COPPING, William Charles


No.5662, Sergeant, William COPPING
Aged 35


12th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on 25th March 1918


William Charles Copping was born in Wickhambrook (1st qtr 1883 Risbridge 4a:592), the son of Arthur and Melinda Jane COPPING (née BONNETT). His mother died in 1894 and father married Emily WELLS in 1895.

1891 census...Aged 8, he was at Attleton Green, Wickhambrook, with his father Arthur COPPING [33] horse keeper; his mother Melinda [32]; sister Ellen [10]; brothers Frederick S [5] and Charles [2]. All were born in Wickhambrook.

1901 census...Aged 18, he was in the Army in South Africa. The family were at the Hall Cottage, Chevington.

1911 census...Aged 26, a farm labourer, he was at Almswater Cottages, Chevington with his parents; brothers Frederick and Charles and Ernest,(all farm labourer); half brothers Harry, Alfred [8], Edward [6] and Arthur [1]; half sisters Lizzie [9], Violet [4] and Florence [2] All the children after Harry were born in Chevington

On the pension card his father was at Charity Cottage, Chevington

His brother Charles died of malaria in Gaza in 1918 see here
and brother Ernest died of his wounds in 1918 see here


He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. His Queens South Africa medal carries the clasps for Cape Colony - Orange Free State - Transvall - South Africa 1901 - South Africa 1902.
The absence of the clasp for his 1914 Star may well be that it was not claimed by his relatives
On the 25th March 1918, the 4th day of the German Spring Offensive, the 12 Suffolks were in the area of Mory, dug in on the Erville-Mory road, holding up the German advance for at least 12 hours. Their casualties during March, mostly in the battle around Bapaume, were nearly 400.

19 died on the 25th March, none have an identified grave, all are named on the Arras memorial.





photo CWGC

William Copping is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Faubourg d'Amiens bay 4

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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