Four: Private F. M. Hopkins, 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Middlesex Regiment and City of London Imperial Volunteers, later 4th County of London (King’s Colonials) Imperial Yeomanry, who subsequently served in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force during the Great War

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (279 Pte. F. M. Hopkins, C.I.V.); Imperial Yeomanry L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (230 Pte. F. Hopkins. The King’s Colonials I.Y.); British War and Victory Medals (64875. 1.A.M. F. M. Hopkins. R.A.F.) mounted as worn in this order, light contact marks, good very fine (4) £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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Frank Mitchell Hopkins was born in Hanwell, Middlesex on 21 December 1879. Employed from 4 December 1894 as a Solicitor’s Clerk at Paddington Station in the service of the Great Western Railway Company, a note against his name in the Railway Employment Records states: ‘Volunteered for South Africa. Absent on leave from 1 Jan 00 to 2nd Decbr.’
Having earlier joined the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Middlesex Regiment in 1895, he served in South Africa with “A” Company, Infantry Battalion, City Imperial Volunteers during the Boer War, marching the full 1,218 miles covered by the regiment during the war.

As the only representative from Hanwell to serve with the City of London Imperial Volunteers, extracts from three letters to his relatives were published in the Ealing Gazette and West Middlesex Observer on 19 May 1900, including the following from Norvals Point on 5 April 1900:
‘We had some heavy fighting near Britstown on March 6th and the sights I saw that day I shall never forget. Corporal Selfe, of Brentford, who is in charge of our tent, was wounded. Our doctor was attending to a wounded man and Selfe was assisting. All three were shot, the poor fellow receiving a second bullet in the back. Selfe was discharged from hospital in three weeks. Color-Sergeant Taylor (also of our local regiment) was badly wounded in the thigh. The reason I have not written lately is that I have felt too unwell. The attack of sunstroke which I had about three weeks ago has proved to be more troublesome than I anticipated but I am glad to say my usual health is gradually returning. By the Bye
I am delighted to say that I am back in my Company, and no longer wear the Red Cross. I was never cut out for a nurse, and am much more handy with my rifle than I am with a linseed poultice.’

Hopkins later served with the 4th County of London (King’s Colonials) Imperial Yeomanry and was awarded one of just four Imperial Yeomanry Long Service Medals issued to this unit (Army Order 1905).

Enlisting in the Royal Flying Corps as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class on 9 March 1917, Hopkins served during the Great War on the Western Front with them and their successor, the Royal Air Force, from 4 April 1917 until 8 March 1919. Promoted Air Mechanic 1st Class on 1 January 1918, he was discharged on 20 April 1920, and died at Boscombe, Bournemouth in 1942.