  All sources are contained in the REFERENCE section at the end of the narrative and are cited throughout in the ENDNOTES.  Every effort has been made to accurately portray the life and military service of Lieutenant Colonel Hopkins.

            Norman John Hopkins was a Regular Army officer of the Corps of Royal Engineers who started his military service in 1890 and served until 1923, a total of 33 years.  He served at Gibraltar, Jamaica and Malta and he commanded a field company with the British Expeditionary Force in the Great War.  He was wounded in the early days of that war and had he not been wounded it appears that his military career might have been much more distinguished.  He commanded officers in the war who ultimately rose to general officer rank, but he never got above the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  His story is one of dedicated service despite the setbacks that he suffered as a result of is injuries during the Great War.        

2.  EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY INFORMATION  

His Parents and His Birth

            Norman’s father was John Hopkins (1832-1903) who was born in Ireland.  His mother was Helen Hopkins, née Greenwell (1848-1881) who was born in Sunderland, County Durham.  She was the daughter of Richard Greenwell (1792-1866) and Anna Greenwell, née Blakely (1802-1862).  John and Helen were married in Westminster, London on 24 February 1870 and Norman was born on 20 November 1870.  His birth was registered in Richmond, Surrey on 19 December 1870 and he was baptized in the Church of England at St. John’s Parish in Richmond on 21 December 1870.[1]

            The 1871 Census of England for Richmond provides the following information regarding the Hopkins family:

NOTE:  The handwritten census form is not quite legible for the servant named Libson.  Her given name appears to be Phook, a rather unusual name, if in fact it has been transcribed accurately.

Figure 2.  4 Chislehurst Villas, Richmond, Surrey (building on the left)
(Photograph courtesy of Google Earth)

Captain John Hopkins’ Military Service

            John Hopkins was commissioned an Ensign in the 49^th (The Princess Charlotte of Wales’s or the Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot on 22 April 1853.[2]  He was promoted Lieutenant on 18 August 1854 and Captain on 9 September 1855.  Captain Hopkins served in the Crimean War of 1854 to 1855, including the Battle of Inkerman, the siege and fall of Sebastopol, the sortie to capture the Quarries and assaults on the Redan on 18 June and 8 September 1855.  For his service in the war he received the Crimean War Medal with two clasps [INKERMAN] and [SEBASTOPOL] as well as the Turkish Order of the Medjidie, 5^th Class and the Turkish Crimea Medal.[3]  These medals, although not the ones awarded to Captain Hopkins, are shown below.

Figures 3.  The Crimean War Medal, the Turkish Order of Medjidie and the Turkish Crimea Medal (from left to right).
(Images courtesy of Wikipedia.com)  

            Hart’s Army List of 1871 shows that Captain John Hopkins joined the 1^st Battalion of the Royal Surrey Militia as the unit’s Adjutant on 10 November 1865.  The entry in the Army List shows him as late Captain, 49^th Foot, so apparently he left the Regular Army after 12 years of service and joined the Militia.

            Some history regarding John Hopkins’ unit, the 1^st Battalion, Royal Surrey Militia, may be of interest at this point.  Following the start of the War of the Third Coalition (1803-1806) against France the regiment was renamed the 41st (1st Surrey) Militia. The next year the regiment was granted the "Royal” title thus becoming the 41st (1st Royal Surrey) Militia. Following the final disembodiment in 1816 the regiment was again renamed following the reforms to the militia in 1833. As part of the change the regiment gained its last militia title, 20th (1st Royal Surrey) Militia. During the height of the Crimean War the regiment was embodied but did not serve overseas, later being disembodied in 1856. After being disembodied, one year later in 1857 the regiment was again embodied, later being disembodied in 1858. In 1881 following the Childers Reforms the regiment was moved into control under its affiliated county regiment. As a result the regiment become the new 3rd (1st Royal Surrey Militia) Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment. Just before the Panjdeh incident in Afghanistan the battalion was embodied but later disembodied on 30 September 1885.  The number of times that the regiment was embodied and disembodied makes one’s head spin.    

Figure 4.  Cap Badge of the First Royal Surrey Militia.
(Photograph courtesy of Wikipedia)

Norman’s Education

            Norman John Hopkins appears in the 1881 Census of England, apparently a student in a boarding school.  He is shown as one of many boys in the 8-year to 11-year old age range with the entry in the census form showing the following information:

ROAD, STREET or NAME OF HOUSE: 10 St. Johns Wood Park

NAME and Surname:                                 Norman J. Hopkins

RELATION TO HEAD OF FAMILY:      Boarder

AGE last Birthday:                                     10

Rank, Profession, or OCCUPATION:      Scholar

WHERE BORN:                                         Surrey, Richmond

            Norman probably remained at this school until he entered the Royal Military Academy (RMA) at Woolwich.  He probably entered the RMA sometime between 1884 and 1887, between the ages of 14 and 17, where he became a Gentleman Cadet.  Undoubtedly his attendance at the RMA was influenced by his father’s service in the Army.  John Hopkins might have prompted Norman to seek a commission or Norman may have decided to do so to follow in his father’s footsteps.  Whatever might have been the motivation, Norman became a Gentleman Cadet in this prestigious academy, an academy dedicated to the training of commissioned officers primarily in the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers.[4] 

            Education in the Academy focused at first on mathematics and the scientific principles of gunnery and fortifications.  French also was taught. In addition to their theoretical studies, the cadets shared (with all ranks of the Artillery) in what was called “the Practice” of gunnery, bridge building, magazine technique and artillery work. While an Artillery officer attended each class to keep order, teaching in the Academy was provided by civilians.  These included a First Master (later called Professor of Fortification and Gunnery), a Second Master (later Professor of Mathematics) and additional tutors in French, Arithmetic, Classics and Drawing.

3.  PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

            The first word that comes to mind when looking at the photograph of Lieutenant Colonel Hopkins is “dignified.”  Although dignified is not a physical description of a person, it seems to fit Hopkins very well in this photograph.  He appears to be lean and physically fit with ears that perhaps are a little too large for his face, although the remainder of his face is well-proportioned, with a rather generous mustache.  Unfortunately his service records do not provide any information regarding his height and weight, his hair color or the color of his eyes.  His mustache and the close-cropped hair visible above his ear would seem to indicate that his hair was light brown in color.

4.  COMMISSIONING AND TRAINING

School of Military Engineering (1890-1892)

            Gentleman Cadet Norman John Hopkins was commissioned a 2^nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers from the Royal Military Academy on 14 February 1890.[5]  Immediately following his graduation he was granted 46 days of leave prior to reporting for officer training at the School of Military Engineering (S.M.E.) at Chatham, Kent on 1 April 1890.[6]

            The 1891 Census of England shows Hopkins living at Brompton Barracks in Chatham as one of the Royal Engineers officers attending the young officers’ course at the School of Military Engineering.  The census form provides the following information:

            NAME and SURNAME:                 Norman John Hopkins

            POSITION in the Institution:          Officer

            CONDITION as to Marriage:         Single

            AGE Last Birthday:                         20

            PROFESSION or OCCUPATION:  2^nd Lieutenant

            WHERE BORN:                               Surrey, Richmond

            In 1893 the S.M.E. consisted of six schools.  A breakdown of the subjects taught in each of the schools can be found in Appendix 1 of this narrative.[7]  The total training time for a newly commissioned 2^nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers was approximately 24 months.  During his time at the S.M.E. Hopkins also attended a course in the School of Estimating and Construction.[8]   

            Upon graduation from the S.M.E. he was awarded the Fowke Memorial Medal.  The Fowke Memorial Medal was established by the officers of the School of Military Engineering and was awarded in memory of Francis Fowke, as an annual architectural prize, “to the officer who specially distinguished himself in the construction course.” The medal was first awarded in 1872.[9]

Figure 5.  The Fowke Memorial Medal Awarded to 2^nd Lieutenant Norman John Hopkins, R.E
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia)

            2^nd Lieutenant Hopkins spent 2 years and 183 days at the S.M.E. and graduated on 30 September 1892.[10]  He reported for duty to his first unit at Aldershot, Hampshire on 1 October 1892.[11]

5.  ASSIGNMENTS AND CAMPAIGN SERVICE

Aldershot and Hythe (1892-1895)

            2^nd Lieutenant Hopkins service at Aldershot during this period may have been with one of the Royal Engineers field companies then stationed there.  The companies at Aldershot at the time included the 7^th, 23^rd and 37^th Field Companies.

