Cecil John Hopkins

 

Cecil John Hopkins
Danygraig Cemetery
credit - findagrave

Cecil John Hopkins was the first casualty from the 14^th Battalion, Welsh Regiment to die in the First World War, dying on the 21^st of February 1915.  Cecil was buried at Danygraig Cemetery.

Cecil was born in 1894, in Mumbles, he was the son of John and Annie Hopkins.

At the time of the 1901 Census, the Hopkins family were living at 1 Westfa Cottage, Llanelly.

1901 Census

John, 38, who was born in Raglan, Monmouthshire was employed as a Domestic Coachman.  Annie was a year older, 39.  Her place of birth was Shaftesbury, Dorset.   Their children were

Blanche, 14; Ivor, 10; Cecil, 7, and 2-year-old Ernest.

Also present was a boarder Albert V. Sellers, 25 and his wife, Maude, 26.

By the time of the 1911 Census, the family had moved to Swansea, 28 Brunswick Street.

1911 Census

John, 48 was still employed as a Domestic Coachman.  Annie was 49 years old.  Their children present were

Ivor Claude, 20, who was employed as Domestic Chauffeur; Cecil John, 17, who was employed as Stoker on the Railways; Ernest Tom, 12; Tom Albert, 9, and 7-year-old Cedric Jospeh.

Also present was a family relative, Rosa Jane Dennis, 27, whose occupation was recorded as “Guest”

George Parker, 25, who was employed as a Groom, was a boarder residing at the property.

William John Jenkins, 31, employed as Yard Labourer and his wife, Blanche Eleanor, 24, and 6-month-old son, Claude Alfred were boarders at the property.

North Wales Weekly News

Cecil who was enlisted with the 14^th Battalion, who was in lodgings at Wellington Road, Rhyl, where he died.  His death was published in the North Wales Weekly News