Unit/Regiment	1st/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death	13/03/1917		Age at Death		32
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery VI B 8
Census Details	1891 Census - Joseph Conlin was aged 6 and lived at 35 High Street, Prescot, with his parents James (29, a coal miner) and Ann, also 29. Also there was Joseph's sister Mary, aged 2. 1911 Census -  Joseph (26) and his father James (47) lived as Boarders at Maypole Cottages in Bold, the home of Patrick McGarry. Both Joseph and James worked as Coal Miners
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth Registered Q2/1885, Prescot, 8b, 701 Marriage to Jane Cunningham recorded in Q1/1915 at Prescot, 8b, 1091
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		Prescot	Resided
How Died	Died of Wounds			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Notes	Previously served as Private 2644, 1st/5th South Lancs
Research Ref. No.	P055

 

Service Details

Joseph Conlin arrived in France in May 1915 as part of a draft of reinforcements for the battalion. They did not see much action for the remainder of the year, although they were subject to the constant shellfire and normal attrition associated with this phase of the war. Through into 1916, the battalion were mainly engaged in the Somme campaign, specifically around Guillemont in September of that year, but the winter of 1916 found them based in the Ypres sector.

The regimental history reports that the battalion remained in the Ypres salient carrying out normal trench duties, allied to a fortnight’s rest and training in January at Merkehegam. And there are no specific action reports for the first four months of the year.

Despite this, Private Conlin is reported to have died of wounds on 13^th March, one of only two men of the battalion to die that month. He is buried at Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery.

 

 

The Parish Magazine of 27^th November 1917 reported “The following have fallen in the present fighting on various battlefields” and included “Pte. Joseph Conlin, 29, 5^th S. Lancs. Of 28, Rowson Street, March 1917”.

 

 

Joseph Conlin’s Medal Index Card. He was entitled to the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal

 

 

 

Joseph Conlin’s grave at Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery

Unit/Regiment	1st/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death	20/05/1915		Age at Death		20
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Huyton (St Michael) Churchyard 440
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Son of Tom and Annie Coop, of 3, School Lane, Huyton Quarry
Census Details	1901 Census - Tom (36, a Platelayers Labourer) and Annie Coop (31), lived at 4, Blythe Cottages, Huyton Quarry, with their children Esther (13), Elizabeth (11), Sarah (8), Joseph (6), Bertha (4) and Tom (2) 1911 Census -  The Coop family lived at 3 School Lane, Huyton Quarry. Tom (45) and Annie (42) had been married for 23 years and with them were children Sarah Ann (19, a Domestic), Joseph (16, a Mechanic’s Labourer at the Wire Works), Bertha (14, a Wire Bender at an Electric Lamp Works), Tom (12) and Annie (9).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth registered Q4/1894, Prescot, Vol 8b, Page 648
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		Prescot	Resided
How Died	Died of Wounds			Theatre of War	Home
Research Ref. No.	P056

 

Service Details

Joseph Coop is buried in a private grave at St Michaels, Huyton. The inscription reads:-

“Annie, wife of Thomas COOP, d. July 6^th, 1913, aged 45. Joseph, son of the above, 5^th. S L Regt., died of wounds received in action, May 20^th 1915, aged 20. Also the above Thomas COOP”.

He must have been wounded in action and ultimately returned to England for treatment before succumbing to his wounds. His family will have elected to have his body returned home for burial. Although it is not clear exactly where or when he was wounded, the following details the battalions key activities from formation through to the week before Joseph Coop’s death, illustrating some of the fighting in which he would have been involved.

The 5^th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, had just started its annual training in camp when war broke out in August 1914. It was sent to Edinburgh until October, then moved to Tunbridge Wells until February 1915. It was then ordered to France, sailing on the 13^th aboard s.s. King Edward., arriving at Le Havre the same day.

Over the next few days the battalion marched to billets at Le Bizet, and then undertook instruction in trench warfare. The system was for companies from a battalion to be attached to other battalions for spells in the line, before the sector was allocated to the battalion on its own. In addition to the trench duty, the battalion undertook its share of pioneer work and training in rapid fire.

