Person

The following information has been contributed by David from Wolsingham School:
James Hopper was the eldest son of James Hopper senior, a well-known builder and contractor in Wolsingham, and Sarah Ann Hopper of Angate Street, Wolsingham. James Hopper attended Wolsingham Grammar School in 1895 and 1896. Having left school, James became a stonemason in his father’s business. The Wolsingham Grammar School magazine, The Phoenix, describes him as “his father’s right-hand man” who was “held in high and universal respect.”

James joined the Royal Anglesey Royal Engineers and was trained in Beaumaris in Anglesey before he went to France. An article announcing James’ death appeared in The Auckland Chronicle dated 11 April 1918 and includes references to a letter sent to his parents from his commanding officer. The officer writes that “both as a man and sapper I valued him greatly as he was a most conscientious, methodical and thorough workman”.

James Hopper died from pneumonia on 7 March 1918 at the 45th Casualty Clearing Station. His officer reported that his death had “truly shocked both myself, NCO’s and sappers of No. 3 section because we realised what a splendid fellow we had so unexpectedly lost in ‘Jim'”. The complete newspaper article is attached below.

The newspaper reports a “solemn requiem mass was celebrated for him on Easter Monday in Wolsingham.” James’ three brothers also served with the Royal Engineers. In April 1918, two of them were “taking part in the present great battle”. His third brother was stationed in Peterborough.


Further research has found this additional information about James:
James’ parents married in 1877 and had had a total of 13 children by 1911. Sadly one of these children had not survived infancy. When James was born the family were living on Front Street, Wolsingham. The family moved twice during James’ childhood and by 1911 were living in a seven roomed house on Angate Street in Wolsingham.

By 1901 James was working in the family business as a stonemason. His younger brother, John William, later joined the business to work as a joiner. James’ younger sister Lucia was working as a school teacher at the time of the 1911 census.

James is buried in Achiet-Le-Grand Communal Cemetery extension in Pas de Calais, France. He is remembered on several memorials in his home town of Wolsingham.

Wolsingham Grammar School planted 18 oak trees during 1918 and 1919, each commemorating an old scholar at the school who lost their life serving in the First World War. The following inscription appears on a plaque by the trees: “These trees were planted in memory of Old Boys who fell in the Great War “non timidi pro patria mori”.

Civil Parish: Wolsingham

Birth date: 1880

Death date: 7-Mar-1918

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Front Street, Wolsingham (1881 Census)
West End, Wolsingham (1891, 1901 Census)
7 Angate Street, Wolsingham (1911 Census)

Education: Wolsingham Grammar School

Religion: Church of England

Employment: Stonemason (1901, 1911 Census)

Family: Parents: James Hopper (b 1855), Sarah Anne Hopper nee Fallon (b 1856)
Siblings: Sarah Jane Hopper (b 1879), Eliza Hannah Hopper (b 1882), Thomas Hopper (b 1884), Annie M. Hopper (b 1887), John William Hopper (b 1888), Nora Hopper (b 1890), Etheldreda Hopper (b 1892), Lucia Hopper (b 1894), Margaret C. Hopper (b 1896), Francis C. Hopper (b 1898), Edith Hopper (b 1900)

Military service:

529th Field Company Royal Engineers
Sapper
Service Number 398722

Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Pulpit 1914-18, St. Thomas of Canterbury Roman Catholic Church, Wolsingham
Plaque 1914-18 1939-45, St. Mary and St. Stephen’s Church, Wolsingham
Cross 1914-18 1939-45, Market Place, Wolsingham
Plaque 1914-18 1939-45, Grammar School, Wolsingham
Photos 1914-18, Grammar School, Wolsingham
Trees 1914-18, Grammar School, Wolsingham

Gender: Male

Contributed by David Miller, Wolsingham School