Captain G E Hope MC


George Everard Hope was born in Buckinghamshire on 4 Nov 1886, the son of Henry Walter Hope of Luffness. He was educated at Eton, and then Christ Church, Oxford where he won a rowing Blue. He was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards in 1909. In 1911 he married Margaret Cockton and had a son and daughter. He was with the 1st Battalion at the beginning of he war with the rank of lieutenant, appointed signalling officer. In the first battle of Ypres the King's Company were cut off on 26 Oct 1914 and unaware that the battalion had retired. Lieut Hope made his way to them on his own initiative to tell them to pull back, and he got some of the First Division to come to the assistance of Major Weld-Forester's men. They forced their way back in a bold dash through the German lines, although there were many casualties, including Major Weld-Forester who was killed and Lieut Hope who was wounded, later receiving the MC for his efforts. He was wounded again on 4 Nov 1914 when he was shot in the head by a sniper. Captain Hope was given the rank of acting lieutenant-colonel and attached to the Lancashire Fusiliers, commanding 1/8th Battalion. He was mentioned in despatches 3 times but killed on 10 Oct 1917 at Passchendale. He was at first missing presumed dead but was later found and buried at Ramcappell Road Cemetery.


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