Eric William Copeman.

He was a native of Alconbury, although he was born in the nearby village of Broughton in Huntingdonshire, to William Copeman and his wife Rebecca.  After joining the 2/1st Hunts Cycles with the number 1599  was later transferred to the 1st Bedfordshire Regiment as a private with the number 43114.

He was posted to the base depot B. E. F. France on 26th July 1916, he was rationed up to and for that day. Order was part 2 No. 171 issued by W. L. Stephenson, 2/Lieut. & acting Adjutant, 2/1st Hunts. Cyclist Battalion. The order was issued at Well Camp Alford at 8-00 p.m., 28th July 1916. He was at one time posted to 3.1 Battalion H.C.B. 

He was killed in action on 25th September 1916 aged just 20 years after only being in France a short time.

His name is commemorated very high up on panel 2C of the Thiepval memorial to the Missing on the Somme - see link and also on the Alconbury war memorial.

 
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Thiepval Memorial.

If you can help with any data on this Huntingdonshire Cyclist please contact me at huntscycles@btinternet.com

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09/04/2012

 . . Martyn Smith ©