2nd Lieut George Harold Copland

• Age: 27
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

George Harold was born on 23rd April 1890 in Liverpool and was the only son of George Robert Copland and his wife Elizabeth Charlotte (nee Greenwood) who married on the 16th July 1883 at St Mary's Church, West Derby.  He was baptised at St Anne's Church, Stanley on 18th May 1890. The family address was given as 9 Lower Street, Liverpool and his father's occupation was shown as a book keeper. Their first child James William G. died in infancy in 1885.

The 1891 Census shows the family are living at Lorne Street, Liverpool. George Harold is shown as not yet 1 year of age and is living with his parents and elder sister. His father is shown as a Book Keeper born in Liverpool in 1858, whilst his mother was born in 1862. His sister Gladys M. is 3 years of age. Also present is a servant.

The 1901 Census finds the family have moved to 12 Snaefell Avenue, Tuebrook, Liverpool. George Harold is now 10 years of age. His parents are both in the household and his father, aged 43, is now shown as a shipping clerk, mother is 39. His sister Gladys is now 15 years of age.

By 1911 the family have moved across the River Mersey to 13 Holland Road, Liscard, Wallasey. George Harold is now 20 years of age and an assistant purser. His father, aged 53, is again shown as a Book Keepr and his mother is aged 49 and is now described as a shop keeper of Glass and China. They have been married for 28 years and have had 3 children, one of whom has sadly died. His sister Gladys Marguerite is 25 and a Music Teacher. Also present are a servant and an assistant in the shop.    

George Harold was educated at the Liverpool Institute and was in charge of Marine Insurance at Messrs W H Stott & Co Ltd, Shipbuilders of Liverpool.

His father George died, aged 55, on the 06th May 1913 and was buried at Rake Lane Cemetery, Wallasey.

He enlisted in Liverpool in August 1914 joining the 17th Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15104.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He arrived with his Battalion in France on 07th November 1915.

He was serving with "A" Company and was promoted to Lance-Corporal in June 1916. He was wounded on the 27th June in the right thigh, forearm and scalp and was evacuated back to the UK and treated at Glasgow Infirmary, and after treatment and recovery from his wounds, he applied for a commission, this was granted and Gazetted on 10th March 1917 to the 18th Battalion and joined it in France.

He does not appear in the Battalion War Diary, however, until the day that he was killed, 31st Jul 1917,on the first day of the Battle of Passendale Offensive near Ypres, in Belgium.

On that day, before Zero Hour which was 04.00am,the Battalion was to form up for the attack in Sanctuary Wood, but the dark and continually falling rain gave very poor visibility. As a result, No.2 and No.4 Companies became separated from the others, and were moved over to the left flank towards positions known as Surbiton Villas and Clapham Junction.

No.1 and 3 Companies were soon in action with the enemy, and were for a time, held up against a strong point until the German defenders withdrew. Following this, an attempt was made to penetrate a broad belt of uncut wire, but this was covered by Machine-guns which killed every man attempting to pass through the two gaps that were discovered. This party was led by a Captain RP Heywood, MC, but once he had been wounded the advance came to a halt. The situation was similar with No2. And 4 Companies,who had attacked along the wrong axis. Their advance was met with fierce opposition and once all the experienced officers had been killed or wounded, all cohesion was lost.

At some stage during the day, Second-Lieutenant Copland was hit in the right shoulder and thigh, but still carried on leading his men. However, eventually he was hit for a third time, and was killed. He was aged twenty seven.

In all, seven officers and seventy six other ranks from the Battalion were killed on that day.

George's body was not recovered or identified after the war and as such he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

His mother received a sympathetic letter from Major G. M. Clayton, Commanding Officer of the Battalion to which her son belonged who wrote:-

"I very much regret to have to tell you that your son Second-Lieutenant G.H. Copland, was killed in action on the 31st July in the attack. His behaviour was particularly gallant and inspiring as he was wounded twice in the shoulder and in the thigh and still continued to carry on his duties until he was hit again and killed. I am dreadfully sorry. We all liked him so much, and the men also, and I can only tell you that he is a great loss to the battalion as an officer and a straight clean man. I cannot express how sorry I am for you and his family in your sad loss." 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 08th August 1917:

COPLAND - July 31, killed in action, Second-Lieutenant G. H. Copland, only and dearly-loved son of the late G.R. and Mrs Copland, The Sycamore's, Holland Road, New Brighton.

Also in the Liverpool Echo on 14th August 1917:

CASUALTIES AMONGST LOCAL OFFICERS.

LIEUTENANT COPLAND.

Second-Lieutenant G. H. Copland, of the King's (Liverpool Regiment), who is reported killed, was the only son of Mrs. Copland and the late Mr. G. R. Copland, of Liscard. He joined the beginning the war as a private, and after much service in France received a commission. He was wounded last year. Lieutenant Copland, who was twenty-eight years of age, previous to the war was manager of the insurance department of Messrs. W. H. Stott and Sons, Baltic Steam Ship Line.

Soldiers Effects to mother Elizabeth and sister Gladys, pension record has no award.

George Harold Copland is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Exchange Newsroom Memorial situated at Exchange Flags, Liverpool

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 11 Right.

His mother died, aged 79, on the 8th April 1941 in Oswestry.

Probate:-

COPLAND - Elizabeth Charlotte of 13 Holland Road, Wallasey Cheshire widow died 8 April 1941 at Cambrian House, Nantmawr, Oswestry Shropshire Probate Liverpool 7 July to Gladys Marguerite Hughes (wife of Thomas Alfred Hughes). Effects £723 8s 7d.

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