            Hopkins was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on 14 February 1893.[12]  On 2 April 1894 he departed Aldershot for Hythe in Kent.[13]  Presumably the other officers as well as warrant officers and sergeants of his company also went to Hythe for training at the School of Musketry located there.  The school was intended for special training of officers, warrant officers and non-commissioned officers of all branches of the service to qualify them as instructors.  Preliminary drills, as laid down for a recruit, occupied 8 days of training followed by an extended course of practice, including field-firing and practice with the revolver.  Drill and practice with various rifle-caliber machine guns also was taught.  Night firing and judging distance by night was carried out and a final examination was given in (1) firing exercises, (2) judging distance, (3) stadiometer (height measurement), (4) range finders, (5) musketry returns, (6) theoretical principles, (7) care of arms and (8) machine guns.  In addition to these subjects the officers were examined in the manufacture of gun powder, composition of bullets and the mechanisms of firearms.  The certificate for officers who successfully completed this course was an “Extra Certificate of Musketry.”[14]  The award of such a certificate is noted in Hopkins WO25/3917 file.  Lieutenant Hopkins returned to Aldershot on 15 May 1894 after having spent 42 days at Hythe. 

Gibraltar (1895-1899)          
Hopkins departed Aldershot on 4 February 1895 en route to Gibraltar, where he arrived on 8 February.[15]  During Hopkins’ time at Gibraltar there were a number of units of the Royal Engineers stationed there.  These units included:

·         6^th Field Company

·         15^th Field Company

·         24^th Fortress Company

·         28^th (Submarine Mining) Company

·         32^nd Fortress Company

·         42^nd Fortress Company

            The field companies served at Gibraltar to provide general field engineering services for the various military units stationed there.  The fortress companies played a most important role there as Gibraltar was located at the very southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. The fortifications of Gibraltar made the Rock of Gibraltar and its environs "probably the most fought over and most densely fortified place in Europe, and probably, therefore, in the world", as Field Marshal Sir John Chapple once put it.   The Gibraltar peninsula had great strategic importance as a result of its position by the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. It had repeatedly been contested between European and North African powers and had endured fourteen sieges since it was first settled in the 11th century. The peninsula's occupants – Moors, Spanish, and British – had built successive layers of fortifications and defences including walls, bastions, casemates, gun batteries, magazines, tunnels and galleries. At their peak in 1865, the fortifications housed around 681 guns mounted in 110 batteries and positions, guarding all land and sea approaches to Gibraltar.[16]  The British War Office clearly recognized the strategic and tactical importance of Gibraltar as a fortress by stationing three fortress companies there in 1895. 

            The submarine mining company also played a very important role by defending the Strait of Gibraltar and controlling access of potential enemy vessels into the Mediterranean from the Atlantic Ocean.  In addition to the engineering support provided to the Royal Artillery gun batteries at Gibraltar by the fortress companies, the submarine mining company played a critical role in the defense of the Strait by command detonating electrical mines against enemy warships, mines such as those shown here:

Figure 6.  Royal Engineers Submarine Miners Preparing Mines for Deployment.
(Photograph in the author’s collection)  

Chatham (1899-1902)          

            Hopkins departed Gibraltar for Home Service on 10 July 1899 after spending 4 years and 153 days on “The Rock.”  He was first assigned to Royal Engineers Headquarters upon his arrival at Chatham and was then posted to the School of Military Engineering as an instructor on 18 July.[17]  He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 14 February 1901.[18] 

            During his time at Chatham the Second Boer War was raging in South Africa.  As a Regular Army officer, one wonders what Hopkins must have thought of missing the war completely while many of his fellow officers were seeing active service and acquiring campaign medals.  Ironically, as an instructor at the School of Military Engineering, many of the officers and men that he trained probably went off to war in South Africa.   

Monmouth (1902-1907)

            Captain Hopkins departed Chatham on 1 April 1902 and reported to Monmouth as the Adjutant of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) on the following day.[19]  He replaced Major E.H. Bland in this position. 

            The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) was a battalion-size unit with a Headquarters, one Siege Company, two Railway Companies and a Depot Company to maintain the supply of men to the operating companies. 

            The Siege and Railway Companies worked as detached units.  Each year the R.M.R.E. (Militia) had a comparatively short annual training, but being drawn from the better educated classes the units had attained considerable efficiency.  As an example, in 1906 the two Railway Companies (Nos. 3 and 5) of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) spent the last fortnight of their 1906 annual training at Whitehill in Hampshire for work on the Woolmer Instructional Railway under the direction of Major F. Fuller, R.E., O.C. Railway Companies, R.E.  The two companies devoted more time than usual that year, while at Monmouth, to the construction of heavy trestle bridging.[21]  As the Adjutant, Captain Hopkins would have been the liaison between the Militia unit and the Regular Army unit supporting the training.  His duties also would involve advising the unit commanders on technical matters during their training periods. 

                        On 1 October 1907 Hopkins relinquished his position as Adjutant to Lieutenant F.L.N. Giles, R.E. who was granted the temporary rank of Captain while serving as Adjutant.  Hopkins was posted to the Headquarters, R.M.R.E. (Militia) on 2 October in order to work with Lieutenant Giles and to have some overlap with him as Giles settled into his new assignment.  Hopkins departed Monmouth on 28 October 1907 bound for Jamaica.[22]

Jamaica (1907-1910)

            Prior to Hopkins arrival on the island, there had been a severe earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica.  The 1907 Kingston earthquake which shook the capital of the island of Jamaica with a magnitude of 6.5 on the moment magnitude scale[23] on Monday 14 January 1907, at about 3:30 p.m. local time, was considered by many writers of that time one of the world's deadliest earthquakes recorded in history.  The whole of Jamaica felt the shock but no serious damage was done beyond a radius of twelve miles from Kingston. Some houses were cracked in Spanish Town, the fortifications of Port Royal were abandoned by the artillerymen and engineers, the western part of the town was partly submerged, sixteen 9.2 inch guns were displaced and the barracks were in a dangerous and shaky condition.  Hopkins had not yet arrived on Jamaica, but facilities at Port Royal where some of his future company were stationed, were damaged by the earthquake.  Surely his unit would have been involved in repairing damage.

Figure 10.  A Structure Damaged by the 1907 Earthquake.
(Photograph courtesy of AmusingPlanet.com)  

Figure 11.  Gun Emplacements at Port Royal, Jamaica.
(Photograph courtesy of Wikipedia)

            The earthquake wrecked nearly every building in the neighbourhood of Kingston and the barracks at Up Park Camp were almost destroyed. As it was important that the barrack accommodation should be restored with the least possible delay, all the materials were prepared at once in England and sent out ready for erection. In order that the new buildings should be able to withstand earthquake shocks, the principle of design adopted was steel framing, filled in with concrete on expanded metal for the walls, with the floors raised some distance above the ground. The work of erection was carried out under Colonel F. G. Bowles, the Commander Royal Engineer, and the troops were re-housed within 10 months (by October 1907) after the disaster. The total cost, including the re-provisioning of all accommodation, was under £80,000.

