Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Hopkins, a farmer and grazier, born 5th March 1859 in Dunton Bassett, Leicestershire, and was baptised on the 26th June 1859 in the Parish Church, Dunton Bassett and his wife Lucy Anne Hopkins (nee Gilbert, married on the 29th March 1887 in the Parish Church, Broughton Astley, Leicestershire), born 1862 in Broughton Astley, Leicestershire and baptised on the 6th July 1862 in the Parish Church, Broughton Astley. Joseph Henry was born in the 4th quarter of 1890 in Broughton Astley, and was baptised on the 5th October 1890 in the Parish Church, Broughton Astley, his siblings were, Margaret Lucy, born 4th April 1888 and baptised on the 20th May 1888 in the Parish Church, Broughton Astley and William Gilbert, born 24th April 1889 and baptised on the 9th June 1889 in the Parish Church, Broughton Astley, both his siblings were born in Broughton Astley, in April 1891 the family home was at Broughton Astley. In March 1901 Joseph was residing in the family home at 90, King Richards Road, Leicester, together with his father, a sheep and cattle salesman, his mother and siblings, Margaret, William, Janet Elizabeth, born 1892 in Broughton Astley and baptised on the 28th February 1892 in the Parish Church, Broughton Astley, Arthur Thomas, born 14th March 1894 and baptised on the 20th May 1894 in the Parish Church, Claybrooke, Leicestershire and Marian Ruth, born 10th September 1895 and baptised on the 6th October 1895 in the Parish Church, Claybrooke, the latter two siblings were both born in Wibtoft, Warwickshire, Frank Douglas, born 1898 in Claybrooke and baptised on the 13th March 1898 in the Parish Church, Claybrooke and Kathleen May, born 9th July 1900 in Leicester and baptised on the 26th August 1900 in St. Nicholas’s Church, Leicester. In April 1911 Joseph was employed as an account’s clerk and was residing in the family home at 90, King Richards Road, Leicester, together with, his father, an auctioneer’s foreman, his mother and siblings, Margaret, a shorthand typist, William, a hosiery trade warehouse man, Janet, a school teacher, Arthur, a chemist’s apprentice, Marian, Frank, a schoolboy, Kathleen, a schoolgirl and Robert Leslie, a schoolboy, born 10th November 1902 in Leicester and baptised on the 4th January 1903 in St. Paul’s Church, Leicester. Joseph’s mother died in 1931, aged 69 In 1939 his father, now a retired farmer, was residing in the family home at 17, Imperial Avenue, Leicester, together with his daughters, Margaret, a municipal midwife and Marian, who was living on her own means, his father died in 1946, aged 87.
Joseph’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Leicestershire Yeomanry, being allotted the service number 2108, and was posted as a Private to the 1/1st Leicestershire Yeomanry and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 2nd November 1914. He was awarded the 1914 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 13 May-15 - BELLEWARDE FARM. Position of Regiment at midnight 12th/13th May was 700 yards west of road joining ZONNEBEKE ROAD and YPRES – MENIN ROAD, extreme right resting on railway running north east from YPRES, and extending to the farm about 300 yards north, north west of railway. “B” Squadron occupied north, “C” Squadron south part of the front line trenches. The trenches were bad, 5 feet deep and 2½ feet wide at the bottom. Parapets at the front and back slanted very much, and were made of loose soil. There were few sand bags, and no dug outs or other protection from shell fire. “A” Squadron occupied the Support trenches 300 yards in the rear of the advanced trenches and on the left flank of “B” Squadron. Machine gun section in “C” Squadron trench close to the railway. Headquarters in dug outs on road joining ZONNEBEKE ROAD and MENIN ROAD, 150 yards north of the railway. During the night the trenches were somewhat improved. Heavy shell fire from 3.30am to 6.00am, but few casualties. The enemy then began to pour over their parapets with the evident intention of attacking, but being met by heavy fire from our men, they retired again to their trenches. A second and more violent bombardment began, and was kept up until 7.30am. Our losses