Category: Military
Rank: Private TF/202934
Regiment or Ship: 2nd/4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment
Service Number(s): TF/202934
Occupation: Tobacco Operator
Date of Birth: 1887
Place of Birth: St. Leonards, Sussex
Date of Death: 22.08.1917
Place of Death: France
Place of Burial / Memorials:
Tyne Cot Memorial, France. Panel 105 to 106 and 162. Tyne Cot Memorial
Address: Wrestholme, Kinfield Road, Bexhill
Photos and newspaper articles
Click on any image to see a larger version
Family Information
Parents:- Edward Pope, born 1851 in Wittersham, Kent, died 1910, and Sarah Jane Pope, born 1851 in Midsomer Norton, Somerset. In 1891 Edward as a Coachman and in 1901 he was an employer and listed as a Fly Proprietor.
Siblings:-
Ellen Kate Pope, born 1878 in St. Leonards, Sussex.
Ada Pope, born 1881 in St. Leonards. Ada was a dressmaker in 1901.
Robert Pope, born 1883 in St. Leonards. Robert was a House Furnisher’s Assistant in 1901.
Lucy Pope, born in 1885 in St. Leonards.
Sarah J. Pope, born in 1891 in St. Leonards.
In 1891 the family lived at 7 Market Passage, St. Leonards; in 1901 at 8 East Ascent, St. Leonards; and in 1911 Sarah Jane and Archie had moved to 36 Berkeley Road, Westbury Park, Bristol, Mon.
Ellen Kate Pope married William J. Rigelsford and they had two daughters.
Spouse-
In the October quarter of 1912 Archie married a Beatrix Jane Newton in Bristol. After Archie was killed Beatrix re-married a Richard Livel in 1920 at Newport Market, Monmouth. Archie and Beatrix do not appear to have had any children.
First World War Experience
Archie’s service records have not survived but his Medal Roll Index details and the Medal and Award Rolls have so we have some, very few, details of his service. Plus, there is an article in the Bexhill Observer stating:-
“Mrs. W. J. Rigelsford has received the sad intelligence that her brother, Private Archibald Pope, Berkshire Regiment, was killed in action on the 22nd August. He was bringing in the wounded, he himself having received a slight wound.”
Archie is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial – panel 105 to 106 and 162. The details received from the next of kin were:-
“Son of Mrs. Sarah Jane Pope, of “Wrestholme”, Kinfield Road, Bexhill. Husband of Beatrice Jane Livel (formerly Pope) of Temperance Hotel, Goldcliff, Newport, Monmouthshire.”
Archie was awarded the Victory Medal and the British Medal and the Medal and Award Rolls show that he was in 2nd /4th Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment – which is part of the Princess Charlotte of Wales’s Regiment.
The 2/4 Royal Berkshire Regiment was formed at Reading on 6.11.1914 as a second unit and moved to Maidenhead. In February 1915 it was attached to the 2nd South Midland Brigade in the 2nd South Midland Division, at Northampton. It was then moved to Chelmsford in April 1915 and so to Salisbury Plain in March 1916. On 27th May 1916 they landed on Le Havre and in August 1915 the formation became 184th Brigade in 61st (2nd South Midland) Division.