            Hopkins arrived just as these repairs were being completed.  He was posted to assume the duties of the District Officer at Newcastle and as Officer Commanding the 44^th (Fortress) Company, Royal Engineers.[24]  The Commander Royal Engineers (C.R.E.) in Jamaica at the time was Brevet Colonel W.R. Stewart, R.E. His headquarters was located at Up Park Camp.

Figure 12.  The Garrison Church at Up Park Camp.
(Postcard in the author’s collection)

            Captain Hopkins replaced Major G.M. Hutton, R.E., DSO who was on orders to proceed home.[25]  The Royal Engineers Lists from January to December of 1908 show the officers of the 44^th (Fortress) Company as:

Captain N.J. Hopkins, R.E. (Officer Commanding)

Captain D.C. Jones, R.E. (2^nd in Command)

Lieutenant A.B. Sherrard, R.E.

Lieutenant J.A. Edgeworth, R.E.[26]

            Hopkins and Sherrard were at Up Park Camp in Newcastle and Jones and Edgeworth were stationed at Port Royal.  Jones was the District Officer at Port Royal and also was in charge of Electric Lighting facilities in the fortifications on the island.

            Hopkins was promoted to the rank of Major on 14 February 1910.[27]  In April of that year he was still commanding the 44^th (Fortress) Company at Up Park Camp, and the officers of the company at Port Royal consisted of Captain H.E.F. Rathbone, R.E.,[28] Lieutenant R.A. Owen, R.E. and 2^nd Lieutenant E.V. Money, R.E.[29]

            On 10 August 1910 Lieutenant Colonel H.C. Carey, R.E. reported in to replace Colonel Stewart as the C.R.E. in Jamaica.  After a period of overlap with Colonel Stewart, Carey took over the position in October.  Hopkins continued on as the O.C. 44^th (Fortress) Company until he departed Jamaica on 15 December 1910.[30] 

Bulford Camp (1910-1914)

            After 24 days of leave Hopkins reported for duty at Bulford Camp[31] in Wiltshire where he took command of the 56^th Field Company, R.E.  This company was part of the 3^rd Division, one of the divisions that were part of the Expeditionary Force of the British Army force structure at that time.  The Expeditionary Force was composed of Regular Army units that were designated to be deployed in the event of a major conflict abroad.  The division’s Commander Royal Engineers was Lieutenant Colonel H.B.H. Wright, R.E. and his Adjutant was Captain C.N. North, R.E. who was attached to the 56^th Field Company.[32]  The Royal Engineers List of January 1912 shows that the officers of the 56^th Field Company consisted of the following:

Major N.J. Hopkins, R.E. (Officer Commanding)

Captain F.F.W. Nation, R.E.

Captain T.N. Dunman, R.E.

Lieutenant P. Neame, R.E.[33] (a future Victoria Cross winner)

Lieutenant R.P. Pakenham-Walsh[34] (a future Major-General)

            There also was a 2^nd Lieutenant posted to the company, but he was at the School of Electric Lighting in January of 1912 and was scheduled to report in to the company early in 1912.  He was not named in the R.E. List.

Figure 15.  Major General Ridley Pakenham-Walsh.
(Photograph courtesy of WikiVisually)

            By April of 1912 Captain T.N. Dunman had left the company.  Newly assigned officers at that time included Lieutenant A.H Morse, R.E. who was attending the Electric Lighting course, and 2^nd Lieutenant H.W. Holt from the Royal Engineers Special Reserve (R.E.S.R.).  By August of 1912 Lieutenant Morse had left the company and had been replaced by 2^nd Lieutenant R.W. Oates, R.E.  Oates also attended the Electric Lighting course.  The company was now just two years away from active service in the Great War.  Hopkins, Nation and Holt would be the only officers still with the company when it deployed to France in August of 1914.

France and Flanders (1914)

            The 56^th Field Company was at Bulford when war was declared by Great Britain on 4 August 1914.  The company still formed part of the 3^rd Division and the division’s C.R.E at that time was Lieutenant Colonel C.S. Wilson, R.E.  Wilson’s Adjutant was Captain F. Wright, R.E. and a Major B. Borradaile, R.E. was attached to the C.R.E. headquarters.

            Hopkins, 44 years old at the time, was still the Officer Commanding the company.  The company left Bulford for Amesbury Station[35] on 16 August 1914.  From Amesbury the unit traveled to Southampton Docks and crossed the channel to France on the following day. In addition to Major Hopkins, the company officers at this time included:

·         Captain J.J.H. Nation, R.E.

·         Lieutenant C.G. Moores, R.E. (see Appendix 2)

·         2^nd Lieutenant C.G. Martin, R.E. (see Appendix 3)

·         2^nd Lieutenant J.A. Leventhorp, R.E.

·         2^nd Lieutenant H.W. Holt, R.E.S.R.

Photographs of three of these officers are shown below.

            The actions of the 56^th Field Company in France, up to the time that Major Hopkins left the unit after being wounded, are described below from five sources.

(The above photographs are courtesy of Wikipedia)

The Martin Letters

            On 18 August the 56^th Field Company marched to a rest camp two miles south of Rouen and on the following day the company marched from Rouen to Gare du Nord station where it entrained and passed through Amiens to Sasseignes.  On the 20^th the company left Sasseignes and marched to Harmies and on the 21^st it continued north through Mauberge, then five miles more to Feignes, and finally was ordered to move seven miles to Goesgnies Chausse.  On 22 August the company finally saw action at Mons, action that is described in detail by Lieutenant C.G. Martin in letters that were written by him and subsequently published in The Royal Engineers Journal of June 1981.  These letters are provided in Appendix 4 of this narrative.  The letters included in Appendix 4 only go up to 30 August, as by that time Major Hopkins had been wounded and evacuated to the U.K. 

The Royal Engineers Corps History

            Another description of the action of the 56^th Field Company and Major Hopkins during this period at Mons is described in the Corps History, Volume 5.  In a chapter entitled Beginning of the Retreat from Mons the Corps History states the following:

            “In the small hours of the morning of the 23rd August, the G.O.C., II Corps had sent orders to his divisions to prepare the bridges over the Mons canal for demolition, but they were not to be destroyed without orders from the divisional staffs.  I In the 3rd Division (C.R.E.-Lieut.-Colonel C.S.Wilson; 56th and 57th Field Companies) the field companies were scattered on various works, and many of the bridges on the divisional front were rushed by the Germans before the preparations were completed. The 56th Company (Major N. J. Hopkins) had reconnoitered their bridges on the evening of the 22nd, and had asked permission to prepare them at once, but were told to do nothing that night. When the sections reached the canal next morning the enemy was already sniping at the bridges. One section of the company was rushed while fixing its charges, and Lieutenant H. W. Holt, RE. (S.R.)[36]was killed and the rest of his section captured.

            Owing to untoward circumstances connected with store-changing before mobilization, the companies had no instantaneous fuse with them and only one exploder per section. The demolition parties had therefore to rely on their electric firing-apparatus and safety fuse-all too scanty.”

Mons 1914, by Jack Horfall & Nigel Cave

            Horsfall and Cave describe the action of the engineers at Mons in the following way:

            “The Royal Engineers had also been having a busy time.  The CRE (Commander Royal Engineers) of 3^rd Division was Lieutenant Colonel C.S. Wilson, who controlled the Division’s two Field Companies, 56 and 57; the CRE of the 5^th Division was Lieutenant Colonel J.A.S. Tullock, with his Field Companies, the 17^th and 59^th; they had been very industrious.

