The AIF Project

Walter Vernon COPE

Regimental number1241
Place of birthGeraldton, Western Australia
SchoolState School, Geraldton near Bunbury, Wa
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationClerk
AddressZoe Street, Bunbury, Western Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23
Height5' 6"
Weight120 lbs
Next of kinFather, Walter James Cope, Zoe Street, Bunbury, Western Australia
Previous military serviceServed in the Citizen Military Forces, Western Australia.
Enlistment date30 July 1915
Place of enlistmentBlackboy Hill, Western Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, D Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 18 November 1915
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked.
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles)
Age at death24
Age at death from cemetery records24
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 5), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
120
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Walter and Mary COPE, Victoria Street, Bunbury, Western Australia. Native of Geraldton
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Disembarked, Suez, ex-HMAT 'Geelong', 18 December 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Posted missing, 20 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 12 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.

Note on Red Cross File No 800710: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills, 10.10.19.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, COPE Walter Vernon
Red Cross file 800710

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