Private Grenville Carson Hopkins served less than two weeks at the front with the PPCLI prior to his death during Second Battle of Passchendale. How he became the only CEF casualty of the Great War buried in Schoonselhof (Antwerp) Military Cemetery a mystery – no longer!
Understandable had Pte Hopkins died as a POW, but he received a battlefield burial between a Pill Box and the church in Passchendaele by his comrades. How and why was he moved to Antwerp in 1920? Was this a failed attempt to repatriate his body? Update: It was!
Mayor of Saskatoon – Mr William Hopkins
Private Grenville Carson Hopkins son of Mr and Mrs William and Alice Jane Hopkins of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. William Hopkins served on the town council for Saskatoon from 1905 to 1908 and president of the Union of Saskatchewan Municipalities in 1909. Hopkins also involved in real estate and insurance.
William Hopkins became mayor of Saskatoon in 1910, and president of W. Hopkins and Cameron Company, Ltd. William Hopkins died 11 January 1935 and buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Block 76, Lot 99. Hopkins Street in Saskatoon’s Avalon community named in his honour.
- Hopkins House Saskatoon built in 1910 for then-mayor William Hopkins.
- Later known as Evergreen Lodge (apartments).
- From 1960 to 1980, owned by a Catholic religious order and known as De Mazenod Hall.
Enlistment of Private Grenville Carson Hopkins
A second year University of Saskatchewan alumni, Grenville born 18 January 1896 in Hartney, Manitoba. Parents William and Alice Jane Hopkins of 307 Saskatchewan Crescent, Saskatoon.
Private Grenville Carson Hopkins 2193335 attested 25 April 1917 in Saskatoon with the 196th Battalion. Standing 5′ 10″ tall, 152 pounds, with good physical development.
196th Battalion
Organized in February 1916 initially under the command of Major R W Brock. Mobilized at Winnipeg and also recruited in Brandon College, the universities of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Embarked from Halifax 1 November 1916 aboard SOUTHLAND, and later disembarked England 11 November 1916 with a strength of 32 officers, 974 other ranks. Amalgamated with 222nd Battalion later on 4 January 1917 to form 19th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
Pte Hopkins embarked Halifax on 2 June 1917, later disembarking in Liverpool on 9 June 1917. Pte Hopkins transferred to PPCLI, Seaford, 10 September 1917.
Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
Organized in Ottawa on 10 August 1914 for service with the British Expeditionary Force, initially commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel F D Farquhar. Recruited amongst ex-soldiers of the South African War. Embarked from Quebec City aboard ROYAL GEORGE, and later disembarked England 14 October 1914. Arrived in France 21 December 1914, and later joined the Canadian Corps 25 November 1915, 3rd Canadian Division, 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade.
Pte Hopkins to Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp, 26 September 1917. Left to join unit in the field, 2 November 1917. Joined unit in the field on 4 November 1917 along with 44 Other Ranks.
Less than two weeks with his unit, Pte Hopkins killed on his very first day of action, 15 November 1917. Death instantaneous – part of his head blown off by a shell.
Buried between church and nearest Pill Box to church at Passchendaele (information given by father in personal application). Grave marked by rifle placed in ground, bayonet upward.
Bodies found at 20.V.30.d.07.30, just south-west of Vindictive Crossroads, north of Passchendaele. This location mere yards from the position of No 1 Company on the right at 20.V.30.d.30.30 as noted in the war diary of the PPCLI.
Remains of both soldiers identified by Mr Hopkins. Means of identification Grave 1 Cranium wound and inner pocket tunic. Grave 2 known to be buried together.
Private Louis James MacEwen
Grave 2, Private L J McKeown, 2193334 PPCLI. But, 2193334 is Pte John William Filson 2193334 who returned to Canada in 1919.
Correct soldier in this grave Private Louis James MacEwen 2193336, Plot LVI, Row A, Grave 2.
Repatriation
The policy of non-repatriation of Commonwealth war casualties still applies and ensures that all those who died together are buried together, irrespective of how wealthy or influential their families were or when they were buried.
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/commemorations/
For reasons unknown, Mr Hopkins requested the IWGC exhume his son’s body to Antwerp. Why the IWGC approved of the request, as much of a mystery. Why did he not remain buried with his comrade Private Louis James MacEwen? Perhaps, Mr Hopkins one of the many affluent families attempting to circumvent the IWGC policy of non-repatriation.
Antwerp a convenient port from which to bring back his son’s body. And perhaps, Antwerp where Mr Hopkins plan discovered by authorities. Rather than return his body to Tyne Cot, the most nearby IWGC cemetery used.
17/18 May 1921
On the night of 17/17 May 1921, the body of Private Grenville Carson Hopkins of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry disinterred from Tyne Cot Cemetery. Belgian officials convinced by Carson’s family that responsibility for this exhumation fell to his parents, to whom the IWGC had denied permission to repatriate their son’s remains.
Colonel Caustin
The Hopkins family had hired a demobilized British officer in Belgium, Colonel Caustin, to carry out the exhumation and
shipping of the remains. However, authorities discovered the remains of Private Hopkins at the port of Antwerp before they could be repatriated.
[His] body was removed from Tyne Cot to Anvers in a valise or some similar receptacle and that when the persons removing it found they could not dispose of the body they had it put in a coffin and placed in the Depot Mortuaire.
Major Arthur Ingpen, the IWGC’s Land and Legal Adviser in France and Belgium
Private Jurien Cuperus
Private Hopkins’ story inspired by the only other member of the CEF, and a Belgian-native, Pte Jurien Cuperus. Another son of an affluent family, Jurien buried in Schoonselhof, however in the family vault outside the military plot.
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