            Gangs of Belgians had been recruited to assist with the construction of II Corps’ second line of defence, and these needed to be supervised.  However the first priority was the bridges [over the Mons Canal] and their preparations for demolition.

            The sappers faced a real problem.  There was a severe shortage of explosives – but more acute was the insufficient number of fuses.  A short time before mobilisation the fuze instantaneous had been withdrawn (due to store changing).  The speed of mobilisation meant that they had not been replaced.  They would have to rely upon safety fuse and electric firing, and these exploders were only issued on the basis of one per section.  It would mean that to explode more than one charge simultaneously would require each length of fuse to be of the same length and all to be fired at the same time.  As the iron girder bridges required multiple charges, much ingenuity would be required.  There were eighteen bridges in total, more than there were officers to take charge, so much of the work fell upon junior NCOs.

            At 2.30am on the 23^rd the sappers of the 3^rd Division were told to prepare the bridges in their area for demolition but were further instructed at 8.53am that nothing must be destroyed until the Division’s retirement became necessary.  The engineers of the 5^th Division were busily engaged in preparing houses to be used as strong points; although the bridges had been reconnoitered, nothing as yet had been done about preparing them for destruction.

            It took some time to get the men of the 56^th and 57^th on to the bridges, broadcast as they were on the task of preparing the second line.  Nothing else could be done until 6.30am; Major N.J. Hopkins of the 56^th Fd Coy sent men into Mons in search of more explosives, but they returned empty handed.  By 8am the task had begun, but in the curve of the canal from the top near Nimy and down to Obourg firing had already commenced, so that it was impossible to work on these bridges.

            Gradually the German infantry attack spread further around the bend towards the bridge at Rue des Bragnons.  At about this time Major Hopkins was ready to send his engineers to demolish the bridges on 4/Middx front; two platoons of C Company of 2/RIrR went with the section to the bridge of the Canal du Centre at Obourg.  However, when Captain Fitzgerald [of the 2/RiR] arrived it was already too late, the enemy were positioned on the far side of the bridge, making it impossible for the sappers to operate.  The engineers also tried to get to the Rue des Bragnons bridge, but again the Germans had arrived first.  The commander of the RE section, Lieutenant H.W. Holt, was killed when the Germans rushed this section; he has the dubious distinction of being the first Royal Engineers officer killed in the war.[37]  Sergeant Miles and the rest of the section were captured.  Thus, all the bridges in from of 4/Mddx were intact and available to the enemy” (see Figures 19 and 20    below).”

Figure 19.  German Attack on the Nimy bridge where Lieutenant Herbert Wilfred Holt, R.E. was killed.
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia)  

Figure 20.  The Road Bridge at Obourg.
(Photograph courtesy of Wikipedia)

(Photograph from Mons 1914 by Horsfall and Cave)

Figure 21.  Map of the Battle for the Canal du Centre.  
Sappers of the 56^th Field Company tried to get to the Rue des Bragnons bridge, but the Germans had arrived first.  The commander of the RE section, Lieutenant Herbert Wilfred Holt, was killed when the Germans rushed this section.

(Map from Mons 1914 by Horsfall and Cave)

            In addition to Lieutenant Holt the 56^th Field Company lost the following men killed in action at the Rue de Bragnons bridge:

13113 Corporal Harry John Wiffen[38]

9422 Sapper Frederick Johnson[39]

22421 Sapper Stanley Ellison[40]

The Royal Engineers Journal (March and June 1932)

            Details of the attempts to destroy the bridges over the Mons Canal are provided in these two journals under the title Demolitions Carried Out at Mons During the Retreat, 1914.  A Compilation by Major-General Sir Reginald U.H. Buckland, K.C.M.G., C.B. Colonel Commandant Royal Engineers with a Foreword by Major I.S.O. Playfair, D.S.O., M.C., R.E.  Part 1 (March 1932) consists of 22 pages and Part 2 (June 1932) consists of 32 pages.  These journal articles are much too extensive to be included here.  The reader is advised to consult the R.E. Journals cited if more information is required about the demolitions work conducted by all companies of the Royal Engineers during the Mons battle. 

            The Martin Letters and the Corps History indicate that the 56^th Field Company took part in the retreat from Mons beginning on 24 August to a line running east and west through Bavai (Bavay).  The company left Nouvelles and bivouacked at Amfroipret.  On 25 August the company left Amfroipret and retreated across the River Sambre, marching through Le Quesnuy and on to Solesmes.  After a short stay there the company marched to Caudry.  The company was at Caudry during the Battle of Le Cateau.

The 56^th Field Company War Diary

            The following entries were made in the company’s war diary on 26 August 1914 while the unit was in the vicinity of Caudry:

Summary of Events and Information

“North of Caudry.  The Coy. Assists in preparing the outer buildings of the village for defense and subsequently took its place in the firing line with the infantry.

Captain Nation detached to take charge of a section of the 57^th Co. R.E. and assist in preparing the defenses of the position at Audencourt.

At dusk the retirement was ordered to Beaurevoir where the company arrived about 11 pm.”

Remarks and References

“Casualties at this battle included Major Hopkins and Lieutenant Leventhorpe.  8 men missing, believed to be wounded . . . “

            One of the missing men appears to have been 24878 Driver Edmund Welch who subsequently was reported killed in action.[41]

            The fighting in the area around Caudry obviously had become critical and required the assistance of the Royal Engineers in the area to resist the advance of the attacking German forces.  Things must surely have become critical when the men of the field companies were required to join the firing line and to fight as infantry, a task that they certainly were qualified to do.

Figure 22.  The Battle of Le Cateau, 26 August 1914. 
(Map courtesy of the War Gaming Society web site)

            On 27 August Captain Nation assumed command of the 56^th Field Company, as the wounded Major Hopkins probably had been sent to a casualty clearing station.  The nature and extent of Hopkins wound(s) are not known, but they obviously were severe enough for him to be evacuated from the battle area.  The company had been pulled out of the line on this day and had assembled at Le Catalet.  From Le Catalet the men marched south to St. Quentin and then southwest to Ham and to billets at Maille.

            The company left Maille and marched through Noyon to Pontoise on 28 August and then to Cuts on the 29^th.  On 30 August the company continued its retreat from Mons and crossed the River Aisne at Vic sur Aisne.[42]

            According to documents found in WO25/3917 files, Major Hopkins returned home from France on 31 August 1914.[43]  Presumably he spent some time in hospital and may have had some convalescent leave.

Home Service (1914)

            Major Hopkins reported for duty at Aldershot on 20 November 1914 after 81 days of leave or convalescence.  It appears that he was posted to the Royal Engineers Mounted Training Depot as its commander.  He may have served there until sometime in 1918 when he was posted to Malta.

Malta (1918-1922

Reserve of Officers (1922-1925)

            On 4 July 1922, after completing four years of service as a Regimental Lieutenant Colonel, Hopkins was placed on the half-pay list and was assigned to the Reserve of Officers.[44]  On 4 July 1923 he was retired in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with seniority dating back to 18 December 1915.[45]  He ceased to belong to the Reserve of Officers on 2 November, having attained the age limit of liability for recall to the Colours.[46]

__________________________________________________________________________

            The following sections provide details of events in Lieutenant Colonel Hopkins’ life in tabular form to assist the reader in following his military career as it has been explained in some detail in the previous narrative sections.

