James Hopkins

Story:
James Hopkins was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 13th March 1886 and baptised there at Holy Trinity Church on 4th April 1886, the son of Edwin Hopkins and Charlotte Ann Hopkins (née Sanger).  He lived his early life with his parents at 59 St. James Street, Shaftesbury.   He had previously joined the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Reserves).  He formally enlisted on 20th February 1904 and joined the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery (Service No. 33311).  He was quickly transferred to the Army Service Corps on 22nd August 1904 as a Private (Service No. S22334).   He served in Jamaica during which time began his rise through the ranks to finally become a Staff Sergeant.  Whilst in Jamaica he met and married Emily Louise Reynolds at St. Andrews Church, Mount Atlas, Manchester, Jamaica, on 2nd April 1911.   They went on to have four children.  He returned to the UK giving 71 St. James Street, Shaftesbury as his wife's address.    At the outbreak of war he was posted to France followed by more postings to Mesopotamia and India.  He was finally discharged on 14th December 1918 being no longer physically fit for duty and awarded a pension and the Silver War Badge No. B59520, having reverted to the rank of Sergeant.  He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914 Star.   By the 1939 Register he was living at598 Zouch Cottages, Pewsey, Wiltshire, and working as an Ordnance Clerk for the War Department.   He died in Abbots Ann, Andover, Hampshire, on 6th August 1967 aged 81 years.