Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: P. Priano
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Frederick Hope, affectionately known as Fred, was one of 7 children of whom only 6 survived. His parents Thomas Hope and Emma Jane Glover were both born at Cannock, Staffordshire, in 1869 and 1868 respectively and were married there in 1893, it was also the birthplace of their eldest son James in 1893. Within 3 years they had migrated to the north east and Fred was born at Langley Moor, County Durham in 1897. They occupied 1, Broom Lane Terrace, Ushaw Moor, in 1901, Thomas was employed as a coal hewer. The remainder of their children were all born at New Brancepeth, County Durham, Ambrose in 1900, Ada 1902, Sidney 1904 and Jack 1908. In 1911 they were living in 4 rooms at 4, Garden Place, Penshaw, Fence Houses, Thomas had been joined at the colliery by James (17) a putter, Fred (13), Ambrose (11), Ada (9) and Sidney (7) were scholars, Jack (3) remained at home with his mother.
In 1914 Fred was still living with his parents at 32, Mount Pleasant, Penshaw, Fence Houses, County Durham and was 17 years of age. Not only was he still too young to enlist or serve overseas but was unable to enlist due to his stature, being below the required minimum height of 5 feet 3 inches. The enthusiastic flow of men after the declaration of war had slowed by the end of 1914, however, men were still required at the front. The War Office gave permission for the minimum recruitment height to be lowered by 3 inches to 5 feet and January 13th 1915 for the formation of the Durham Bantam battalion which became known as the 19th (Service) Battalion Durham Light Infantry.
Fred was one of the first to enlist at Sunderland assigned as Private 1086 Durham Light Infantry and joined the other new recruits in West Hartlepool in early March 1915, moving in May to Cocken Hall after the departure of the 18th Battalion D.L.I. to France. Cocken Hall had been offered to the war effort by Lord Durham, the men occupied the house and outbuildings, a firing range had been built and trenches dug to simulate conditions at the front. June 1915 they transferred to Marsham, North Yorkshire joining the 106th Brigade of the newly-formed 35th Division, the division moved to Salisbury Plain for final training and was ready to depart in January 1916.
The 19th Battalion D.L.I. departed from Southampton, January 31st 1916, entering the trenches for the first time at Neuve Chapelle, February 11th 1916. July 1st 1916 they were entrained and moved south to the Somme, in the area of Longueval, during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge, July 14th-17th, doing little fighting but engaged in digging new communication and reserve trenches.
Private 1086 Frederick Hope with a change of service number as 116731 was transferred to the 195th Company Labour Corps when it was formed in April 1917. The 195th was linked to the 33rd and 37th (Labour) Battalions Royal Fusiliers which in April 1917 became the 99th and 108th Labour Companies, Labour Corps, working during the summer and early autumn of 1917 on the Ypres salient digging trenches and laying railway lines in preparation for and during the 3rd Battle of Ypres, July 31st-November 10th 1917.
Private Frederick Hope was killed in action, August 7th 1917 and interred at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium grave I. D. 57. His military headstone bears his original details of Private 1086 F. Hope Durham Light Infantry. He was 20 years of age and single.
His mother as sole beneficiary received all monies due to him from the Army, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal also a pension of 5 shillings a week as of August 7th 1918, this was increased to 15 shillings a week upon the death of Fred’s brother Private 360606 James Hope Royal Engineers, October 1st 1918, also in Belgium, and to 20 shillings a week as of May 31st 1921.
Fred’s mother Emma Jane Hope nee Glover died in 1921, registered at Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham, details as regards his father Thomas Hope, unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Frederick Hope is remembered at Penshaw on P29.01 and at Shiney Row on S124.01
He is not remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance
