Soldier Record

Thomas Edward Coppin was a brewery worker from SE London. More than that her was a husband to Beatrice Eliza (Lock). They had both grown up in Dalton Grove, Bermondsey. They had two daughters, Norah and Stella who was our mother. My grandmother kept his memory alive and by often speaking of him made him real to us. Although from a working class background, Beatrice recalled that he loved to paint and also played the violin. I still have this instrument.

I think he was thirty two years old when he was killed by a sniper whilst returning to the Western Front from Le Havre having been on sick leave. He has no known grave but is remembered at Tye Cot and in Southwark Cathedral

I have letters and cards he sent to his beautiful family. They missed him all the days of their lives and I wish I had known him. He is still missed.