Enoch Roper KW/768
| With grateful thanks to Twist Aire & Calder for the genealogical information appearing in this article. | ||||||||
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Enoch Roper was born on 22nd April 1886 at Featherstone, Yorkshire. In December 1909 he married Sarah Rowley, and they would have two children, George Joseph (1911) and John (1913). Enoch worked at Fryston Colliery as a stone blower, and at the time of his enlistment the family was living in Castleford, Yorkshire. After the outbreak of war Enoch enlisted with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry on 1st September 1914. Seven days later he was transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and served during the Royal Naval Division’s action at the Siege of Antwerp, having been drafted to the Drake Battalion. | ||||||||
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On 1st March 1915 Enoch was appointed Acting Able Seaman. After arriving at Gallipoli he was wounded by a bullet to his left buttock on 3rd July and was admitted to hospital at Malta on 14th July. He embarked to rejoin his battalion on 20th August. On 18th October he was promoted to Acting Leading Seaman and on 28th December to Acting Petty Officer. It should be noted that there are two further appointments, to Leading Seaman and Petty Officer, recorded in his service papers, but these are undated and it is unclear when these promotions occurred. Disembarking in France in May 1916, Enoch was attached to the 3rd Field Company (Dug-Out Platoon) of the Division’s engineers from 20th July until 18th September. On 21st October 1916 he was sent to the 25th General Hospital at Hardelot suffering from pyrexia and reverted to the rank of Able Seaman. On 10th November he was discharged to the 3rd Large Rest Camp at Boulogne, rejoining Drake on 19th November. From 24th January 1917 until the end of February Enoch was attached to the 178th Tunnelling Company, and from mid-May until late September to the 176th Tunnelling Company. On 7th September he was awarded his 1st Good Conduct Badge, and on 26th November he was awarded the Military Medal. During the enemy’s attack at Welsh Ridge, Enoch was killed in action on 30th December. In a letter to his wife, his commanding officer explained that his death was caused by a heavy shell which exploded south of his dug-out, killing him instantly. He was buried by the Reverend G. B. Grosthwaite in the 63rd Division cemetery south-west of Cambrai. His body was exhumed in July 1920 and reburied at Flesquières Hill British Cemetery. |
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London Gazette, 23rd February 1918 | ||||||||
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