Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War I (1914-1918)

Date of Enlistment

03/11/1914

Place of Enlistment

Royal Military College, Duntroon ACT

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

09/02/1896

Place of Birth

Mordialloc, Victoria

Address (at enlistment)

Royal Military College, Duntroon ACT

School(s) Attended

Warracknabeal School, Warrnambool High School

Occupation

Soldier

Next of Kin

Charles and Julia Hopkins (parents), St. Arnaud, Victoria

Burial Place

Rue de Bois Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France

Final Rank

Captain

Final Unit

14 Light Trench Mortar Battery AIF

Died (killed in action) on 19 July 1916 at Fromelles, France, aged 20 years

AWM Roll of Honour Memorial Panel 20, Canberra ACT
Large stone tablet on outside of northern wall of St. John's Church, Reid ACT

Mentioned in Despatches (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: 6 April 1916, page 862, position 66)

Hopkins entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon on 7 March 1912 and he was a member of the Honour Guard at the naming ceremony in Canberra on 12 March 1913. His class was graduated early on 2 November 1914 and Hopkins joined the 13th Battalion the following day as a Lieutenant. After landing on Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 the 13th Battalion became part of the defence around Monash Valley. An officer later noted that "during the heavy fighting at Quinns Post, Popes Hill and Deadmans Ridge (on 25 April), Hopkins by his brilliant leadership, valour and self deniance earned the greatest respect and confidence of the whole Battalion." By August 1915 Hopkins commanded No.16 Platoon, D Company. According to his Company commander, "during the advance on the left on the night 6/7 August 1915, his Company (D Company) led the Brigade advance and was first in position as left flank guard of the northern assaulting column (towards Sari Bair). Frequently during this advance he went forward ahead of the screen to make a personal reconnaissance of the ground to be covered. He was wounded on the 10th August 1915 while going the rounds of his trench overlooking Kiaijick Aghala." As Hopkins later noted, a bullet struck the revolver in his pocket smashing the weapon, and pieces entered his body. For his work during August, he was Mentioned in Despatches.

In March 1916 Hopkins was appointed as Staff Captain in the newly formed 14th Brigade. He relinquished this position in early July 1916 when his Brigade reached France so that he could command the 14th Light Trench Mortar Battery. On 19 July 1916 the 14th Brigade were involved in the Battle of Fromelles but during a bombardment early in the battle Hopkins was killed. According to his father, at 16 years of age Hopkins was the youngest cadet to enter Duntroon. He was 20 years of age when he died.

Description - height 5 feet 10 inches, weight 161 pounds, chest 36-39 inches, Church of England.

Colonel J.E. Lee, 'Duntroon: The Royal Military College of Australia 1911-1946', 1952
Charles Bean, 'Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18' (Vol. III, p.357n)
AWM Roll of Honour Database and Circular
AWM Collections Record : C00557
NAA RecordSearch - Series B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920)
Stories from the ACT Memorial, 'The Honour Guard at the Canberra Commencement Ceremony', ACT Heritage Library www.library.act.gov.au/find/history/stories_from_the_act_memorial
Stories from the ACT Memorial, 'Hell Opened at Fromelles', ACT Heritage Library www.library.act.gov.au/find/history/stories_from_the_act_memorial
Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour - http://www.bacchusmarsh.avenueofhonour.org.au/index.php