SERGEANT J. HOPKINS, 2ND BATTALION ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT (LATE HUSSARS),DIED OF WOUNDS AT BAZENTIN RIDGE, 5/7/1916. Three: 1914-15 Star (officially impressed: 8346 PTE (A. CPL.) J. HOPKINS. R. IR. REGT:) British War and Victory Medals (officially impressed: 8346 SJT. J.C. HOPKINS R. IR. REGT.). British War Medal attractively toned, generally Extremely Fine and virtually as struck.
Group accompanied by copied WW1 medal rolls, Medal Index card and Commonwealth War Graves details.
John Charles Hopkins was born in Aston, Birmingham and saw active service during WW1 with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, having previously seen service as 14402 with a Hussars regiment. Hopkins and first saw active service in France, entering that theatre of operations on 26/7/1915, and died of wounds on 15/7/1916, 2nd day, battle of Bazentin Ridge, 14th - 17th July 1916, the attack at Bazentin being launched on 14/7/1916 and Hopkins dying of wounds the next day. Sergeant Hopkins is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery.
The 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment was stationed at Devonport when WW1 broke out on 4/8/1914 and saw service initially with 8th Brigade, 3rd Division, landing in France as a unit at Boulogne on 14/8/1914. The battalion transferred to Army Troops on Lines of Commuication, 14/10/1914, to the 12th Brigade, 4th Division, on 14/3/1915, to the 11th Brigade, 4th Division, on 26/7/1915, to 49th Brigade, 16th (Irish) Division, on 14/10/1916 and to the 188th Brigade, 63rd Division, on 23/4/1918, and was still serving with the latter brigade/division at Spinnes, south of Mons, when the war ended on 11/11/1918, close by where it had first seen action in August 1914.
On 5/7/1916 the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment was serving with 49th Brigade, 16th (Irish) Division.