The Battalion was moved around regularly without seeing action, until 28^th April when it was moved to Vlamertinghe, Belgium in readiness to take part in the 1^st Battle of Ypres, which had started on the 22^nd.

On 2^nd May, the Germans launched a violent attack, accompanied by a cloud of chlorine gas, and the battalion was moved into the line for the first time. On 3^rd May, it was moved to the new line in front of Wieltje, and then on the 4^th it was again moved to Shell Trap Farm. At dawn, they engaged the Germans but by 4pm the enemy was within 400 yards of the British lines, from where they began a heavy bombardment of the British lines.

More shell fire continued through the next day, culminating in heavy concentrated fire about 5 p.m. which resulted in a considerable number of men being buried, many of them killed and wounded. The enemy fire continued until midnight and four attempts were made by the Germans to take the farm, but all were repulsed.

At 2 a.m. on the 6^th, the Battalion was relieved and moved to La Brique, having incurred considerable casualties.

On the 8^th May, the battalion was once more sent up to the Wieltje sector as it was thought that the enemy had broken through, but it proved to be a false alarm and on the 9^th it returned to La Brique, leaving “C” Company and a machine-gun detachment at Wieltje. Early on the 10^th, the battalion moved to the bank of the Yser canal where it remained until the 13^th, when it was moved back to the support lines.

Below are two pictures of Joseph Coop’s gravestone in Huyton, one of which shows the number of broken stones in the churchyard.

 

 

 


Joseph Coop's Medal Index Card with his name mis-spelt as Cooper

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Unit/Regiment	2nd/4th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death	05/05/1918		Age at Death
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Couin New British Cemetery D 39
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Son of Mrs. A. Cooper, of 101, Central St., St. Helens.
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		St Helens, Lancs	Resided
How Died	Killed In Action			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Research Ref. No.	P057

 

Service Details

After the outbreak of war in August 1914, second and third line battalions were formed within several battalions of the regiment; the second line battalion would be equipped and trained for overseas service  whilst the third line battalion would be used for development and training of men ultimately drafted into the first and second line battalions, as replacements and reinforcements.

The 2nd/4th Battalion of the South Lancs was formed in September 1914 and did much of its training in the south of England. At the same time, it formed part of the force retained in England for home defence, and it carried this role out throughout 1915 and 1916.

Early in February 1917, the battalion was chosen for overseas service and on 15th February it left Frith Barracks and entrained for Folkstone. The battalion comprised 31 officers and 799 men. They arrived in Boulogne the following day, stayed in Hazebrouck for a few days then went to Sailly-sur-Lys in preparation for moving into the line. On 24th, they occupied trenches for the first time near Bois Grenier, where they remained until 4th March.

At this time, it was officially "quiet" on the Lys front, although the British were preparing for what they knew must be coming soon; a German assault. However, "quiet" was a relative term, and few days passed without a casualty of some sort, incurred by snipers, trench-mortars, raids (both attacking and defending), etc.

Private Cooper will have been one such casualty. The regimental history records no actions on the day he died, 5th May, and so he will almost certainly have been a victim of the usual daily grind of trench warfare

 

Joseph Cooper’s Medal Index Card showing his entitlement to the British War Medal and Victory Medal

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Unit/Regiment	18th Bn., King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Date of Death	01/07/1916		Age at Death		20
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Dantzig Alley British Cemetery V W 6
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Son of Joseph and Margaret Copple, of Green Cottage, Prescot, Lancs.
Census Details	1901 Census - Joseph Copple was a 45 year old brewer living at 11, Seddons Brow, Eccleston. His family comprised wife Margaret (46) and children Mary (10), William (18), an articled clerk, Joseph (13), Elizabeth (8), Margaret (6) and John (4) 1911 census – The census simply records the family address as “Eccleston, Prescot”.  Joseph Copple, a 55 year old Brewer was widowed and lived with his children Christine (25), Susannah (21), Elizabeth (18) and John (14)
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth RegisteredQ3/1896, Prescot, 8b, 702
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		Liverpool	Resided	Prescot, Lancs
How Died	Killed In Action			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Research Ref. No.	P058

 

Service Details

John Copple attended Prescot Grammar School from 1904 to 1912.

