The Missing
The CWGC ID Case of Lance Corporal Edward Coppell still currently under investigation. Report originally submitted by the late Richard Laughton in October of 2016.
Edward Coppell born 12 July 1892 in Kirkdale, Liverpool.
Edward’s father John Coppell resided at 435 Stanley Road, Liverpool. Edward married to Grace Coppell (later c/o Mrs E Huol, Vancouver, BC). Grace living in Fort Rouge, Winnipeg by 1921.
Attestation of Private Edward Coppell
A cook by trade, belonging to the 52nd Regiment. Previous service with 9th Battalion, Liverpool regiment, for one year. G L Demspter witnessed his attestation on 15 Febuary 1915 at Prince Albert, in addition, Lt Col R M Dennistoun commanding officer of the 53rd Battalion.
At this time, Edward stood 5′ 5″ tall, 127 Pounds, with dark complexion, dark brown eyes and brown hair, 22 years, 7 months of age.
53rd Battalion
Organized in March 1915 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel R M Dennistoun mobilized at Winnipeg, and also recruited in Prince Albert Saskatoon, Battleford and Melfort. Drafts of 5 officers and 250 other ranks sent to England on 17 June and 4 September 1915, later embarked from Halifax 1 April 1916 aboard EMPRESS OF BRITAIN.
Disembarked England 9 April 1916 with a strength of 35 officers, as well as 1063 other ranks. Drafts of 250 each in June and September 1915 to 12th Canadian Reserve Battalion in England, in addition a draft of 900 to France, 6 December 1916. Battalion finally depleted by 30 September 1916. Finally, perpetuated by The Prince Albert Volunteers which, in 1936, amalgamated with The Battleford L.I. to form The Prince Albert and Battleford Volunteers.
Private Edward Coppell embarked Canada from Halifax on 1 April 1916, later disembarking in Liverpool on 9 April 1916. Completes his will two days before proceeding overseas for service, 8 June 1916, later arriving at his unit on 11 June 1916.
Private Edward Coppell’s 1st Wound Stripe
GSW, forearm fracture, transferred to England, 4 August 1916. Later discharged from hospital, 4 October 1916, and discharged from CCD 13 December 1916. Finally, re-drafted overseas to the 28th Battalion from 1st CCTB, Hastings, 13 January 1917.
28th Battalion
Organized in October 1914 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J F L Embury, mobilized at Winnipeg and also recruited in Regina, Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, Fort William, Port Arthur and Prince Albert. Embarked from Montreal 29 May 1915 aboard NORTHLAND. Disembarked later in England on 8 June 1915 with a strength of 36 officers, 1084 other ranks. Arrived in France 17 September 1915, with the 2nd Canadian Division, 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, later reinforced by 15th Canadian Reserve Battalion. Perpetuated by The Regina Rifle Regiment.
Edward left for the 2nd Entrenching Battalion, 14 February 1917, later returning to his unit on the 22nd, and awarded a Good Conduct Badge.
Private Edward Coppell’s 2nd Wound Stripe
Private Coppell admitted to No 13 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, 5 May 1917, GSW face (slight). Later transferred to No1 Convalescent Depot, 14 May 1917. Finally, rejoins his unit 5 June 1917 in time for Dominion Day.
Promotion to Lance Corporal
Private Edward Coppell appointed Lance Corporal, 15 November 1917. Lance Corporal Edward Coppell granted fourteen days leave to the UK, 25 December 1917, later returning to his unit in early January 1918.
The Second Battle of Arras
Lance-Corporal Edward Coppell killed in action, 26 August 1918. Circumstances of his death described below in the Investigative Report submitted to the CWGC by the late Richard Laughton.
Grace L Coppell
By 1923, Edward’s widow Grace now living at 524, Marlborough Avenue in Inglewood, California.
Edward’s Plaque and Scroll went unclaimed.
Investigative Report
Casualty Identification: Confirmed Identity, Lance Corporal Edward Coppell 440446, 28th Battalion, CEF
Burial Information: Burial Location Identified, Grave Records Correction, Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery, Plot I, Row G, Grave 2.
Report Date: 4 October 2016.
Summary of Findings
GRRF for Plot 1 Row G Grave 2 at Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery lists an Unknown Lance Corporal of the 28th Battalion. A review of all of the information for this case reveals only three (3) Lance Corporals of the 28th Battalion lost in action in August 1918, two (2) of which, Unknowns. One has a known burial location and two listed on the Vimy Memorial. Only Lance Corporal Coppell had a direct burial in the Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery. The other exhumed from a battlefield grave at a later date.
Details of Findings
The findings conclusive the remains in Plot 1 Row G Grave 2 at the Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery those of Lance Corporal Edward Coppell #440466 of the 28th Canadian Infantry Battalion. The findings are based on the following.
