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Trooper Frederick George Coppins

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PERSONAL INFORMATION

Date of birth: 1889-10-25
Place of birth: London
Next of kin: Joseph Coppins: brother;
Marital status: single
Occupation (attested): None
Religion: Church of England
Date of death: 1963-03-20

MILITARY INFORMATION

Regimental number: 1987
Highest Rank: Trooper
Rank detail
  1. Corporal, 8th Battalion, Infantry (Army).
  2. Trooper (Army). 1914-09-23 ?
Survived war: yes
Awards

Victoria Cross (Hackett Woods (near Amiens), France)
Date of award: 1918-08-09
Comment: He was 28 years old, and a corporal in the 8th BattalionCanadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.On 9 August 1918 at Hackett Woods, near Amiens, France, Corporal Coppins' platoon came unexpectedly under fire of numerous machine-guns. It was not possible to advance or retire and there was no cover. Corporal Coppins, calling on four men to follow him, leapt forward in the face of intense machine-gun fire and rushed straight for the guns. The four men with him were killed and he was wounded, but going on alone, he killed the operator of the first gun and three of the crew and took four prisoners. Despite his wound, he then continued with his platoon to the final objective.
Notes: Royal Winnipeg Rifles Museum, Winnipeg, Manitoba

RESEARCH INFORMATION

LAC ID: 116514
Attestation record(s): image 1, image 2
Service file: B1988-S047
Uploader's Notes: Prior military - 4 years Royal West Kent Regiment
Uploader's Research notes: [Corporal Army Canadian Infantry 8th Battalion Trooper Army Canadian Cavalry 19th Alberta Dragoons 1st Canadian Divisional Cavalry Squadron Victoria Cross Hackett Woods (near Amiens), France

He was 28 years old, and a corporal in the 8th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 9 August 1918 at Hackett Woods, near Amiens, France, Corporal Coppins' platoon came unexpectedly under fire of numerous machine-guns. It was not possible to advance or retire and there was no cover. Corporal Coppins, calling on four men to follow him, leapt forward in the face of intense machine-gun fire and rushed straight for the guns. The four men with him were killed and he was wounded, but going on alone, he killed the operator of the first gun and three of the crew and took four prisoners. Despite his wound, he then continued with his platoon to the final objective.

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ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Date added: 2010-07-31
Last modified: 2011-05-15