__________________________________________________________________________

6.  PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

Promotions:  Norman John Hopkins received the following promotions during his time in service:

TABLE NOTES

(a)    London Gazette, 25 February 1890.  (b)  London Gazette, 28 February 1893.

(b)   WO25/3917.

(c)    WO25/3917.

(d)   London Gazette, 17 December 1915 and London Gazette, 9 March 1923.

(e)    WO25/3917.

(f)    WO25/3917.

(g)   London Gazette, 4 June 1917.  King’s birthday honours.  For valuable services.  WO25/3917 indicated that this appointment occurred on 1 January 1918.

(h)   London Gazette, 9 August 1918.

(i)     WO25/3917.  This promotion has not been corroborated by any other source.

Appointments:  Norman John Hopkins received the following appointments during his time in service:

TABLE NOTES

(a)    WO25/3917.

(b)   WO25/3917.

(c)    WO25/3917.

(d)   London Gazette, 13 May 1902.

(e)    Royal Engineers List, January 1908.

(f)    WO25/3917 and Royal Engineers List, January 1912.

(g)   WO25/3917.

(h)   London Gazette, 9 August 1918.

(i)     Army List, August 1922.

7.      MILITARY TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS  

Military Training: Hopkins received the following military training during his time in service:

Military Qualifications:  Hopkins earned the following qualifications during his time in service.

 8.  MEDALS, AWARDS AND DECORATIONS  

            Norman John Hopkins received the following medals, awards and decorations during his time in service:[47]

TABLE NOTES

(a)    Medal authorized by Army Order 11 of 24 November 1917. 

(b)   General Officer Commanding forwarded the roll of officers eligible for the 1914 Star. 

(c)    Medal issued to him on 12 August 1920.

(d)   Medal Roll.

(e)    Medal Roll.  Major Hopkins wore a Mention in Despatches (m.i.d.) oak leaf on this medal; however, no information has been uncovered to date to indicate that he did receive an m.i.d. during his time in service.  If he was mentioned in despatches it might have been during his time in command of the 56^th Field Company on the Mons Canal; however, his name does not appear in the 1914 despatches of Sir John French.  Another alternative might be a mention in despatches for his service at about the same time that he was awarded the French Legion of Honour (1918).  No notice of such a mention could be found in any issue of the London Gazette.  The oak leaf on his Victory Medal is definitely the type issued for the Great War and does not appear to be one added to his medal group at a later date.  The author finds it difficult to believe that Hopkins would have awarded himself a Mention in Despatches based on vanity, as he was too professional an officer and a soldier to do such a thing.  The absence of evidence of his being mentioned in despatches (that is; a London Gazette citation) does not mean that such evidence does not exist.  In the author’s opinion it simply means that such evidence has not yet been found.

(f)    London Gazette, 18 August 1918.

(g)   For service during World War II between 3 September 1939 and 15 August 1945.  No information has yet been uncovered to explain why Lieutenant Colonel Hopkins received this medal.

Figure 24.  The Medals of Lieutenant Colonel Norman John Hopkins, Royal Engineers.
(Photograph from the author’s collection)  

            The medal group shown in Figure 24 above is mounted just as it was worn by Lieutenant Colonel Hopkins; therefore, the author believes that the medals have not been tampered with in any way or had anything added to the group that was not authorized for Hopkins.

            The details of the award of Lieutenant Colonel Hopkins Great War medals are shown on the Medal Index Card in Figure 25 below.  

Figure 25.  Medal Index Card of Lieutenant Norman John Hopkins, R.E. (front).
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)  

Figure 26.  Medal Index Card of Lieutenant Norman John Hopkins, R.E. (back)
 (Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)  

9.  MARRIAGE AND PERSONAL INFORMATION  

Marriage and Immediate Family

            Norman John Hopkins married Dorothy Laura Walwyn (1874-1963) in the St. James Parish church in Westminster, London.  St James's Church, Westminster, also known as St James's Church, Piccadilly, and St James-in-the-Fields, is an Anglican church on Piccadilly in the centre of London. The church was designed and built by Sir Christopher Wren.  Their son and only child, Norman John Hopkins, Jr. (1904-1986) was born in 1904 in Windlesham, Surrey.

Figure 27.  St. James Parish Church, Westminster (Piccadilly), London.
(Photograph courtesy of Wikipedia)  

            In 1911 Major Hopkins and his wife Dorothy were living at Ablington Farm House, Figheldean, Salisbury, Wiltshire while Hopkins was serving as O.C. of the 56^th Field Company at Bulford Camp.  At that time they had a visitor residing with them, Marjory Walwyn, 29, probably Dorothy’s sister.  In 1939 when World War 2 broke out, the Hopkins were living at The Old Parsonage in Crondall, Hampshire.  They had a domestic servant at that time, one Emma A. Wareham, 74 years of age.  Hopkins would have been 69 years old when the war started, so just why he received the Defence Medal remains a mystery.  He may have been in the Home Guard or performing any of the many duties that qualified an individual to receive this medal.  Basically he would have needed to serve for three years in Great Britain until 8 May 1945.  He certainly was beyond the age for military duties as he had ceased to be a member of the Reserve of Officers on 2 November 1925 after having attained the age limit of liability for recall to the Colours.[48]

            The Royal Engineers List for 1943 shows the following information for Hopkins:

·         Lieutenant Colonel (Retired)

·         Married

·         Date of Substantive Rank: 4 July 1911.  (This date does not tally with any previous date of rank encountered for him).

·         Date of Retirement: 4 January 1923.  (He actually retired on 4 July 1923, so this could just be a misprint in the List).

·         Club: Junior United Service

            Norman John Hopkins, Jr. married Daisy Culpin (1907-1962) in 1931 at Stamford Lincolnshire.  In 1939 the couple was living in Council Houses in Barnack, Peterborough.  Norman, Jr. worked as a Fitter with the Admiralty.  Daisy Hopkins died on 4 of February 1962 in Northampton, Northamptonshire.  Norman and Daisy did not have any children.

Freemasonry (1897 – 1920)

            Norman John Hopkins was a dedicated Freemason.  His first association with this fraternal order began on 7 April 1897 when he joined the Friendship Masonic Lodge in Gibraltar, Lodge No. 278.[49]  According to the Lodge ledger, Hopkins was a member there until 25 October 1902. 

            Freemasonry in Gibraltar had a very unique history.  Apart from the unique record of having four Victoria Cross holders amongst its ranks the Lodge of Friendship has included: H.R.H. Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who became a member in December 1875, later becoming a Permanent Honorary Member in 1880. In 1903 Prince Arthur became Grand Master, English Constitution, and The Lodge of Friendship was granted the royal prefix.  Sir Charles Warren was elected Master of the Lodge in December 1862 and served for one year.  He worked on the survey of Gibraltar from 1861 to 1865 during which time he was very active within the Lodge. General Sir Charles Warren, as he later became, enjoyed an illustrious career.  He was an officer in the Royal Engineers and later in life Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis during the time of the Jack the Ripper murders. In 1867 he conducted the first major excavation of Jerusalem during which his most significant discovery was a water shaft, known today as Warren’s Shaft, and a series of tunnels underneath the Temple Mount. From 1908 he was involved with Lord Baden Powel in the creation of the Boy Scout Movement.

