In 1881, the Census shows William (16), Born Middlesex, London, Occupation Worsted Spinner, living at 45, Oliver Street, Bradford, alongside his parents Frederick (40), and Maria (41), and his siblings John (18), Harry (14), Kate (12), Fred (10), Edward (7), Emma (5) and Eliza (4 months).
According to his army pension records William Roper married Kate Blanch on the 25th December 1890, at the Parish Church of St. Gregory, Canterbury. His children were listed as Lavinia (Born in Canterbury on the 30.6.91), Beatrice (Born in Murree (Northern Punjab, Pakistan) on the 5.9.94), and Dorothy Mary (Born in London on the 1.9.1900).
The 1911 Census now sees the family living in Kent. William Roper (47), Occupation Assurance Agent, is living with his wife Kate (36), and his children Lavinia (19), Beatrice (16), and Dorothy (12). There are also 5 Boarders living with them at The Oaks, Church Road, Cheriton, Kent.
PRE WW1
Earlier Service Records (Pre WW1) show that William Roper, Railway Servant, joined at Curragh Camp, the 11th Hussars on the 26th May 1886, having previously served in the 3rd West Riding Regiment. Served 17.5.1886 – 31.3.08 (In November 1907, he had been permitted to continue in the service beyond 21 years. He was then discharged 31.3.1908. He was awarded the Queen’s S.A. 1899-1902 medals with clasps)
On Previous Attestation Home 13.7.01 to 27.2.02 Egypt 28.2.02 to 30.4.02 Home 1.5.03 to 31.3.08
Campaigns South African 1899 – 1902 WW1
The WW1 Bradford Roll of Honour shows that William Roper of 38, Woodhall Road (Thornbury) served as a Private in the Royal Defence Corps. (The Royal Defence Corps (RDC) was a British Army unit formed in 1916 for home defence duties.)
DEATH
William Roper, 53 years, of 38, Woodhall Rd., Thornbury, Bradford, Licensed Small Wares Hawker, died at St. Luke’s Hospital, Horton, Bradford. The cause of death was noted as (1) Tuberculosis, (2) Haemorrhage.
Private William Roper, 12846, Royal Defence Corps, 11th. who died on the 1st May 1921, is buried in Bowling Cemetery, Bradford, West Yorkshire (Grave Reference D. 354).
C.W.G.C. Records: Secondary Unit, Regiment Transf. to (33843) Reserve Cavalry Regiment
As the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s ‘Eyes On Hands On’ volunteer with responsibility for Bradford (Bowling) Cemetery I was always interested in the ‘stories’ of the WW1 soldiers whose headstones I looked after. Having been born and brought up in the nearby area, many of the names I came across seemed familiar to my childhood and I was interested to know more about who they were. The C.W.G.C. ‘For Evermore’ online archive gives me the opportunity to share my research into their lives.
We Will Remember Them...
• Ancestry U.K.
• The Bradford WW1 Roll of Honour
• The British Newspaper Archives
• C.W.G.C.
• David Whithorn
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