Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Harrap William Hopkins was born at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 25 January 1889, the eldest son of Joseph Samuel and Kathleen Agatha (née Garey) Hopkins, of Waihimomona, Geraldine. He was named for his grandfather, Joseph Harrop Hopkins, an importer in Christchurch, who gave the name of Woolston to the Christchurch suburb where there is a street named after him and established the Woolston Emporium. Joseph Samuel Hopkins, a native of New Zealand, and Kathleen Agatha Garey married in 1886 in New South Wales. Their first child was born at Christchurch, New Zealand, followed by the two sons who were to serve and died in the war in New South Wales, then two more sons and a daughter born in New Zealand. By 1892 the family had moved to Christchurch, New Zealand, where Harrap attended several schools - Phillipstown, Woolston, Bromley, Opawa. He left Opawa School for the North Island at the end of 1903. The eldest child (Louisa Constance) died at Christchurch in January 1901. The family moved to the Gapes Valley, Geraldine area about 1904, by which time Harrap was probably at work. While Joseph was a grocer/storekeeper in Christchurch, he turned to farming at Gapes Valley. In 1911 Harrop was residing at Waihimomomona, Geraldine (probably the family home), working as a farm labourer. By 1914 he was a self-employed engine driver, likely engaged in farm work. H. W. Hopkins was among the early enlistments in Timaru, having volunteered and passed the medical inspection, ready to leave for the concentration camp at Trentham in early October 1914, one of the South Canterbury men selected in October 1914 to go to the front as reinforcements for the mounted men.

Medically examined on 2 October 1914, he stood at 5 feet 5¼ inches, weighed 133 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 33-36 inches, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. His sight, hearing and colour-vision were all good, his limbs and chest well formed, his heart and lungs normal, but his teeth only fair. He was free from diseases and in good bodily and mental health. He then enlisted at Timaru on 20 October (as Horap William Hopkins). Single and Roman Catholic, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Kathleen Hopkins, Wahimomona, Geraldine, South Canterbury.

On 14 December 1914 Trooper H. W. Hopkins embarked at Wellington for Suez, Egypt with the Canterbury Mounted Rifles of the 2nd Reinforcements, disembarking at Alexandria on 3 February 1915. Admitted to hospital at Zeitoun on 7 February [1915], with a boil on his forearm, he was sent to the Convalescent Camp two days later [9 February 1915] and returned to duty on 22 February. Six months later – on 3 August 1915 - he died of a septic throat at the Egyptian Army Hospital, at Pont-de-Koubbeh. Another young life spent. Harrap is buried in the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. He is remembered on the Timaru War Memorial Wall, on the Gapes Valley and Beautiful Valley War Memorial and on the Geraldine War Memorial. Mr and Mrs J. S. Hopkins, of Gapes Valley, published a notice on 25 August, thanking their neighbours for visits of sympathy, and friends for letters and telegrams in their late sad bereavement. Harrap’s medals – 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal - were sent to his father, Mr J. S. Hopkins, who had moved into Timaru, as were the plaque and scroll.

His brother Leslie Garey Hopkins was killed in action in 1917. Another brother, Joseph Raymond Hopkins (Ray) enlisted for service but was not fit and died at just 39 years of age. Yet another brother, Albert George Hopkins, was listed in the Reserve Roll. In 1918 his parents inserted an In Memoriam notice in the Timaru Herald, in loving memory of their two sons who gave their lives. J. S. and K. A. Hopkins inserted in the Timaru Herald in October 1921 a loving tribute to their two sons – Harrap William, who died in Egypt, and Leslie Garey, M.M., who was killed at Passchendaele on 12 October 1917.

“They are not dead who gave their lives

That other men might live from tyrants free,

They are not dead who fell in such a cause,

But in our hearts forever enshrined shall be,

And safe from all, from all that hurts and harms

They rest within the everlasting arms.”

For many years the mother and father of the two eldest Hopkins sons remembered their boys – Harrap William (buried in Egypt) and Leslie Garey (killed at Passchendaele) in October. “They heard the call of Empire, And in the fighting fell, This thought our grief shall lighten, They served their country well.” (1922); “This world may change from year to year, Our friends from day to day; But never will the ones we loved, From memory fade away.” (1924); “To Memory Ever Dear” (1926). Joseph and Kathleen were at Seddonville in 1928, he a hotel proprietor, and at Riverton in 1935, retired, with their youngest son Joseph Raymond Hopkins and his wife. By 1938 they had returned to Timaru where Joseph died in November 1939 and Kathleen in December 1942.