                On 4 October 1900 Hopkins joined the Elthorne and Middlesex Lodge, No. 2094, in London.[50]  This Lodge originally was located in the Town Hall, High Street, Hounslow, Middlesex, but by the time that Hopkins joined the Lodge it was located in the Regent Masonic Hall, Café Royal on Regent Street in London.  He resigned from this Lodge on the 3^rd of December 1903.  However, prior to resigning Hopkins joined the Engineer Lodge of Freemasons, No. 2599, on 18 May 1901 and was accepted as a junior member based on his membership in Lodge No. 2094.[51]  Then on 22 November 1901 he became a member of the London Irish Rifles Masonic Lodge, No. 2312, a membership that he retained until 1921.[52]  The Foundation Master of this Lodge was the third son of Queen Victoria, H.R.H. Arthur Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England (U.G.L.E.), who acted as a Perpetual Worshipful Master of the London Irish Lodge for the first 53 years of its existence. He was assisted in this role by a deputy Master who conducted the business of Master if His Royal Highness was unavailable. The Lodge was one of four such Lodges in U.G.L.E. who were ruled by the Grand Master, the other Lodges being – Royal Alpha Lodge No 16; Aldershot Army and Navy Lodge No 1971 and the Old Wellingtonian Lodge No 3404.  Finally, Hopkins joined the Masonic Lodge of St. John and St. Paul (Lodge No. 349) at Malta on 3 May 1920 while he was posted and serving on The Rock.[53]

Parents

            Norman John Hopkins mother Helen Hopkins died in 1881 at the early age of 33 years, while Norman was in boarding school in Hampstead.  His father, John Hopkins, died in April of 1903 at Woolwich while Norman was serving in Monmouth.[54]  John Hopkins was 71 years of age.

10.  RELEASE FROM SERVICE  

            Lieutenant Colonel Hopkins was released from active service on 4 July 1922 and was released from the Reserve of Officers on 2 November 1925.  His total service was reckoned as shown in the tables below:

NOTE:  Without his service papers his precise dates of Home Service and service in Malta during the 1920 to 1922 time frame is not known; therefore, the entries for that period in the table above are only approximate.  His Total Service in the lower table includes his time in the Reserve of Officers; that is, 3 years, 3 months and 30 days.

11. POST SERVICE LIFE

            Little is known about Hopkins post service life except that he appears to have resided with his wife in Crondall, Hampshire, a village and large civil parish in the north east of Hampshire, in a similar location to the Crondall Hundred surveyed in the Domesday Book of 1086. The village is located on the gentle slopes of the low western end of the North Downs range and contains the remains of a Roman villa.

Figure 28.  Aerial View of Crondall, Hampshire, c. 2019.
(Image courtesy of Vision of Britain)  

            Norman John Hopkins died at the Old Parsonage in Crondall on 31 October 1954.  He was 83 years of age.  His death certificate indicates that he was a Lieutenant Colonel. Royal Engineers (Retired).  His wife Dorothy was in attendance at his death.  The cause of his death is listed as 1.a) Myocardial degeneration and 1.b) Arteriole sclerosis.  His death was certified by Anthony C. Turner, M.R.C.S.[55] and was registered on 2 November 1954 by H.F.L. Foden, Registrar for the Sub-district of Hartley Wintey in the County of Southampton.[56] His will was probated in London on 20 November 1954 with his effects going to his wife, Dorothy Laura Hopkins in the amount of £228 0s 9d (about $8,135 US in 2019 currency).

            Dorothy outlived Norman by almost nine years, dying on 5 June 1963 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.  Their son, Norman John Hopkins, Jr. died in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire on 12 September 1986.  His residence at the time was 6 Council Houses, Great North Road, Thornhaugh, Cambridgeshire.  His will was probated at Leeds on 29 December 1986 with his effects listed as “not exceeding £40,000.  No heir is listed in the Probate Calendar entry, so it is not known who received his effects.  It is apparent that he had a source of income over his lifetime that did not just come from his work as a Fitter for the Admiralty.

            Norman Junior’s wife Daisy had predeceased him on 4 February 1962 in Northampton.  Apparently they had no children.[57]

Figure 29.  The Death Certificate of Norman John Hopkins.
(In the author’s collection from the General Register Office)

REFERENCES

Army Lists  

1. Hart’s Annual Army List, 1865, p. 313.

2.      Hart’s Annual Army List, 1987, p. 664.

3.      Army List, April, May and June 1903, pp. 452 and 464.

4.      Army Lists, 1910 and1911, p. 450.

5.      Army List, 31 December 1912, p. 792

6.      Army List, April 1914, p. 792.

7.      Quarterly Army List, 31 December 1917, p. 290a.

8.      Army List, June 1919, p. 789.

9.      Army List, December 1920, pp. 117 and 789.

10.  Hart’s Annual Army List, 1895, p. 213.

11.  Hart’s Annual Army List, 1898, p. 213.

12.  Hart’s Annual Army List, 1900, p. 213.

13.  Hart’s Annual Army List, 1906, pp. 212 and 600.

14.  Hart’s Annual Army List, 1908, p. 211.

15.  Hart’s Annual Army List, 1915, p. 287.

16.  Army List, December 1918, p. 789.

17.  Army List, August 1922, p. 225.

18.  War Services List, 1922, p. 615.[58]

 Books

     1.      DOYLE, A.C.  British Campaigns in France and Flanders, 1914.

2 BAKER BROWN, W.  The History of the Corps of Royal Engineers.  Volume IV.  The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1952, pp. 59-60.

3.      Handbook of Jamaica.  U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1908, p. 544.

4.      HORSFALL, J. & CAVE, N.  Mons 1914.  Pen & Sword Military, Barnsley, Yorkshire, 2014, pp. 58 and 59.

5.      PAKENHAM-WALSH, R.P.  The History of the Corps of Royal Engineers.  Volume V.  The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1952, p. 177-178.

6.      Official History of the Great War.  France and Belgium, 1914.  HMSO, London, 1920.

Census  

1. 1871 Census of England (RG 10 809).

2. 1881 Census of England (RG11/173)

3. 1891 Census of England (RG 12/666).

4. 1901 Census of England (RG 13/738)

5. 1911 Census of England and Wales.

6. 1939 England and Wales Register.  

Databases  

Soldiers Died in the Great War.  CD-ROM, The Naval and Military Press Ltd.  

Documents  

1. Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth, General Register Office, BXA 500272, 1 October 1979, re: Norman John Hopkins.
2. Shoeing Smith Examination Certification, Aldershot R.E. T. & C., 17 December 1915.
3. Graves Registration Report Form (Army Form W.3372), re: HOLT, 2/Lieut. W., R.E.
4. Certified Copy of an Entry of Death, General Record Office, DYE 414432, 1 November 2019, re: Norman John Hopkins.

Family Trees  

1.      Georganne_I: Norman John Hopkins

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/112310217/person/330100041499/facts  

2.      Georganne_I: Norman John Hopkins, Jr.

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/112310217/person/330100041503/facts  

Forum Communications  

1.      Brook, Harry. Great War Forum, 15 October 2019.

2.      Owen, David. Great War Forum, 15 October 2019.  

Internet Web Sites  

1.      Lane’s Masonic Records

https://www.dhi.ac.uk/lane/record.php?ID=3623  

2.      Lodge of St. John and St. Paul, No. 349

http://unionofmaltalodge.org.uk/lodge-of-st-john-and-st-paul-no-349-bicentennial  

3.      Regiments of the Malta Garrison: The Royal Engineers.

https://www.maltaramc.com/regmltgar/royalen.html  

4.      Royal Lodge of Friendship, No. 278

http://royallodgeoffriendship.org/aboutus.php  

5.      Wikia.org: 1^st Royal Surrey Militia

https://military.wikia.org/wiki/1st_Royal_Surrey_Militia  

6.      Wikipedia: Auberge d'Italie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auberge_d%27Italie  

7.      Wikipedia: 1907 Kingston Earthquake

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1907_Kingston_earthquake  

8.      Wikivisually:  Royal Military Academy, Woolwich

https://wikivisually.com/wiki/Royal_Military_Academy,_Woolwich

 9. St. Michael and All Angels Church, World War I Project http://www.smaaawwi.org.uk/wwi/people/database-page/capt-c-g-moores/

