Son of Mr Thomas and Mrs Sarah E Pope
Aged 20 years
Died 3rd November 1918
Commemorated at Vendogies-au-Bois British Cemetery
Grave A.11.
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Born and enlisted at Rushden.
Brother of George Pope. |
| From the Burnt Records
When Bernard enlisted and was examined at Rushden on 18th November 1915, he was assigned 5016 3/4th Northants Regt., aged 19 years 1 month, 5' 3" tall, chest 33½" (2" expansion) and of fair physical development. On 24th August 1916 he was transferred to the 7th East Yorks Regt., and one month later sent to Etaples, France. He had been sent back to Colchester with a septic finger in February 1917, and after 33 days in hopital was transferred to the VAD hopsital at Writtle for a further 9 days. He returned to France where he died of wounds on 3rd November 1918.
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TheRushden Echo Friday 13 December 1918, transcribed by Nicky Bates
Rushden's Casualty List - Victims of the War
Deep sympathy is felt with Mr and Mrs T Pope, of Washbrook-road, who have been informed that their youngest son, Pte Bernard Pope, East Yorks, died of wounds received in action in France about a week before the signing of the Armistice. A soldier had written to his friend in Rushden to say he had seen Pte Pope on an ambulance stretcher, badly wounded in the stomach. Cables were sent to try and get more definite news, but for some time little could be found out. Later on news came from the East Yorks Record Officer to the effect that Pte Pope was "wounded in action on November 4th." The British Red Cross Society, however, reported that he "died from wounds received on November 3rd." It seems probably that he was wounded on the 3rd and died in hospital the next day. Pte Pope enlisted when Lieut L Perkins was recruiting in Rushden, and had been in France about two years. He worked at Messrs. Eaton and Co.'s before the war. His eldest brother, Pte George Pope, was the first Rushden soldier to arrive home after the retreat from Mons. He was killed in June, 1917.
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The Rushden Echo Friday 24 January 1919, transcribed by Nicky Bates
DIED On Ambulance Motor - Mr and Mrs T Pope, of Washbrook-road, have been informed that their youngest son, Bernard, whose death from wounds received about a week before the Armistice, was reported in the "Rushden Echo," did not live to reach the field hospital. He died whilst being taken off the field by motor ambulance.
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The Wellingborough News Friday 31 October 1919, transcribed by Nicky Bates
In Memoriam
In proud and loving memory of our dear boys who gave their all - BERNARD POPE, 7th East Yorks, who died of wounds, November 3rd 1918, aged 21 years; also GEORGE WILLIAM POPE, 7th Northants Regiment, killed in action, June 16th, 1917, aged 31 years.
When alone in my sorrow and bitter tears flow,
There cometh a memory of sweet long ago;
Unknown to the world they stand by my side,
And whisper, dear mother, death cannot divide.
Far and wide our thoughts do wander
To their graves so far out yonder;
Will some kind hand in a foreign land
Place a flower on their graves for me?
Never forgotten by their Mother, Father, Sisters and Brothers.
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