Memorial

Bench Hopper 1916 Hopper 1942 University Botanic Garden

Durham City

Memorial Name: Bench Hopper 1916 Hopper 1942 University Botanic Garden (D47.165)

NEWMP Ref No.: D47.165

Parish: Durham City

Original Location:

Durham University Botanic Garden, Hollingside Lane, South Road, Durham, DH1 3TN

Which War:

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Materials Used:

Wood bench, brass plaques.

Inscription:

First Plaque:
In Memory of
Lance Bombardier Thomas Hopper
1469665 8 H.A.A. Indep. Bty. Royal Artillery
who died age 22
on Friday 17 April 1942

Second Plaque:
In memory of
Private Thomas Hopper
31484 “A” Coy. 20th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
who died aged 25
on Friday 4 August 1916

Third plaque:
When you go home
tell them of us
and say
“For your tomorrow
we gave our today”

Memorial Description:

Bench, 59 inches x 28 inches (150cms x 70cms).

On the top bar at the back are three small plaques.

Two, each measuring 3 inches high x 6 inches wide (7cms x 15cms), bear the dedications in elongated Roman capitals.

The third, 4 inches high x 6 inches wide (10cms x 15cms), bears the Kohima epitaph also in Roman capitals.

Names:

See above

Notes:

1. See Thomas Hopper 1916 Every Name a Story entry.

2. See Thomas Hopper 1942 Every Name a Story entry.

External Links:

Durham University Botanic Garden

Sources:

Photos: John Dixon

Source of quotation:
“When you go home . . .” Thought to be based on the Greek Simonides who wrote after the Battle of Thermopylae: Go tell the Spartans, thou that passest by / That faithful to their precepts here we lie”. This is on the memorial at Kohima.