The Copple family had a brewery in Portico Lane, Eccleston Park. Originally known as “William and John Copple”, the brewery was run by the brothers, then from 1877 to 1891 it was known as John Copple, after which it became “Copple Brothers” until 1930. 

John Copple attested for Military Service in Liverpool on 2^nd September 1914. He was 19 years and 2 months old, unmarried and working as an Articled Clerk.  He was 5ft 6 ½ in tall, wither 132 pounds, and had a 34 ½ inch chest, expandable by a further 2 ½ inches.

He was of a fresh complexion, with Blue eyes and Black hair and had a mole on his right forearm. He was a Roman Catholic. He was passed as fit for military service after his medical the same day.

The 18^th (Service) Battalion of the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment was formed by Lord Derby in August of 1914. They embarked for France on 7^th and 8^th November 1915 as part of the 89^th Brigade of the 30^th Division.

The next entry in his service records shows that he was killed in action on 1^st July 1916.

Private Copple’s medal entitlement was to the 1914-1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His next of kin was listed as his father, Joseph, of Green Cottage, Prescot.

The Commanding Officer of the 18^th Battalion, Lt. Col. E. H. Trotter gave the following narrative of the 18^th Battalion on 1^st July 1916, the infamous “First Day of The Somme”. The narrative reproduced here is extracted from “The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool)”, by Everard Wyrell, published 1934.

“The battalion was formed up in the assembly trenches by 7.30 a.m. At 7.20, I went down the line and saw that all was in order, then returned to Battalion Headquarters. I tried to observe the advance of the battalion at 7.30 but I was too late by about a minute in seeing the front line getting out of their trenches, but I saw the enemy attempting to barrage our front line just after the third line left and before the fourth line reached the barrage. The enemy’s barrage did not appear to do much harm to our men before they left our front line, as I saw our fourth line, who were in sectional columns, press successfully through the shell area; but I heard afterwards there were casualties from the enemy’s artillery on the racecourse. There are very few officers left now from No 1 Company, the leading company on the left, and none from No 4 Company, the support company, but from the narratives of the survivors, officers and men, I think the following is a pretty accurate story.

“In many places out men could leave the trenches without being seen from the enemy’s front line trenches. This was on the Fleche side, and to deal with them the enemy had machine guns which it was impossible to locate before the action commenced. The hedge running in front of Montauban, which was the apparent place, was under barrage from our artillery. These machines guns dealt with men, unseen, leaving the parapet.  On the right, where the men were more on the high ground, there was a machine gun firing directly on our men advancing from the frontline trench. This was afterwards captured, and its team, who fired up to the last minute and then attempted to surrender, were shot. An NCO had one hand on the gun and one in the air. The first line seems to have been taken with a certain amount of opposition, and one officer and some men surrendered,  but previous to this on our advance some men were seen to leave the trench and retreat towards Montauban. A certain amount of bombing took place in the second-line trench and thirty men surrendered after being forced into dug-outs by our advancing parties. The line was not held by the barrage on the front two trenches or Alt trench.

Here a difficulty arose and the officers who remained alive with the men had difficulty in stopping their forward rush. The barrage was on, as ordered at the scheduled time, and the battalion had to wait until it lifted., during which time they were subjected from the left-flank to machine-gun fire which enfiladed them, beside which the enemy had placed a flanking party under cover of a tree hedge with its right running into Alt Alley, covered by a bombing party.

“Capt. A de Bels Adam, who was in the second line and whose duty it was to keep intercommunication with the 18^th Division and cover on the left flank, immediately saw the situation and as agreed, attempted to deal with it by the bombing parties told off for this object.  The bombing parties were, however, shot down by snipers. The gallantry of the men and officers and the foresight and battle knowledge of Capt. Adam is beyond all praise, for at this point and at this moment I think the whole of the operations for the taking of Montauban were in the balance. Our forward bombing parties had all been shot down by snipers and 2/Lt. G. A. Herdman, who had come forward to deal with the situation, was blown to pieces by an enemy bomb. 2/Lt. E. Fitzbrown, who led his company and was the first man to enter the enemy’s front-line trench, where he had emptied his revolver , seeing the situation, took two bombs in his hand and attempted to bomb Train Alley and the hedge, and immediately met with the same fate as other bombers had done who had tried to do the same thing, from the enemy’s snipers. Here it was that Capt. Adam’s battle knowledge and determination saved the situation.

