Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Edward George Coppin was born in Lee, Lewisham, Kent on 24 December 1898 to parents Charles and Harriet.  In 1911, he was living with his family at 26 Ronver Road, Lee, London. His father Charles (41) was a labourer, Harriet (40) (nee Spooner) and six siblings Charles (15, a butcher) Daisy (13), Edward (12), George (9), Grace (6) and Stanley (1).  His parents had been married for over 20 years and the census records them having had 15 children, eight of whom had died.  At some point after 1911, the family moved to 10 Summerfield Street; this is the adjoining road and the address Edward gave on enlistment in 1916.

Edward Coppin was serving with the 66^th Provisional Battalion Essex Regiment when he passed through Peterborough East Station on 4 October 1916.  He wrote in the visitors’ book “I Return many thanks for the comfortable rest I have had in this rest room”.

His service record states that he attested in Lewisham on 16 September 1916, joining the 44^th Training Reserve Battalion.  He gave his occupation as dust boy for Lewisham Borough Council.  He mobilised on 20 February 1917, and transferred to the Northamptonshire Regiment in October 1917.  He sailed to France on 3 January 1918 and transferred to the 13^th Battalion, Essex Regiment.  In early April 1918, he received a gunshot wound to the head and was invalided back to England.    He was discharged on 18 October 1919, and was awarded the British War and Allied Victory Medals.

Edward married Lillian K Gardiner in Lewisham in 1923 and they had two children; Doris (1924) and Lilian (1927).  Edward’s wife, Lilian sadly died in 1928 aged only 26, leaving Edward with two small children to look after.  In 1931, he re-married Grace M Lomas in Lewisham.  Edward and Grace also had two children; Peter (1935) and Geoffrey (1937).

From the 1939 register Edward was living at 1 Morena Street, Lewisham with his wife May G, this presumably is Grace his second wife.  His occupation was a builder ganger, heavy worker. Also living with them is Geoffrey Coppin born 28 August 1937, and probably two other children as there are also two records still officially closed.

Grace died in 1949 at the age of 51.  Edward was married for a third time to Elsie V M Hooker in Lewisham in 1957.  Edward died in Lewisham in 1984 and it is believed that Elsie may have died in Bromley, Kent in 1989.

Do you recognise the name Edward George Coppin?  Please get in touch if you can you tell us more about him.