|
 |
On March 5th 2012, Neil Holmes, one
of our British viewers and author of
"Liverpool
Blitzed", wrote us that
there is "[...]a war
memorial with Private Hopwood's name
on it in the small village of
Shotwick on the Wirral. Although he
lived a few miles away in Mollington,
his family had lived in Shotwick
since the 1870s and worshipped at
the village church.
Shotwick is a tiny village, with no
more than 15 houses, some outlying
farms, a 17th century manor house
and a medieval church that dates in
part back to Norman times. The
memorial is unusual since it cites
the date he was killed, along with
the fact he was fell at Arnhem.
There is also a memorial pot
dedicated to him within the family's
plot in the graveyard.
The memorial is a sad reminder that
even such a tiny village experienced
loss during that terrible conflict.
Frederick is also remembered with
pride by the family and wider
community, as the photograph of his
field burial appears in several
history books" |
Neil also sent us two
photographs of the memorial; a
general overall shot and a closer
shot of the part that mentions
Private Hopwood.
|
|
(click for larger
images) |
 |
|
 |
| |
| It is good to know
that this liberator, whose life was
taken within the first days of the
Battle of Arnhem, is remembered in
his hometown, as well as on the
battlefield where he fell and,
later, in the Oosterbeek British
Cemetery. |
|
(click for larger
images) |
|
From left to
right:
Frederick Hopwood's Field Burial,
the location today
and his grave at Oosterbeek Airborne
Cemetery |
|
Neil Holmes
contacted Frederick Hopwoods's
family and from them he received the
following three photographs of him
in British Army Uniform. The first
photo shows him with his original unit
which appears to have been the Royal Artillery.
The other two show Frederick in desert attire
with jump wings on his shoulder in
the Parachute Regiment. |
|
(click for larger
images) |
.jpg)
.jpg)
 |
|
On 16MAY2014 Neil Holmes
visited the grave of Frederick
Hopwood in the presence of Battle
Detective Tom
and laid flowers on behalf of the
Hopwood family: |
|
(click for larger
images)
_small.jpg)
_small.jpg)
_small.jpg)
_small.jpg) |
|
|
|
Back to Now & Then Holland 2 Page |
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