“He immediately sent to Lt. Watkins of the clearing party, for more bombers, who came up. Men, whose name deserves mention, reconnoitered at the risk of wounds (which they received) and death also, located the enemy’s bombing party and reported to Lt. Watkins that Alt Trench was held by an advanced bombing party which covered the enemy’s snipers in Train Alley with rifles fixed in Alt Trench.

“Lt Watkins attempted to go down and found the body of 2/Lt. Herdman, and threw a bomb which failed to reach the enemy bombing guard. Lt. Watkins acted as a subaltern would act, and grasping the situation immediately, he told off his longest throwers, who with the greatest luck, threw a bomb into the German bombing guard, killing two and pushing the rest back into Train Alley, thus making the advance possible and the bombing of Lt Watkins party drove the enemy into their dugouts; many were shot in the hedge by riflemen and thirty surrendered to Lt. Watkins once their dugouts were bombed.”

The narrative goes on to say that every fighting officer was hit by enemy shells or bullets except one, and he as accidentally bayoneted as he crossed a trench. The total number of casualties, killed and wounded, was estimated at over 500.

It is not possible to denote exactly which part of the battle resulted in the death of Private Copple, but the above extract is intended to give an indication of the ferocity of the action in which he fell.

His body was recovered from the battlefield and he rests in Dantzig Alley British Cemetery.

Lt. Col Edward Henry Trotter, who supplied the narrative above, was himself killed in action on the 8^th July whilst leading the battalion to its assembly position in the trenches.

 

Prescot Reporter, 28/07/1917 -

“News has been received that Private John Copple of the Liverpool Pals, was killed in action on July 1^st. Private Copple, who was the son of Mr. Joseph Copple, of Eccleston Brewery, Prescot, was only 20 years of age. He was educated at Prescot Grammar School and St Georges College, Dumfries and was articled to Mr. F. W. Marsh, chartered accountant, Liverpool, when he joined the Pals on their formation in 1914.”

 

The Parish Magazine of 26^th July 1917 reported that a Parents Meeting at the Grammar School had heard a list of seven names, these being old boys of the school who had been killed in action. Amongst these was Pte. John Copple of the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment (City Battalion) who had fallen at the Somme battle of 1916

 

With regard to the family brewery business, “This Is Lancashire” reported in 1999:-

Business apparently prospered between 1883 and 1887, when owner John Copple bought several plots of land surrounding the brewery.

When John died in 1891, aged 76, his sons, William, Edward and Joseph, took over, selling their beer through pubs, beer houses, clubs and shops in Eccleston, Huyton, Parr, Prescot, Rainhill, St Helens, Sutton, Whiston and Widnes.

The last of the brothers to die was Joseph, in 1925, when his estate was divided equally between his four daughters and a son, Joseph Edward. This brought about a classic fall from grace. For Joseph Edward, far from being a stabilising brotherly figure, was by all accounts, a spendthrift. Business quickly declined and just two years after their father's death the brewery shut down in 1927 with the land, buildings and several of the firm's public houses sold off.

The plight was not helped by the fact that, in common with many small breweries of the time, they could not compete with the larger companies such as Greenalls.

After its closure, the Copple's site was used for a time as a builders' merchants business. Then, around 1957, Orchard Close was built on part of the site, with Middlehurst Close occupying the remainder of it a few years later.”

 

 

Private Copple’s Medal Index Card

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Unit/Regiment	1st Bn., Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death	15/12/1914		Age at Death
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Le Touret Memorial Panel 27 & 28
SDGW – Where Born	Everton	Enlisted		Liverpool	Resided
How Died				Theatre of War
Research Ref. No.	P060

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private Coulson’s Medal Index Card

 

 

Private Coulson’s inscription (lower right) on the Le Touret Memorial

 

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