William Jopp

Gunner William Alexander Tolmie Jopp

Year of Birth: 1886

Date of Death: 18/11/1918

Age at Death: 32

Nationality: New Zealand

Regiment: New Zealand Field Artillery

Family: Father-Andrew Jopp Eliza Jopp, Mother- Eliza Jopp

He also had 5 sisters and 5 brothers, none of which died in the First World War.

Occupation: Unknown

The New Zealand Field Artillery was formed in Egypt in March 1916. They were based on the New Zealand and Australian Division. In April 1916 the Division moved to France and remained there. It developed a reputation as being among the best divisions under British command, fighting in many of the major actions of the war including The Battle of Polygon Wood, The Battle of Le Transloy and The First Battle of Passchendaele.

During the years of the First World War there had been several developments in artillery warfare. Artillery could shoot farther with more explosive shells. Because of this, enemies in trenches were increasingly unsafe. In some areas, artillery concentration would be common, several artillery firing onto an area – such as a line of trenches, each firing several rounds per minute lasting for hours. Artillery barrages would also be used before an infantry battle, to create a distraction away from the place of attack, so that the enemy's numbers would be fewer, or they would fire at the paths going from the area that would be attacked so that the enemy reinforcements would not be able to reach the area without getting hit.

Field artillery units were heavily dependent on horses and pack mules. Illustrations below are taken from 'New Zealand Artillery in the Field 1914-18'

William Alexancer Tolmie Jopp died a week after the end of World War One in Birmingham:

After the raising of the Union Jack above the Council House on 11th November 1918, Lord Mayor David Brooks spoke to the jubilant crowd in Victoria Square. He declared that the following day would be a General Holiday and made specific announcements about the schools including that they:

“will assemble as usual but after singing songs of patriotism and thanksgiving and listening to addresses upon the end of the war and the victory they had achieved, they will be sent home again”

During the course of our project, 'Field of Remembrance', we came in to contact with William Tolmie Jopp's family - Tolmie is still used as a family name after William.