De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 1 page 194

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Obituary Newcastle Journal 23rd December 1914

Tyne and Wear Archive and Museums

Charles Randolph Innes Hopkins was born in Ranikhet, North West Provinces, India, on the 9th August 1893, he was the 3rd son of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Harrie Innes Hopkins, of The Towers, Ryton-on-Tyne, late 2nd Scottish Rifles, now [was] commanding the 1st Tyneside Scottish, and his wife, Helen Elizabeth, daughter of the late Gen. Sir Thomas Edward Gordon, K.C.B., K.C.I.E., C.S.I.

Charles Randolph was educated at Dunchurch Hall, Uppingham (scholar), and Sandhurst where he gained the prize for military law and passed out the second term "third" with honours, gazetted 2nd Lieutenant 2nd Battalion, Scottish Rifles, on the 4th September 1912, and was promoted Lieutenant on the 24th October 1913.

Charles was in Malta with his regiment when war broke out and returned to England. he was sent to the Front on the 4th November 1914, he was killed in action in the trenches at Neuve Chapelle on the 18th December 1914. He was unmarried.

Buried in the orchard of the farm behind Neuve Chapelle. His company officer wrote: I would like to say how very greatly I have valued his presence, from the day he joined. He has always been my subaltern and a very close companion to me. In all things I have trusted him implicitly, and in all things he has proved himself worthy. I know that he was good in thought, and word, and deed --- that he could not do a wrong thing --- that he would not lose heart, and that he was the loyalist subaltern and the finest friend that ever a man had. We all feel his loss very deeply, especially his men.

A writer in the Newcastle Journal 23/12/1914 said: Of Charles Hopkins it could be truly said that he was one of Nature's most perfect gentlemen, and if anyone seemed destined for a great future it was he. As able and gifted as he was modest, possessed of strong purpose, exceptional talents, sound judgement, and a personality infinitely attractive, there seemed nothing he could not have achieved had he tried. An excellent cricketer and hockey player, an expert ski-er, a 'crack' shot, and fine billiard player, he also played for Ryton Lawn Tennis Club, there was no sport at which he did not excel, whilst in classics, military law and tactics he came out with highest honours. He had a soldier's love and pride in his work, and if genius, as has been said, is an infinite capacity for taking pains, his career, had he been spared, would have proved him a soldier of genius.

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Bond of Sacrifice, Vol 1 page 38.

Newcastle Journal Tuesday 23/11/1915, carried a report:- The Late Lieutenant C F Innes Hopkins.
Any lingering doubt that young Castell Percy Hopkins, 9th Gordon Highlanders (who was seen to fall wounded in the charge up Hill 70 at Loos on the 25th September last), might have been picked up by the Germans and made prisoner, have unfortunately now have been dissipated, for his parents have received definite information that he, in the charge with his comrades, was shot, through the head and Killed. His body found later, was buried by a relief party near Loos.

He was only 22 years of age, and is the second son of Colonel and Mrs H. Innes Hopkins, who has given their lives for King and country, his younger brother. C. R. Innes Hopkins, who was a Lieutenant in the 2nd Scottish Rifles (his father's old regiment), having been killed in action at Neuve Chapelle on December 18th 1914.

Much sympathy will be expressed by the many friends of Colonel and Mrs C. H. [Helen] Innes Hopkins in this further loss.

Their eldest son John Gordon Innes Hopkins, is serving in the Naval Brigade, having travelled especially from Japan, where he was when war broke out, to join the Navy as a volunteer. The gallant Colonel is in command of the 1st Tyneside Scottish [20th Northumberland Fusiliers], which at present is at Warminster.

Sunderland Echo Wednesday, 23/11/1914. Lieut. C.R. Innes Hopkins Killed in Action.

Lieutenant Charles Randolph Innes Hopkins, 2nd Scottish Rifles, was killed in action on December 18th. Lieut Hopkins, who was only 21 years of age, was the third son of Lieut.-Colonel C.H. Innes Hopkins (late of the 2nd Scottish Rifles), commanding the 1st Tyneside Scottish, and Mrs Hopkins, The Towers, Ryton-on-Tyne.

Newcastle Journal Thursday 13/05/1915, Dedication of a Motor Boat at Dunston.

The Bishop of Jarrow dedicated, yesterday afternoon, at Dunston, the motor boat Charles Randolph, which is to [be] used in connection with the Tyne Station of the Missions to Seaman, and which has been named after the late Lieutenant Charles Randolph Innes Hopkins-eldest son of Colonel C.H. Innes Hopkins-who was killed at the front a few months ago.

The service was numerously attended. Among the those present were: Mrs Innes-Hopkins, Lieutenant I'Anson Robson, Mrs Robson, the Rev. S.H. Fullerton (Chaplain to the Missions to Seaman, South Shields), Mrs Fullerton, Dr and Mrs McDougal, the Rev. H. S. Stephenson (Rector of Gateshead), the Rev. J. W. D. McIntosh (Vicar of Dunston), Mr Samuel J. Rust. Missioner in charge of the Station, Mrs Rust, the Rev. C. E. Little (Rector of Whickham), the Rev. J. B. Stack (Vicar of St Paul's, Gateshead), the Rev. F. H. H. Ladell (Gateshead), the Rev, G.H. Aird (Gateshead), the Rev. F. J. Sides (Dunston), and many others.

The service was opened with the singing of the hymn "Eternal Father, strong to save," and, at he conclusion, tea was served in the Institute.

The Rev. S. H. Fullerton proposed, and Mr Rust seconded, a vote of thanks to the Bishop of Jarrow, who, in reply, remarked that in this time of crises, everybody should do something. The Bishop of London had been in the trenches and had done good work. He (the speaker) felt that he would like to do something and, if he had been able to help, in any way, the work among sailors, it would be some little satisfaction to him.

Newcastle Journal Thursday 13/05/1915, reported that A noteworthy fact in connection with the dedication of the motor boat of the Tyne Station, Missions to Seaman, at Dunston, yesterday [12th May 1915] is that the craft has been named Charles Randolph, after the late Lieut. Innes Hopkins, who was the eldest son of Colonel Innes Hopkins, and who was killed in action some three or four months ago. This may be regarded as an acknowledgment of the long-continued and earned support which Colonel Innes Hopkins and other members of his family have given to the institution, which, on the river Tyne and elsewhere, is doing splendid work on behalf of seaman.

His elder brother, John Gordon Innes Hopkins, is now [1916] serving in the Naval Brigade, having travelled specially from Japan, where he was in the R.M.S.P. Co when war broke out to join the Navy as a Volunteer, and his older brother Private Castell Percy Innes Hopkins, 9th Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders, and his uncle, Captain James Randolph Innes Hopkins, Canadian Expeditionary Force, were both killed in action.

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Charles Randolph Innes Hopkins is remembered in Ryton on R33.01, R33.07, R33.08 and R33.12

Ryton War Memorial entry for C.R.I. Hopkins
The CWGC entry for Lieutenant Innes Hopkins