Peter George COPPOCK MM, MM*

Peter George COPPOCK MM, MM* Update Details

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COPPOCK, Peter George

Service Number:	2291
Enlisted:	8 May 1916
Last Rank:	Lance Corporal
Last Unit:	34th Infantry Battalion
Born:	West Ham, Essex, England, January 1892
Home Town:	Glebe, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	barman and miner
Died:	Struck by lightning playing soccer, Weston, Newcastle,New South Wales, Australia, 7 September 1922
Cemetery:	Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW ANGLICAN 1-24. 139
Memorials:

World War 1 Service

8 May 1916:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2291, 34th Infantry Battalion
17 Oct 1916:	Embarked Private, 2291, 34th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Sydney
17 Oct 1916:	Involvement Private, 2291, 34th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: ''
5 Nov 1917:	Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 34th Infantry Battalion
17 Apr 1918:	Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2291, 34th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, GSW leg
27 Jun 1918:	Honoured Military Medal, 1st Passchendaele, 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in Battle of YPRES (PHASE 5) 12th October. This man showed absolute fearlessness and disregard of danger. He acted throughout the operation as a Headquarters Runner. On three occasions he took orders to the Firing Line through extremely heavy artillery and machine gun barrage and in spite of being buried twice and his companions being killed he delivered the messages and returned with valuable information. He worked as runner for 48 hours without rest owing to the heavy number of casualties among runners.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 95 Date: 27 June 1918
29 Sep 1918:	Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2291, 34th Infantry Battalion, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, GSW left leg
5 May 1919:	Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2291, 34th Infantry Battalion
23 May 1919:	Honoured Military Medal and bar, The Battle of Amiens, 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations against enemy positions south of the SOMME east of HAMMEL, on 8th August, 1918. Lance Corporal COPPOCK was a Battalion runner. The advance was greatly hampered by a dense fog which, combined with the heavy artillery bombardment both of our own guns and the enemy's, rendered any observation of the developments of the attack on ACCROCHE WOOD impossible. This man was sent forward as part of a reconnaissance patrol to locate the extent of the advance of the Companies and their positions. With the aid of a compass he succeeded in locating the positions of the Companies and then went forward through the wood and ascertained the position of the most advanced troops of the Brigade. By this time the enemy had concentrated a very heavy artillery bombardment on ACCROCHE WOOD but having obtained the information he was determined to deliver it and in spite of the grave personal danger again returned through the WOOD and informed the Battalion Commander as to the forward situation. This information was of vital assistance to Brigade Headquarters who were then able to free reserves which had keen kept in readiness to assist in the capture of ACCROCHE WOOD if necessary. This heroic action greatly impressed his comrades who considered it impossible for anyone to return through the WOOD under the enemy's heavy artillery bombardment. This man was awarded the Military Medal for bravery during operations at PASSCHENDAELE in October, 1917.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 61 Date: 23 May 1919

Help us honour Peter George Coppock's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Evan Evans

Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery

Have I been forgotten?

The tragic story of a 34th Battalion Digger and soccer player who served during The Great War resting at Sandgate Cemetery.

98 years ago today, on the Saturday afternoon of the 9th September 1922, Lance Corporal Peter George Coppock (M.M. and BAR.), 34th Battalion (runner, Reg No-2291), barman and miner from 177 King Street, Newcastle, New South Wales and 8 Edward Street, Glebe (Merewether), N.S.W. and Weston, N.S.W. and Curry Street, Merewether, N.S.W., father of two, was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 29. ANGLICAN 1-24. 139.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140016191 - funeral notice states service.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221517671

Born at Plaistow, London, United Kingdom about 1893 to Frederick William and Elizabeth A Coppock; husband of Ann Coppock nee Powell (married 1.7.1916, Merewether, N.S.W., died 1986, 64 years a widow) of 8 Edward Street, Glebe (Merewether), New South Wales, Peter enlisted May 1916 at Newcastle, N.S.W.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138747357
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138742175
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138156846 -

Mrs Coppock notified of Military Medal.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138153009

Wounded in action - 17.4.1918 (GSW left leg, mild), 29.9.1918 (GSW left leg - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137487245, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159364611), Peter was invalided home February 1919, being discharged as medically unfit on the 5th May 1919.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139647199

Mr Coppock’s name has been inscribed on the Merewether (Mitchell Park) Memorial Gates (photos, unveiled on the 12th March 1921, 335 names now inscribed, 44 fallen). Name should be inscribed on the Merewether Loyal Junction Lodge, No. 20, M.U.I.O.O.F. Roll of Honour (unveiled on the 7th August 1916, whereabouts unknown) and the Merewether Advance Football Club Roll of Honor (unveiled on the 22nd October 1917, 71 names inscribed, 7 fallen, whereabouts unknown - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137093299, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103525279, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140018955).

The tragic circumstances of Peter’s death (lightning strike) on the 7th September 1922 was extensively reported.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162777153
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162778724
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article142241887

There is no indication on Mr Coppock’s headstone of his heroic service with the 34th Battalion, 1st A.I.F., so I have placed poppies and a 1914-1918 WAR label, kindly supplied by Andrea Gerrard and John Thomas, in recognition of his valour during The Great War.
http://sandgate.northerncemeteries.com.au/index.php/war-heroes/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103&aso=exact&s_f=id&data_search=32890#3

Because of the circumstances of Mr Coppock’s death, official commemoration would not take place, so a plaque from the Forgotten Diggers Headstone Project will honour his service for God, King and Country.
We should Never Forget, hence ………
Lest We Forget.

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia