Gunner 70890 Bert Hope

Died of Wounds on Monday, 1st October 1917, age 20.
Buried in Grave I. M. 42. at Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Royal Garrison Artillery, 117th Heavy Battery.

Son of James and Mary Ann Hope, of 7, Canal Side, Brick House Lane, Great Bridge, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Great Bridge, Enlisted: West Bromwich, Resident: Great Bridge.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library, Salem Chapel, St. Peter's, Greets Green, and St. Paul's, Golds Hill memorials.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/96381/

Genealogical Data

1901 Census
6 Brickhouse Lane, West Bromwich, Staffs.
James Hope (47, Canal Dredger, born Forest of Dean), his wife Mary Ann (49, born West Bromwich), and their 2 sons: William James (7, born West Bromwich), and Bert (4, born West Bromwich).

1911 Census
7 Canal Side, Brickhouse Lane, West Bromwich, Staffs.
James Hope (57, Canal Boatman, born West Bromwich), his wife Mary Ann (59, born West Bromwich), and their 2 sons: William James (17, Canal Boatman, born West Bromwich), and Bert (14, Canal Boatman, born West Bromwich). Both sons were working with their father.

Personal Data

Bert Hope enlisted with the Royal Garrison Artillery on 17th November 1915 at West Bromwich. He was single, 19 years old, 5 feet 5¼ inches tall with a 38-inch chest and employed as a 'General Worker' although he had been a Canal Boatman in 1911. His next of kin was his father, James Hope of 7 Canal Side, Great Bridge, Tipton, Staffs.

Bert had been previously wounded on 10th May 1916, and returned to his unit 7 weeks later on 29th June 1916. Amongst his possessions returned to his mother in 1918 was a flute.

After Bert's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £17/5/1d (17 pounds, 5 shillings and 1 penny); this was paid to his mother and sole legatee, Mary Ann, in February 1918. His War Gratuity was £8/10/0d (8 pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to his mother, Mary Ann, in November 1919.

Action resulting in his death

117th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, was part of 28th Heavy Artillery group under the command of the 1 ANZAC Corps. They were operating in region of Zonnebeke, and were between the battles of Polygon Wood (26th September) and Broodseinde (4th October). It is possible that Bert was wounded by counter-battery fire, especially as another comrade from 117th Battery is buried in an adjacent grave - this is 43-year old Isaac Mather from Darwen, Lancs.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.