 10. War Gaming Society

http://wargamingsociety.com/maps/ww1/maps.htm

11. Vision of Britain

http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/3073

 12. Wikipedia: British Forces Gibraltar

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Forces_Gibraltar

London and Edinburgh Gazettes  

1.      The London Gazette, February 25, 1890, p. 1045.

2.      The London Gazette, February 28, 1893, p. 1140.

3.      The London Gazette, May 13, 1902, p. 3180.

4.      The London Gazette, October 8, 1907.

5.      The London Gazette, 17 December, 1915, p. 12566.

6.      The London Gazette, 4 June, 1917, p. 5467.

7.      The London Gazette, 9 August, 1918, p. 9358.

8.      Supplement to the Edinburgh Gazette, August 19, 1918, p. 2905.

9.      The Quarterly Army List,

10.  The London Gazette, 4 July, 1922, p. 5033.

11.  The London Gazette, 9 January, 1923, p. 219.

12.  The London Gazette, 9 March, 1923, p. 1913.

13.  The London Gazette, 17 November, 1925, p. 7511.

Medal Rolls  

1.      Medal Index Card, Lt. Col. Norman John Hopkins, R.E.

2.      Royal Engineers 1914 Star Medal Roll, dated 12 December 1917.

3.      Royal Engineers British War Medal and Victory Medal roll.

Periodicals

1. Army & Navy Calendar for 1882/83 – 1893/94.  W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd.  London, 1893, p.225.
2. The Freemason’s Chronicle, 18 May 1901, p. 237.

Registers  

1.      Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1912, Parish of Richmond, Surrey, 1870.

2.      Masonic Register, Friendship Lodge, Gibraltar, 1895-1898, p.116.

3.      Masonic Register, Elthorne and Middlesex Lodge, 1895- 1904, p. 182.

4.      Masonic Register, London Irish Rifles Lodge, 1889-1901, p. 56 and 76.

5.      Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1904, p. 108.

6.      Kelly’s Directory of Wiltshire, 1911, p. 300.

7.      Masonic Register, Lodge of St. John & St. Paul, Malta, 1919-1920, p. 192.

8.      1939 England and Wales Register.

9.      National Probate Calendar, 1954, p.586.

10.  Civil Registration Death Index, 1954, p. 406.

11.  National Probate Calendar, 1986, p. 4077.

Royal Engineers Journal  

1.      A Heavy Trestle Railway Bridge Constructed by the Royal Monmouthshire R.E. (Militia).  The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, October 1906, pp. 179-181.

2.      School of Estimating and Construction, S.M.E., List of Officer Students. Volume 7. The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1908, p. 41.

3.      Extracts from Letters of Brigadier C.G. Martin, VC, CBE, DSO.  The First Six Weeks of World War I.  The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, June 1981, pp. 127-132.

4.      Battle Honours of the Royal Engineers.  The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1925-1952.

5.      Demolitions at Mons.  The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, March 1932, p. 26.

Royal Engineers List  

1.      The Royal Engineers List, January to December 1905, pp. ix and xxx.

2.      The Royal Engineers List, January to December 1908, pp. viii and xxviii.

3.      The Royal Engineers List, January to December 1910, pp. vii and xxiv.

4.      The Royal Engineers List, January to December 1912, pp. vii and xvi.

5.      The Royal Engineers List, 1943, p. xxv.

Service Papers (WO25/3917)  

1.      Statement of Services.

2.      Record of Particulars. NOTE: There is information on this form that pertains to another N.J. Hopkins who appears to have served in India and East Africa, retired on an Indian pension and died on 30 March 1924.  This information is erroneous.

War Diaries  

War Diary and Intelligence Summary, Army Form C 2118, 56^th Field Company, Royal Engineers, 16-26 August 1914.

APPENDIX 1

ROYAL ENGINEERS

SCHOOL OF MILITARY ENGINEERING COURSES, 1893

            For professional and technical instruction the School of Military Engineering was divided as follows:

1.      School of Field Fortifications.

2.      School of Construction.

3.      School of Surveying.

4.      School of Telegraphy, Electric Lighting and Submarine Mining.

5.      School of Photography and Chemistry.

6.      School of Military Law and Tactics.

SUMMARY OF COURSES AT THE SCHOOL OF MILITARY ENGINEERING

APPENDIX 2  

Captain Clive G. Moores, R.E.

            Clive was born in Dulwich, South London on 9 May 1887.  His father Samuel Guise MOORES was a 50-year-old retired army officer, and his mother Priscilla was aged 43.  Samuel had been a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Devonshire Regiment and had seen service in India and fought in the Mutiny and in the Egyptian War of 1882.  Clive was the youngest of seven children.  The eldest, George, was born in India in 1862, but unfortunately died in early infancy.  Their next son, born in 1863 in Ireland, was christened, like his father, Samuel Guise.  The daughters were Evelyn (1867) and Priscilla, also born in Ireland (1869).  Charles Francis Guise (1873), and Frank Gerald Guise (1885) were born in India.  All four of Samuel Moores’ surviving sons eventually followed him into  military careers and became professional soldiers, each of them commissioned officers in their respective Regiments.

            In 1901 Clive was attending a small residential private school in Shipdham in Norfolk, but by 1906 he had entered the Royal Military Academy (RMA) at Woolwich as a Gentleman Cadet, gaining his commission as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, having passed out head of the list.  He was awarded the Pollock Medal at Woolwich in 1906 and the Haynes Medal at the School of Military Engineering in 1909. It was while at the RMA Woolwich in 1904 that his mother Priscilla died.  His father remarried in 1907 to Rosetta Lucy Hanwell from Norfolk.  Rosetta was born 1860, so she was 23 years younger than her husband.  In 1911, Samuel (senior) and Rosetta had moved into 22 Woodstock Road in Bedford Park.  There they remained until Samuel’s death in 1924.  Clive was elsewhere, and there is no evidence that he, or any of his siblings ever resided in Bedford Park, except perhaps on visits to his father and stepmother.

            Clive was promoted Lieutenant in November 1908.  From January 1911 until January 1914 he was employed on the Boundary Delimitation Commission in Peru.  On his return, he joined the 56^th Field Company, Royal Engineers and at the outset of war disembarked at Rouen from SS Fauvette to join 3^rd Division, B.E.F.  The Company was engaged in various front-line engineering duties, being present at the Battle of Mons.  During the subsequent retreat he led a successful bridge demolition party at Varesnes on 30^th of August 1914.  The very detailed war diary contains Lt. Moores’ detailed demolition records.  The company worked hard preparing defensive positions during the 3^rd Division’s retreat and then during its September advance from the Marne two weeks later, being in the thick of it at the Battle at Chassemy and at the Aisne where a pontoon bridge was constructed.  The work was continuously hampered by enemy shell fire.  Clive’s detailed plans for the bridge were also included in the war diary.  The company moved in October to Neuve Chapelle, being heavily engaged in trench construction for various brigades and under constant fire.  In November the company was moved across the Belgian frontier at Locre.  They were involved with digging second line trenches three miles east of Ypres in very poor weather and under enemy fire.

