Lieutenant Edward Hopkinson

Army Number : n/a

Battalion : 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment.

Awards : M.C. (Military Cross)

He was schoolmaster at Newstead School, Nottinghamshire. He enlisted in the territorials in 1909 and rejoined soon after war broke out in 1914. He was promoted to C.S.M and went to France in February 1915, he was wounded 30th March 1915 at Neuve Chapelle. After recovery, he spent two months as an instructor at Brigade School for officers and NCO’s and was commissioned soon after. He wounded again in April 1916 at Vimy Ridge, France. He won the M.C in March 1917, London Gazette “Near Essarts on March 13th 1917, for exceptional coolness and gallantry when he reconnoitred the Burg and Hedge Trenches in daylight and found the enemy trench beyond strongly held. The enemy allowed his party to pass a length of trench filled with wire and then opened heavy fire on them, immediately afterwards attacking in force over the open. He held back the attack inflicting many enemy casualties and withdrew his men over the wired up trench without suffering any casualties. He then erected a block in the trench and successfully resisted all further enemy attacks for the remainder of the day and night and thus preventing any attack on Kite Copse by way of Hedge Trench.” He died 23rd April 1917.

“MISSING.

“SECOND-LIEUTENANT E. HOPKINSON.

“Second-Lieut. Edward Hopkinson, of the Sherwood Foresters, who in March was awarded the Military Cross for gallant conduct near Esssarts, is now reported missing. Lieut. Hopkinson, who is a native of Kegworth, was formerly headmaster of Newstead School, prior to which he held positions at schools in Kirkby, Sutton, and Mansfield. When at Sutton he joined the local section of the Sherwoods, and attained the rank of sergeant. He has been twice wounded, and during the whole of his service he has done exceptionally good work.”

‘Nottingham Evening Post’, 11th May 1917.”

Commemorated : Arras Memorial, France. Bay 7.

Lieutenant Edward Hopkinson is also commemorated on the following local memorials:–
Newstead Village Green War Memorial Newstead, Nottinghamshire.
Nottinghamshire County Council War Memorial, (Galleries of Justice), Nottingham.