Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Reuben Copley, a brick carter, born 1854 in Farnsfield, Notts., and his wife Mary Copley (nee Jinks, married on the 21st February 1875 in St. Michael’s Church, Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire), born 1856 in Southwell, Notts. John was born in 1891 in Denning Park, Derbys., his siblings were, Alice, a boot lace maker, born 1886 in Farnsfield, Notts., Jane, born 1887 in Southwell, Notts., Sarah, born 1890 in Farnsfield, Notts., and Harry, born in 1894 in Chilcote, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Ashby House, Barkby Thorpe Road, Leicester. In April 1911 John was serving as a Private with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed at Fort Saint George, Madras, India. At the age of eighteen John enlisted into the 2nd Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment and served for four years in India, he contracted malaria during this time and whilst serving on the front line in France suffered a recurrence of this illness, after he had recovered sufficiently he embarked with his Battalion for Mesopotamia in late 1915. He was killed in action during the action at Shaikh Saad. His elder brother Harry also fell. John enlisted into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve on the 20th January 1908 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Stapenhill, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire and his age as 18 years and 8 months, he gave his trade or calling as bricklayer’s labourer. He expressed a wish to serve with the Leicestershire Regiment. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3¾ in height, he weighed 106 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 31 and 33½ inches. His complexion was described as sallow, his hair colour was light brown and he had blue eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army service. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 8312 on the 22/1/08. He was transferred to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Shorncliffe on the 27/5/08. Transferred to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 7/12/10. Admitted to Hospital in Madras, India suffering from Dengue on the 29/10/11 – 8/11/11. Appointed Pioneer on the 23/10/12. Admitted to Hospital in Ranikhet, India siuffering from malaria on the 11/9/14 – 21/9/14. Embarked from Southampton to join the British Expeditionary Force on the 1/4/15. Admitted to No.6 Stationary Hospital, Le Havre on the 16/4/15. Discharged from Hospital to duty on the 27/4/15. To England aboard Hospital Ship on the 1/5/15. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 5/6/15. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and embarked from Southampton to rejoin the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 3/10/15. Joined the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in the field on the 7/10/15. Embarked Marseilles, France on the 10/11/15. Disembarked in Alexandria on the 17/11/15. Embarked Port Suez on the 23/11/15. Disembarked in Basra on the 8/12/15. Killed in action on the 6/7/1/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 20/1/08 – 6/12/10, 2 years 321 days. India, 7/12/10 – 19/9/14, 3 years 287 days. India counts Home, 20/9/14 – 12/1/15, 115 days. Home Service, 13/1/15 – 31/3/15, 78 days. -?-, 1/4/15 – 30/4/15, 30 days. Home Service, 1/4/15 – 3/10/15, 156 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 4/10/15 – 13/11/15, 41 days. British Expeditionary Force, Mediteranean, 14/11/15 – 7/1/16, 55 days. Total service 7 years and 353 days. The following information was provided on the 9th May 1919 by John’s brother William on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family). Father of soldier, Reuben Copley of 101, Margaret Street, Coalville, Leicestershire. Full blood brothers of soldier, William Copley, age 38 of 101, Margaret Street, Coalville, Leicestershire. Full blood sisters of soldier, Maria Brennan, age 42 of Berrisford Street, Coalville, Annie Carter, age 40 of Gutteridge Street, Coalville, Alice Coe, age 36 of Tur Langton, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, Jane Copley, age 34 no knowledge of address, Sarah Twells, age 29 of 79, Ashley Road, -?-. John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory Medals.
The War Diary for today records. At 11.12am orders were received that the attack would shortly be renewed on both banks. In the meantime enemy’s line was subjected to bombardment from 28th Bty ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. Orders were received to renew the attack at 2.00pm, the Battn moving forward as soon as 53rd SIKHS were seen to leave their trenches. The 92nd PUNJABIS had now been attached to the Bde to support the attack on the left of the Battn. A and B Coy’s advanced in short sharp rushes, supported by C Coy, D Coy being kept close up in reserve under cover. The advance progressed in spite of very strong opposition and D Coy was thrown in, the whole Battn finally carrying out the assault successfully over about 300 yards. Two of the Battn machine guns pushed along the nullah X Y towards X, greatly assisted the advance in first enfilading Turkish trench P and later distributing their fire along trench Q. The Battn was splendidly supported throughout by one section of the 28th Bty ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY, the F.O.O. advancing with his telephone immediately in rear of the Battn. The enemy’s trenches were occupied and quickly put in a state of defence, while, from both ends of these trenches a line of entrenchments was extended for some considerable distance, the left flank being well turned back. About 80 prisoners were taken by the Battn, and a large quantity of rifles, ammunition, equipment etc. Many dead and wounded Turks were found in the trenches. The Battn buried 62 enemy dead on its section of trenches. Enemy sniped to some extent during the night from our left flank. The following casualties among officers occurred during this days operations. Officers killed Lt DOWDING and Lt ROYCE. Wounded Capt SUTHERLAND, 2nd Lt BILLINGS, 2nd Lt BELLE and 2nd Lt BUCKINGHAM. Other ranks killed and wounded on operations of the 6th and 7th January totalled 303.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday February 18th, 1916

FOUR COALVILLE SOLDIERS KILLED

2ND LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENTS LOSSES AT THE PERSIAN GULF

We regret to learn that the 2nd Leicestershire Regiment, which was so prominent, and suffered heavily in the battle of Neuve Chapelle, and at Loos, has sustained further heavy casualties in the fighting at the Persian Gulf, and among the number officially reported killed, so far as we have been able to ascertain upto the present, are four Coalville soldiers. They are Privates S. Hardy, Hotel Street, E. H. Hunt, Victoria Road, and G. Wilkinson and J. Copley, both of Margaret Street. All belonged to the 2nd Leicesters, and are reported to have been killed at the Persian Gulf during January.

Also a single man, Private J. Copley, lived with his brother, Mr Wm. Copley, a miner, of 101, Margaret Street. He was killed on January 6th or 7th. Private Copley served with the 2nd Leicesters in India for four years, embarking with his battalion for France on the outbreak of the war. He escaped being wounded but suffered for a lengthy period from malaria fever after a spell in the trenches. On recovering, he went to Egypt, and thence to the Persian Gulf, where he met his death, after eight years’ service in the second battalion. Another brother, Harry, 23 years of age, who enlisted in the second battalion, has been missing since the 15th May last. He had been soldiering nearly five years, part of which time was spent in India, where he met his brother, John, (now reported killed) just before the war. John’s last letter was dated 7th December, 1915, when he stated they were going to have “a packet at the Turks.”

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 12/10/2017