COPE, John Darrell Coleman
| Service Number: | 770 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 February 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hindmarsh, South Australia , 12 May 1895 |
| Home Town: | Stirling (SA), Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Pozières, France, 4 August 1916, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Serre Road Cemetery No.2 Beaumont Hamel, France XXVIII. B. 9., Serre Road Cemetery No 2, Beaumont Hamel, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Crafers WW1 Memorial, Prospect Roll of Honour A-G WWI Board |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 770, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 770, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, embarkation_roll: roll_number: 15 embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: |
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| 31 May 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 770, HMAT Geelong A20, Adelaide | |
| 12 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 770, 27th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 23 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 770, 27th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières | |
| 4 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 770, 27th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières |
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Surname: COPE; Given Names: John Darrell Coleman; Date of Birth: 12 May 1895; Date of Enlistment: 12 February 1915; Trade or Calling: Labourer; Birth Location: Hindmarsh; Address prior to enlistment: Stirling East; Photograph sent by: Mrs J Cope
Source: State Records SA
Cope John Darrell Coleman : SERN 770 : POB Hindmarsh SA : POE Keswick SA : NOK M Cope Jemima
John Cope's age on enlistment in February 1915 was listed as 19 9/12 confirming the date of birth of 12 May 1895 provided to State Records by his family. He was born at Hindmarsh in Adelaide's inner West, the son of Mr John and Mrs Jemima Cope of 40 Ballville St Prospect. His vocation was shown as 'labourer' and his address as "Stirling West" - it is assumed to mean Stirling in the Adelaide Hills.
John Cope embarked with the main body of the 27th Battalion on the HMAT Geelong A20 on 31 May 1915 from Outer Harbour. After consolitation training in Egypt, the Battalion, with John Cope as part of it, landed at Gallipoli on 12 September 1915. He survived unscathed apart from seveal bouts of illness and a minor disciplinary infarction. He evacuated with the Battalion in December via Mudros on the island of Lemnos, and then he set sail with D Company of the Battalion for Marseilles France in March 1916.
After a period at Armentieres he was again briefly evacuated and treated for a minor ailment, before rejoining the Battalion for the move to the Somme
John Cope was initially reported as wounded on the 4th August. This was the day of the Second Division attack on the crest of the hill outside Pozieres dominated by 'the Windmill' or rather, its ruins. The 27th Battalion's axis of advance took it right over the site.
It appears John Cope died on the Pozieres battlefield - the Red Cross file suggested he had been injured and had left the front line to head to the Regimental Aid Post but was in all likelihood killed by the relentless shell fire which claimed so many lives at Pozieres. His remains were not located unitl 1929, when they were discovered in the course of exhumation work in the vicinity. He is interred in the Serre Road No 2 cemetery near Beaumont Hamel, which is well to the north of Pozieres, but it is apparent from his service record that his remains were re-interred there despite there being other cemeteries closer to the site of his death.
1914/15 Star: 22718
British War Medal: 13134
Victory Medal: 13075
Commemorative Plaque: 328 771
Researched: Steve Larkins January 2014
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