during this bombardment were much heavier, and the machine guns were knocked out and a trench blown in. At 7.30am the enemy attacked and occupied the advanced trenches vacated by the Regiment on our left, from there they gained part of “B” Squadron trenches. They then advanced to within 200 yards of the Support trenches and dug themselves in, having steel shields as a protection. Those of the enemy who had occupied the “B” Squadron trench advanced along the trench, and Major B. R. LIEBERT, Lieutenant W. S. FIELDING-JOHNSON and Squadron Sergeant Major J. P. SWAIN with what was left of “B” Squadron, retired down the trench and joined “C” Squadron. Here Major W. F. MARTIN ordered barricades of sand bags to be placed across the trench. Some of the trench party fired over this barricade at the enemy advancing from the flank, others at the enemy advancing from the front. Major MARTIN, Major LIEBERT, Lieutenant C. PEAKE and 2nd Lieutenant T. E. BROOKS were all killed. The casualties were so heavy that Lieutenant FIELDING-JOHNSON, the only surviving officer decided to retire down the trench, to cross the railway and join the 3rd DRAGOON GUARDS on the other side of it. He had great difficulty in crossing the railway, which was swept by the enemy’s machine guns. Finally the crossing was effected by building a sand bag parapet across the railway, and Lieutenant FIELDING-JOHNSON joined the 3rd DRAGOON GUARDS with Squadron Sergeant Major SWAIN and 14 men, the only survivors of the two Squadrons of LEICESTERSHIRE YEOMANRY who had occupied the advanced trenches. At about 6.00am Lieutenant Colonel the Hon. P. C. EVANS-FREKE decided to establish a small advanced post at a building about 150 yards in advance of the Support trenches. He personally placed 2nd Lieutenant T. H. SIMPKIN with 15 men in charge of this post. While returning to the Support trenches he was shot dead. The supports held their position until 12.00 noon, when the Brigade Major, Captain D. P. TOLLEMACHE arrived. The enemy by this time were very near at hand carrying shields which appeared to be quite bullet proof, and were digging themselves in. Major W. F. RICARDO displayed great gallantry in holding on to the Support trenches, although wounded four separate time. When the counter attack was made by the ROYAL HORSE GUARDS, the 10th HUSSARS and the ESSEX YEOMANRY, the remains of “A” Squadron, led by Captain TOLLEMACHE and Lieutenant T. W. BEST, joined in the charge. The counter attack drove the enemy out of the new trenches which they had made near our Support trenches, but did not retake our advanced trenches, consequently the dead and wounded from these were never recovered. The Regiment was relieved during the night of the 13th/14th May by the ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS, and reached their huts at BRIELEN at about 4.00am on the 14th May. The casualties of the action on the 13th May were as follows:- Killed, Lieutenant Colonel The Hon. P. C. EVANS-FREKE, Major W. F. MARTIN. Major B. R. LIEBERT, Lieutenant C. PEAKE and 2nd Lieutenant T. E. BROOKS. Other ranks killed, 47. Wounded Major W. F. RICARDO, Captain C. M. MARTIN, Captain E. R. HANBURY, Captain G. R. CODRINGTON and Lieutenant T. W. BEST. Other ranks wounded, 90. There were 39 other ranks missing.
On Thursday 15th July 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – Old Newtonians’ Roll of Honour. Nearly 300 old boys of Alderman Newton’s School are known to be serving with the colours. A complete list has been prepared and printed for private circulation, “With the best wishes and heartiest greetings to the Old Newtonians who are serving their King and Country in defence of honour.” The following Old Newtonians have fallen:-
HUNT, A. D., 12th Lancers, Mons, Aug. 28, 1914.
RICHARDSON, J. T., H.M.S. Good Hope.
FIELDING, Lieut., 1st Sherwood Foresters.
ASHWELL, F., Sergt. K.R.R., Tryon, Sept., 1914.
PRATT, H.
ADAMS, C. H., Leicester Yeomanry, 13th May, 1915.
HOPKINS, J. H., Leicester Yeomanry, 13th May, 1915.
MATTHEWS, F. H., Leicester Yeomanry, 13th May, 1915.
HOLMES, H., Lnc-Cpl., Leicester Yeomanry, 13th May, 1915.
FLETCHER, Wm., Sergt., 2nd Leicester’s, 15th May, 1915.
FREER, J. W., Lieut., Dardanelles.