At the farewell social and presentation to Private Ray Hopkins in the Gapes Valley Hall on 10 January 1918, Mr P. Mulvihill who made the presentation spoke very highly of the soldier and his family. He said that Mr Hopkins had already given two sons (Harrop and Leslie), both of whom had paid the supreme sacrifice, and much sympathy was felt for them by the people of the district. Gold medals were to be presented by the Patriotic Committee to the next-of-kin of all soldiers of Gapes and Beautiful Valleys who fell on the field of battle, in the Gapes Valley Hall at a social afternoon tea on 8 August 1918. After the weather prevented the gathering on three occasions, the medals had to be sent. From January 1917, the name Harrap William Hopkins was included in the Roll of Honour (Geraldine List) published regularly by the Temuka Leader. A sacrifice is made by every man who enlists and goes to the front. Some men have the misfortune to be wounded soon after they enter the battlefield. Still they have made a great sacrifice and are to be commended. Some men are struck down with disease or sickness. They, too, have taken their share in this terrible war. Many thousands, alas, have made the supreme sacrifice by giving up their lives. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” We publish the names of those from this district who have died or been killed.

In late May 1920 a memorial to fallen soldiers was unveiled in memory of soldiers from Gapes Valley and Beautiful Valley, who gave their lives in the great war. Of grey granite stone and nearly 14 feet high, it stands in a picturesque spot between the two valleys. Inscribed on it in gold lettering are the words: “Greater Love Hath No Man. Erected by the residents of Gapes Valley and Beautiful Valley in memory of those who fell in the great war, 1914-1919.” Among the names inscribed are Trooper H. W. Hopkins and Private L. G. Hopkins, M.M. At the unveiling the Mayor of Geraldine paid a high tribute to the fallen and sympathised with their parents. After the unveiling a prayer was offered on behalf of the bereaved parents, all stood in silence for several minutes, and many beautiful wreaths were placed on the stone. The singing of the National Anthem brought the ceremony to a close. And it was in April 1922 that there was the unveiling ceremony of the memorial cross erected in grateful memory of the men of the Geraldine district who fell in the war. Following the singing of the National Anthem and short addresses, Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., said that the British Empire had always stood for liberty and justice, and he then unveiled the memorial. A prayer of dedication was offered, a hymn was sung, the Territorials saluted and “The Last Post” was sounded. After an interval of silence, a piper played a lament and wreathes were placed around the memorial. The names of H. W. Hopkins and L. G. Hopkins are recorded along with many familiar names, accompanied by the inscription: “These gave up their own lives that others might live in freedom. Let those who come after see to it that their names be not forgotten.”

A photo of Harrap is printed in “Onward: Portraits of the NZEF” Vol. 1.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [21 December 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5541 0056541) [05 February 2014]; CWGC [21 December 2013]; Timaru Herald, 6 & 20 October 1914, 10 August 1915 [x 2], 25 August 1915, 19 January 1918, 3 August 1918, 4 September 1918, 12 October 1918, 29 May 1920, 14 October 1921, 12 October 1922, 13 October 1923, 13 October 1924, 13 October 1926, Oamaru Mail, 6 August 1915, Press, 7 & 11 August 1915, 27 April 1922, Sun, 11 August 1915, North Otago Times, 12 August 1915, Temuka Leader, 6 January 1917, 22 January 1918 (Papers Past) [21 & 22 December 2013, 02 February 2014; 27 October 2014; 15 & 16 March 2015; 02 December 2017; 2021; 07 July 2026]; NSW Australia BDM Indexes [2014]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [2014]; School Admission Records (Canterbury Branch NZSG) [2014]; “Onward: Portraits of NZEF” Vol. 1 (held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [2014]; J. H. Hopkins, Woolston (Woolston Emporium - Victoria University of Wellington Library) [17 March 2015]; Woolston Emporium, Christchurch (Christchurch City Libraries) [17 March 2015]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available.

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS