L/Cpl. David William Hopkin (1907 - 1941)
1. Lance Corporal David W. Hopkin (1907 - 1941)
2. The Cenotaph, Castle Park, Whitehaven, Cumbria.
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[Died as the result of a motor accident in Egypt]
Photograph No 1: Courtesy of 'The Whitehaven News'
For additional information click on 'Comments' below
posted by ritsonvaljos at 11:19 am
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Additional information
Some biographical details
Lancashire born Lance Corporal David William Hopkin (1907 - 1941) served in the Army in WW2 - firstly with the King's Own Regiment and then with the Corps of Military Police. He died near Mersa Matruh in Egypt on 8 June 1941 as the result of a motor accident.
At the time of his death, Lance Corporal Hopkin was 33 years old. His final resting place is in the El Alamein War Cemetery (Grave Ref. XXIX.J.21). He is commemorated on the Second World War Memorial of St Nicholas' Church, Whitehaven (Church of England) and is also listed in the Borough of Whitehaven WW2 'Book of Remembrance'.
David William Hopkin was the elder son of the late David Ebenezer Hopkin and Mrs Elizabeth Hopkin (née Stainton) who had married in Lancashire in 1902. Some years before the First World War the family moved to Whitehaven, Cumberland (now Cumbria). At the time of Lance Corporal Hopkin's death in 1941 Mrs Elizabeth Hopkin was living at 8 Windermere Road, Woodhouse, Whitehaven. According to Lance Corporal Hopkin's obituary in 'The Whitehaven News' his brother (Stanley) served with the Royal Artillery during WW2.
David W. Hopkin was educated at St James' School, Whitehaven. Upon leaving school, David W. Hopkin had initially worked for a Whitehaven butcher and secondly at an ice works in the tow. He enlisted as a regular soldier with the King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) about 1929. His inter-war overseas service included postings to Palestine, Egypt and India before returning to civilian life in 1937 and moving back to Whitehaven.
Preferring the service way of life, David W. Hopkin re-enlisted with the King's Own Regiment on 11 November 1938 and he was again sent out to Palestine. He had been due a home leave September 1939 but when war was declared he was sent to Egypt and transferred to the Corps of Military Police. A keen sportsman, David Hopkins had played football and hockey for his battalion.
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CWGC citation
This is the Commonwealth War Graves Commission citation for Lance Corporal David W. Hopkin, Corps of Military Police:
Name: HOPKIN, DAVID
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No: 3709228
Date of Death: 08/06/1941
Age: 33
Regiment/Service: Corps of Military Police
Grave Reference: XXIX. J. 21.
Cemetery: EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY, Egypt
Additional Information:
Son of David Ebenezer and Elizabeth Hopkin.
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Dedication and a family dedication
The following 'Family Notice' for Lance Corporal David W. Hopkin was placed in 'The Whitehaven News' (Thursday 26 June 1941) by his family:
"Deaths
HOPKIN -
On June 8, in Egypt, following a motor accident, L. Cpl. David W. Hopkin, Corps of Military Police, elder son of Mrs and the late Mr D.E. Hopkin, 8 Windermere Road, Woodhouse.
Deeply regretted".
This article is dedicated to Lance Corporal David William Hopkin, Corps of Military Police.
"To the wide world he was but one,
To those he loved he was all the world".
Worthy of remembrance.
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To see a photograph of the St Nicholas' Church WW2 War Memorial and read details of the other casualties listed on it, click on the following link:
St Nicholas Church, Whitehaven WW2 War Memorial
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Acknowledgements
Cumbria County Archives & Local History Centre
(Whitehaven Records Office)
The Whitehaven News
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