3rd Australian Field Artillery Brigade
Leonard Frank Hopkins was born in 1893 at Inverell, northern New South Wales (NSW). He was the son of Edward and Elizabeth Hopkins, who lived at 11 Falcon Street, Crows Nest, NSW and later Lullingworth, Gordon Road, North Sydney. He was a student of engineering when he enlisted for military service at Brisbane on 20 January 1915, aged 21 years and six months. He would appear to have had eleven months previous military experience, possibly in a territorial unit.
He spent the period 20 January to 11 June 1915 in training and joined the 7th Re-enforcement, 3rd Australian Field Artillery (AFA) Brigade on 12 June 1915. On 10 August he sailed for Egypt on board the RMS Persia, arriving on 1 October 1915, to join up with the 3rd Brigade AFA. He remained in Egypt until 23 March 1916 when he left Alexandria for Marseilles, arriving on 29 March 1916. From here he would have been taken by rail to northern France and the Western Front.
On 22 June 1917 he was awarded the Military Medal (MM), notice of which appeared in the 4th Supplement No 30234 to the London Gazette dated 14 August 1917. The reason for the award is not known, as few citations have survived for the MM (see below).
On 25 June 1917 he joined the Brigade Signal S Section and from 11 to 25 October 1917 he was on leave in England. Promotion to Lance Corporal came on 21 January 1918 and to full Corporal on 30 June. On that date he went on a course to test suitability for training as a pilot with the Australian Flying Corps (AFC). The outcome of this is not known but it would appear that he was considered suitable, as on 11 October he went on a further course at the AFC School. He had received a promotion to Temporary Sergeant on 23 September.
It is not known where the flying course took place but it is likely that this was one of the AFC training airfields in the Stroud area as on 25 October 1918 he was admitted to the Stroud General Hospital (also known as the VAD or Red Cross Hospital) dangerously ill with pneumonia, influenza and jaundice. In some parts of his record there is reference to admission to 2nd Southern General Hospital, Bristol, this possibly being the ‘parent’ hospital for a number of satellite hospitals in the area. The fact that he was buried at Painswick implies admission to the Stroud Hospital.
Sergeant Hopkins died of double pneumonia on 28 October 1918, aged 25, probably a victim of the ‘Spanish Flu’ pandemic rife at that time. He was buried in Painswick Cemetery, with full military honours, on 31 October 1918, a firing party, bugler and pall bearers being supplied by the AFC. Later a standard CWGC headstone was placed to mark his grave. He is commemorated on the Painswick War Memorial.
Thanks to a contact of David Rogers the following extract from the Stroud News of 8 November 1918 has come to light:
Semi-military honours were accorded the burial of Sergt. F.L.Hopkins, of the Australian Forces, at Painswick Cemetery on Thursday in last week. The deceased, who was only 26 years of age, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. E.J.Hopkins , of Lullingworth, North Sidney, N,S.W., and a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins, of New Street, Painswick, and he was on a visit to friends in this district when he was struck down with influenza, and, pneumonia supervening, he passed away at the Stroud Hospital on Monday, October 28, everything possible having been done to pull him through the llness. Joining up at the outbreak of hostilities in 1914, Sergt. Hopkins had had a distinguished and successful career in the Army. He was first attached to the Australian Light Horse, and with them saw service in Egypt. Subsequently he was transferred to the Australian Field Artillery as a gunner and then signaller in Gallipoli, after which he proceeded to the Somme front in France, being later promoted signalling-sergeant and attached to the Headquarters Staff of the Field Army Brigade. He was the proud possessor of the Military Medal, which he gained for an exceedingly deserving act. He carried despatches under heavy shell and rifle fire, successfully reaching his destination after many marvellous escapes from injury or destruction. At one time he was given the opportunity of returning to Australia, but having left home with the firm determination of seeing the war through and thus doing what he could to put an end for all time to destructive wars, he refused the offer, and instead accepted the chance of being commissioned in the Australian Air Force. Following his leave in Stroud with friends and relatives, who were delighted to welcome him, he was to have reported at Windsor and to have undergone a six weeks’ course of instruction at Oxford. He was then hoping to be attached to a local aerodrome, but the hand of fate intervened, and he now lies with ancestors in Painswick Cemetery, mourned by his relatives and friends by whom he will be greatly missed and with whom the deepest sympathy of all will be extended. The body of the deceased was conveyed to its last resting place on a motor tender by Australians stationed locally, the coffin being covered with the Union Jack and floral tributes from his father, mother, and other members of the family in Australia and his relatives and friends in England. As the body was being borne from the Hospital to the tender the soldier patients and Red Cross Nurses lined up on either side of the pathway in honour of the deceased, the scene being an exceedingly touching and impressive one and the cortege proceeded slowly through the town. As it passed through Painswick the church bells were rung in muffled tones, and the interment was witnessed by a sympathetic gathering of mourners. The relatives express their heartfelt thanks to the Australian and wounded soldiers and nurses for their last tribute of respect to the deceased.
Researched by Graham Adams 4 December 2015 (revised)