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Louis (Lepke) Hoppen
Born:
18 Nisan 5648 (30 March 1888)
Died:
17 Heshvan 5679 (23 October 1918)
Basic Information
Unique reference:
HOP9178
Gender:
Male
Birth
Date of birth:
18 Nisan 5648 (30 March 1888)
Place of birth:
Riga
Death
Date of death:
17 Heshvan 5679 (23 October 1918)
Died in combat?:
No
Place of death:
According to battalion records I believe it was Israel, but death certicate said Egypt
Cause of death:
Malaria
Burial place:
Ramle Cemetary, Israel. (This supports my theory about place of death)
Places
Addresses
Address on Military Records:
7 Victoria Park Road Hackney (21 January 1918)
Conversation
Not proven that Louis was a master of languages. It is possible that while his family had already come to the UK in piecemeal fashion during the first decade or two of the 20th century, that Louis might have come via a university in Germany. One of his sisters was particularly good at languages but despite research, no evidence has yet been found to substantiate Louis's itinerary (or even dates) after leaving Riga.
Conversation
Death certificate said Louis died of malaria. Some in the family said he died after being kicked by a horse. There is no evidence of this.
Death certificate also said he died in Egypt, and this is plainly untrue from the activities of his battalion.
Death certificate also said he died in Egypt, and this is plainly untrue from the activities of his battalion.
Family legend
Louis's grave was not found (by his son Harry) until 1980. Sadly there is no evidence to suggest that Louis would have even been present at his son (Harry's) brit milah, but he did see Harry on one occasion before leaving for Alexandria. Battalion records showed that 154 members arrived in Palestine on 18th July 1918, when Harry would have been 10 days old.
Family
Spouse
Alice Stone (female)
Place of marriage:
Mile End Synagogue
Country of marriage:
UK
Children
Isadore Hoppen (male)
Harry Hoppen "Hoppy" (male)
Siblings
Alec Hoppen (male)
Marie Hoppen "Mary/Merke" (female)
Aaron Hoppen (male)
Wolf Hoppen (male)
Benno Hoppen (male)
Shmuel Hoppen (male)
Annie Hoppen (female)
Frances Hoppen "Feigel/Fanny" (female)
Sarah Hoppen (female)
Lena Hoppen (female)
Simon Hoppen (male)
Parents
Father: Abraham Hersch Hoppen (male)
Mother: Bloomah Abramovitch "Betty" (female)
Homefront
Occupation:
Officially a capmaker, but known to have been a master of lanuages.
Member of family in armed forces:
Brothers Aaron and Alec
What was the impact of this:
The impact of Louis being in the first world war was of what he left behind after his death from malaria, just 19 days before armistice was signed. Wife Alice was left a widow, to bring up two orphaned sons in the East End of London, eventually leading to the two boys being homed and educated n Norwood Orphanage until they were old enough to go to work. The legacy of "financial need" was to trickle through the subsequent generations up till now. Alice remarried, but her new husband did not want to care for Louis's children and despite Harry often running away from Norwood back to the family home in Hackney, he was soon sent back to Norwood. The stepfather had his won sons and in 1930 a half-sister Hannah Becker was born.
Military Record
Military service:
Royal Fusiliers
Military record no.:
J/2027
Date enlisted/conscripted:
21 January 1918
Date discharged/death:
23 October 1918
Rank at discharge/death:
Private
Sustained injuries:
Not officially known, but a rumour he had been kicked by a horse.
Assignments
Regiment:
Royal Fusiliers
Battalion/unit:
39th
Campaigns:
Egyptian Campaign-as we know it today his battalion was located in Israel fighting the Turks somewhere around what we now know as Lod (Lydda)
Gallery
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Documenting & commemorating the contribution British Jews made during the First World War.
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