William Copp

Bank: National Provincial Bank of England

Place of work: Plymouth branch

Died: 25 September 1915

William Bernard Copp was born in Southampton in 1890, the first child of Bernard Copp, a sea captain, and his wife Louisa Eliza. Three younger siblings were subsequently born; a brother, Harold, and sisters Edna and Lorna.

In about 1908, Copp started work as an apprentice with National Provincial Bank of England, probably at its Southampton branch. He completed his apprenticeship there in 1911, and later transferred to Plymouth branch as a clerk.

In the early months of the First World War Copp joined the army, serving as a Lance Corporal in the Devonshire Regiment. He was killed on the first day of the Battle of Loos, 25 September 1915. He was 25 years old. His younger brother Harold was killed in action in Mesopotamia the following year.