            Moores was promoted Captain about October 1914, but on 18 November, according to the unit war diary,  he was unaware of his promotion.  The war diary on that date states that “names were called for despatches” and Lt. CG Moores’ name was “sent in”.  On 30 November, in the front line at Kemmel, there is a separate note in the war diary stating: ”Capt. Neville wounded, Lieut. Moores killed.”  Lt. Moores killed whilst working in the front trenches; Capt. Neville wounded, ditto.”  and the next day: “Lt. Moores was killed last night and Capt. Neville wounded by a German sniper.”  Another separate note records: “German saps to within 15 yards of firing line.”  A separate account by eye-witnesses states (of Capt. Lionel Neville) that within an hour of his arrival on duty in the firing zone at Kemmel, he was wounded by a chance bullet, which after passing through his chest lodged in the heart of his brother officer, Captain C. G. Moores, R.E.  His service record states that he was transported to the No. 2 Clearing Hospital, but was found to be dead on arrival through loss of blood.  Clive Guise Moore’s body was buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.

            He had appointed his brother, Frank Gerald as his sole executor, but because the latter had joined the Army Service Corps and was stationed in Jamaica his father had to be appointed the latter’s attorney for the purpose of probate.  A letter from him in Clive’s service record illustrates the chillingly efficient way in which the War Office dealt with the affairs of the war fallen.  It is clear that at this early stage in the war that officers travelled with much equipment:  In Clive’s case he had already sent his father his two Woolwich Gold Medals and his motor cycle, but Lt. Col. Samuel Moores clearly was anxious about the return of his son’s Kit-Valise and his own 42 year-old ceremonial sword which he had given to his son presumably a gift at his commissioning.  His promotion to Captain was recorded in the London Gazette posthumously.

            Of Clive’s siblings, the eldest, Samuel Guise Moores II, had an illustrious career in the Army Medical Corps.  He had qualified as a doctor at St Thomas’ in 1888, and was commissioned Surgeon Captain, serving on the North West Frontier and in the South African War, gaining 6 clasps to his Queen’s Medal.  He had been promoted to Colonel in the RAMC by 1915.  He was decorated: CB 1915, CMG 1918 and became a Major General in 1919.  He was knighted as Sir Guise Moores KCB in 1925, became Honorary Surgeon to the King, and in 1933 was awarded the KCVO.  Frank Gerald Guise Moores rose to Colonel in the Indian Army and was awarded an OBE  and Charles Frederick Guise Moores became a Colonel in the Army Service Corps, being awarded the DSO.

            Sir Guise’s son, Bruce Kirkman Guise Moores, Clive’s nephew (b. 1893) joined the Royal Garrison Artillery during the war.  He won the Military Cross survived the war, rising to the rank of Major.  He served after the war as Governor in turn of Parkhurst, Winchester and Wakefield prisons.

(Courtesy of St. Michael and All Angels Church, World War I Project)
(as modified by the author)

APPENDIX 3   

Brigadier Cyril Gordon Martin, R.E.

VC, CBE, DSO

            Cyril Gordon Martin (1891-1980) was born at Foochow, China on 19th of December 1891. His father was the Reverend John Martin, principal of the Church Missionary Society College in Foochow, China, later Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Fuh-Kien.  He later became vicar of Grandborough, near Rugby, in November 1916. His mother was Sarah Eliza née Goldie, who was born in India. She was the daughter of an Indian Civil Service judge. After his mother died in 1894, Cyril was brought up by two aunts at 12 Somerset Place, Bath. He had two brothers and two sisters. His father re-married in 1910 in Hong Kong and went on to have two more sons.

            Cyril was educated at Hamilton House at Bath, Bath College and Clifton College, before training at the Royal Military Academy (RMA) Woolwich. He was commissioned on 23 December 1911 and succeeded Lieutenant Philip Neame (later VC) in 56th Field Company at Bulford on Salisbury Plain. He was promoted to Lieutenant and arrived in France on 16 August 1914. For holding a post with his section at Le Cateau on 26 August, he was awarded the DSO (gazetted 9 November 1914). He was shot through the shoulder and bayoneted in the hand on this occasion and returned to England in October for more treatment.

            Having recovered he returned to France on 21 February 1915, and less than a month later was involved in his Victoria Cross action. On 12 March 1915 at Spanbroekmolen, Belgium, Lieutenant Martin volunteered to lead a small bombing party against a section of the enemy trenches which was holding up the advance. Before he started he was wounded, but taking no notice, he carried on with the attack which was completely successful. He and his small party held the trench against all counter-attacks for two and a half hours until a general withdrawal was ordered.

            Martin’s VC appeared in the London Gazette on 19 April 1915 and he received his VC from King George V at Buckingham Palace on 12 July 1915. While recuperating from his wounds he was also presented with a sword of honour by the citizens of Bath in October 1915. He was then appointed Assistant Instructor, School of Military Engineering until May 1916. He then served with the Egyptian Army in various appointments until November 1925 and took part in operations in the Sudan against the Lau Nuer, in the Nyima Hills and in Nuba Mountains Province 1917-18. During Allenby’s Palestine campaign he served with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in 1918.

            Martin married Mabel née Hingston at Chatham on 20 August 1917. His father performed the service. Mabel was the daughter of Major Edward Hingston who was killed in action in France in 1915 while commanding the 54th Field Company, RE. Cyril and Mabel had three children.

            Back in Egypt he was attached to the Sudan Defence Force from January to July 1925 as Assistant Director of the Works Department. He was awarded the Order of the Nile, 4th Class on 21 September 1923. After nine years in Egypt and Sudan, he returned to take up the appointment of Assistant Instructor Field Works and Bridging, School of Military Engineering, Chatham on 15 July 1925 and he remained in this position until 1928. He was promoted to Major later that year.

            Cyril moved to India, where he took part in operations on the Northwest Frontier 1930-1931 and where he was mentioned in despatches. He was appointed GSO2 India between 1933 and 1936. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in March 1936 and took part in operations on the Northwest Frontier of India 1936-37 for which he was awarded the CBE. He then commanded the Royal Engineers India from 1937-39. On 23 April 1941 he was appointed Acting Brigadier and Chief Engineer British Troops Iraq until February 1942. He held several other appointments in India before becoming ADC to the King from 1945-1946.

            Martin retired from the Army in December of 1946 and on 26 March 1947 was appointed Honorary Brigadier. He was employed by the Forestry Commission, served as Lieutenant in the Devon Army Cadet Force between 1951 and 1955 and was on the Committee of the VC and GC Association. He was also a Freemason – Khartoum Lodge No 2877, Jamrud Lodge No 4372, Stewart Lodge No 1960.

            Cyril died at Morden College Hospital, Blackheath, London on 14 August 1980 and was cremated at Eltham Crematorium. His ashes were scattered on Pew Tor on Dartmoor. In addition to his VC, CBE and DSO, he was awarded the 1914 Star with Mons clasp, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19 with Mention in Despatches oak leaf, India General Service Medal 1908-35 with clasp “North West Frontier 1930-31”, India General Service Medal 1936-39 with clasp “North West Frontier 1936-37”, 1939-45 Star, 1939-45 Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 with Mentioned in Despatches oak leaf, George V Silver Jubilee Medal 1935, George VI Coronation Medal 1937, Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953, Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal 1977, Order of the Nile, 4th Class (Egypt) and Khedive’s Sudan Medal 1910-22 with two clasps (Nyima and Lau Nuer). His medals are held by the Royal Engineers Museum, Chatham, Kent.

Figure A3-1.  The Medals of Brigadier C.G. Martin.
(Photograph courtesy of the Royal Engineers Museum)

APPENDIX 4

Figure A4-1.  Martin Letters.

Figure A4-2.  Martin Letters.

 Figure A4-3.  Martin Letters.

Figure A4-4.  Martin Letters.

Figure A4-5.  Martin Letters.

ENDNOTES