Soldier+of+the+Month+May

This month we remember 242781 Private Harold Cope, who was killed in action on 21st May 1917.

Harold Cope was the son of Mr James Cope, Pork Butcher of Irongate, Derby. He volunteered for service under the Lord Derby Scheme in late 1915 and was not called up for service until October 1916.

He joined the 2nd/5th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, which was part of the 187th Brigade, 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division. Although formed in 1914, the Division had remained in the United Kingdom until 13th January 1917, when it sailed from Southampton to Le Havre France, arriving the following day. The Battalion spent several weeks training before going into the front line for the first time on 20th February 1917 to the north of the village of Beaucourt-sur-l’Ancre. During late February to early April 1917, the Battalion was involved in following the German Army as it retreated to the Hindenburg Line. Harold was reported as being wounded in the "Roll of Honour" published in the local Derby papers on 19th April 1917.

On 3rd May 1917 the Battalion took part in the Second Battle of Bullecourt, suffering a total of 271 casualties, including 80 killed. The fighting at Bullecourt continued until 17th May 1917, when the village was finally captured. Harold was killed on 21st May 1917 whilst serving in the front line to the north west of Bullecourt.

On Friday 1st June 1917, the following article was published in the Derby Mercury: "Derby Tradesman’s Loss Private Harold Cope, KOYLI, one of seven brothers serving with the forces and third son of Mr James Cope, Pork Butcher of Irongate, Derby, was, we regret to state, killed in action on May 21st. He was 35 years of age and married and like some of the other sons was, prior to the war, engaged in his father’s extensive business. He was a man of marked ability and a wide circle of friends will bear his death with deep regret and will extend every sympathy to his widow and four young children. Mr Cope had nine sons, the two eldest of which remain at home and the other six still with the forces are: Second Lieutenant Charles Cope – Liverpool Regiment Driver James Cope – Army Service Corps Private Wilfred Cope – Notts & Derby Regiment (In France) Second Lieutenant George Cope – Machine Gun Corps (In France) Corporal Rowland Cope – Notts & Derby Regiment Gunner Frederick Cope – Royal Field Artillery (In France)"

Harold lived at 51 Otter Street, Derby, has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the Missing, France, on the First World War Memorial at St Alkmund’s Church, Kedleston Road, Derby, and on the unfortunately now lost war memorial at St. Andrew's Church, London Road, Derby.



Every April, a memorial service is held in the village of Bullecourt at the Slouch Hat Memorial to remember the British and Australian Soldiers who fought there during April and May 1917.