Circumstance of Death Lance Corporal Edward Coppell
The Circumstance of Death record for Lance Corporal Coppell note killed in action at about 2 pm on August 26, 1918 during an attack and shortly after leaving the “jumping off” position. Shot through the heart by shrapnel and killed (Attachment #1). Reported the unit south of Wancourt at that time. No record of burial reported.
War Graves Register Lance Corporal Edward Coppell
The E-13 War Graves Register for Lance Corporal Coppell reports as of 15 April 1920 no information as to his burial location and thus his name inscribed on the Vimy Memorial (Attachment #2).
War Diary
The 28th Battalion War Diary pinpoints the location of the 28th Infantry Battalion on the 26th and 27th of August 1918 (Attachment #3). The battalion was moving southward through sector 51b.N.22, which places it on the west side of Wancourt. Scattered shelling reported at this time. From that point onward, they moved south and then southeast toward Cherisy.
Area Map
An Area Map from Nicholson’s Official History of the Canadian Army during the Battle of Arras. Depicts the general movement of the 28th Infantry Battalion through the area from north of Neuville-Vitasse, southwest of Wancourt and on to Cherisy (Attachment #4). The area covered by the 28th Battalion circled in blue.
Trench Map
A period Trench Map of the area provides additional detail on the grid references for the movement of the battalion during the advance from the 25th to 27th of August 1918 (Attachment #5). By late evening on the 26th the unit more-or-less in a line south of the Wancourt Tower, facing east toward Cherisy. They had passed south of Wancourt.
Casualty Database
The CWGC Casualty Database reveals for the complete month of August 1918 only three (3) Lance Corporals of the 28th Battalion killed in action (Attachment #6). Lance Corporal Harry James Murphy lost on 10 August 1918 and known to be buried in the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery. Lance Corporals Fred Earl #441377 and Edward Coppell #440466 not knowingly identified after the battle, thus both their names inscribed on the Vimy Memorial.
In order to make sure that all Lance Corporals accounted for at this specific time, the CWGC database checked for any Lance Corporal of any Canadian unit on the Vimy Memorial from 20 August 1918 to 26 August 1918. Only the same two Lance Corporals appear on the resulting list. Sadly, another 12 lost by the end of the month.
Circumstances of Death Lance Corporal Edward Coppell
The Circumstance of Death record for Lance Corporal Fred Earl #441377 reveals killed in action during an advance on enemy positions in the vicinity of Heninel (Attachment #7). The mapping previously referenced reveals this a location to the southwest of Wancourt on the Cojeul River, close to the furthest advance the evening of 26-27 August 1918.
The most important aspect of Lance Corporal Earls record that reveals he had a known battlefield grave at approximately 51b.N.35.a.50.95 which places him to the southeast of Heninel. In order for his remains to have appeared in the Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery his remains would have had to have been exhumed from this location, which would then have been recorded.
Graves Registration Report Form Lance Corporal Edward Coppell
The Graves Registration Report Form (GRRF) for Plot 1 Row G at the Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery reveals a Lance Corporal of the 28th Battalion placed in Grave 2. In addition, the document date is off by one day, as both the Lance Corporals reported dead on 26 August 1918. This a common occurrence on many of the records where the death occurred in the late evening and also in early morning hours. It is not a critical issue in this case as only two Lance Corporals recorded dead and both with the same date.
The important point for the GRRF record the burial in Plot 1 of the cemetery and consultation of the CWGC reveals: The cemetery begun by the VI Corps Burial Officer in May 1917, used at intervals until March 1918, and again in August and September 1918. At the Armistice, it contained 249 graves, all in the present Plot I. Enlarged when 834 graves (mainly of April and May 1917) brought in from the battlefields of Fampoux, Roeux, Monchy and Wancourt, and from a few smaller burial grounds…(details excluded).
Exhumation
As noted previously, the body of Lance Corporal Earl exhumed after the Armistice in order for it to have appeared in the Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery. If that had happened, the burial could not have been in Plot 1. Concentrations of Graves did not occur until the start of Plot 2. That conclusively eliminates the only other candidate from the 28th Infantry Battalion that could have been in Grave 1.G.2.
Although not detailed in this report, an investigation as to the whereabouts of many of the men lost in the battle in Sector 51b N35 reveals buried in the Wancourt British Cemetery, the more logical alternative for concentrated graves moved after the Armistice. An example of these shown on CWGC Record 2061972, specific to men of the 28th Canadian Infantry Battalion. If located, the remains might have also been marked found in the bordering section 51b.N.29, as Earl lost on the border of these two sectors 51b.N35.a and 51b.N.29.c.
Action Required
The evidence provides clear proof the only remains that can be in Plot I, Row G, Grave 2 of Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery those of Lance Corporal Edward Coppell.
The Investigative Report prepared in accordance with the procedures and criteria set out by the CWGC, should they wish to make any changes to the commemoration details.
Report Author: Richard Laughton (Private Researcher, LMC Great War Research Company, Investigator)
Report Reviewer: Timothy McTague (Private Researcher, Rhode Island, USA)