Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
The following information was kindly submitted to the project by F Tilley in 2016:

"John Leslie Cope was born in 1892 in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire. He was the son of John Cope a railway signalman born 1855 in Newton Regis, Warwickshire and Fanny Ada nee Freeman born 1867 in Stilton, Hunts, of Waterworks Road, Coalville, Leicestershire; she died in 1959.

Three of John’s siblings were born in Burton upon Trent: Arthur Samuel 1886, Millicent Ada 1894, Douglas William 1896-1939; then Kenneth James1900, and Charles Raymond 1901-1982 were born in Coalville. In April 1911 the Family home was at Waterworks Road, Bardon Hill, Leicestershire John was an Assistant Milk Seller Military Service

John Leslie Cope enlisted with the Army in Coalville, Leicestershire, with the Indian Expeditionary Force.
John formerly enlisted with the Leicestershire Regiment under the number 9591.

The Coalville Times of Friday, November 20th 1914 reported that Private J. Leslie Cope serving with the Leicestershire Regiment with the Indian Expeditionary Force acknowledged a letter received on the 5th November where he says he received it in the trenches. He was going on all right and was in the best of health, as he trusted all were at home. He was pleased to hear that his chums had enlisted and were willing to fight for the old country, but you know what they say: ‘Britons never shall be alarmed’ and ‘we don’t mean to let the Germans beat us while we don’t mind work, as we have some good officers and are getting plenty of food and good stuff at that, better than we expected, also fags as well.’ At the time, J Leslie Cope had been soldiering only 2 years and served 12 months in India. He had went from Wigston to Ferney and thence to India.

The 4th April 1917 the Leicester Mercury published the following in the Roll of Honour: Pte J.L Cope, Machine Gun Corps, formerly of the Leicestershire Regiment, reported drowned on the way to Mesopotamia. John Leslie was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

John Leslie was killed in action 16th January 1917, he was 25.
He is remembered at the Basra Memorial, Irak Panel 41.
He is remembered on the Memorial Cross, St Peters Churchyard, Bardon, Leicestershire, at Coalville Clock Tower War Memorial Leics, and at the Council Office Memorial of Coalville, Leicestershire."

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Coalville Times article - Friday February 23rd, 1917

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Private J. C. Cope, of Bardon Hill, is officially reported to have died. He was in the Leicestershire Regiment, and was attached to the Machine Gun Corps.

Coalville Times article - Friday March 23rd, 1917

Mr John Cope, M.R. signalman, Waterworks Road, Coalville, was recently officially notified that his son, Pte. John Leslie Cope, who enlisted in the Leicesters, was “believed drowned”. It has since been officially intimated that Pte. Cope, previously reported believed drowned, is “now reported missing,” and his brother, Douglas, writing to his father, said he was sorry to state Leslie had been drowned. The missing soldier was wounded on January 13th, 1916, and sent to India. On recovery, he was transferred to the machine gun corps, and was missed when on board ship going to Mesopotamia. Before the war, deceased was a milk salesman at Coalville, and formerly at Osgathorpe.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 19/10/2017