Narratives of War: My grandfather’s brothers in World War One

My Great Grandfather, Albert Coupland, owned a show shop in Belper, Derbyshire, from the 1890s. During World War One three of his sons, my Grandfather’s brothers, fought on the Western Front in World War One. They were all older than my Grandfather (who was born in 1903), and – unusually – they all came back from the war, though with varying wounds. I recently searched the local paper, the Belper News, and found a number of short pieces about them and have decided to publish them here as an illustration of how we can find out about our families from looking at old newspapers. I searched the British newspapers online website, and selected stories published in the Belper News. These were among many war stories published throughout the war, describing the experiences of local people. 

They do not tell the whole story, but they do add to the information I learned from my Grandfather when I was a child. Unfortunately, as so often happens, I didn’t ask the right questions at the time, nor did I push to meet one of the brothers, Jack, who was still alive and living somewhere in the West Midlands. I never did meet him, nor did I get the full story. All I knew at the time was that he had won the MM, and that all three brothers had at very times been wounded. Their names were Jack, Fred and Harry – classic names of the time.

The following stories are fragmented because they are just snippets from a newspaper, a newspaper that could not publish full details of actions due to censorship, but still tried to tell the stories of the men fighting overseas. They are unedited, and I have placed them in chronological order, so they jump from brother to brother rather than tell the story of each in turn. To find out more about their experiences I cannot now rely on anyone alive, but there may be further information available in the National Archives, or by exploring the regimental histories of the regiments mentioned.

The Coupland family during World War One: Reports from the Belper News

6 Nov 1914

IN THE THICK. BELPER PRIVATE WOUNDED AT YPRES 

Private Harry Coupland, Scots Guards, son of Mr A. Coupland, King Street, Belper, who with others of the Expeditionary Force has been through a trying ordeal during his month in the trenches, has been sent home wounded, and he now lies in hospital in a comfortable condition. Private Coupland received a wound in the arm. The bullet enter at the wrist and coming out above the elbow. On arriving abroad. Private Coupland and his comrades occupied Ghent for four days, but evacuated the town to preserve from German bombardment. His division spent much time in the Ostend-Ghent neighbourhood, and eventually were detailed off to the trenches at Ypres. which they were ordered to hold at any cost. He spent fourteen days in these and says that the British were outnumberd by ten one. Fierce was the fighting that when the roll was eventually called, half the battalion failed to answer. . . . Private Coupland received his wound just before the Irish made a bayonet charge. He ‘succeeded in dragging himself to the rear of the ranks, and there lay unconscious until picked up by his men. He obtained many trophies from German prisoners, but the majority were lost when he was wounded. He has in his possession,  however, a German military cap.

Friday 15 Jan 1915

THE RETURN: BELPER .SCOTS GUARDSMAN’S EXPERIENCES. Private Harry Coupland, the 2nd Scots Guards, a son of A. Coupland, of King St., Belper. has returned home wounded after an exciting time at the Front. His division were order to cover the retreat of the Belgian Army from and having accomplished this they retreated to a point near Ypres, where they made the now famous stand against the German hordes. Private Coupland helped to form what Sir John French termed in his despatch, “the thin line of khaki.” Describing the fight, Private Coupland said: “We were enormously outnumbered and unsupported. We made a bayonet charge, and were about thirty or forty yards from the enemy’s positions when I received stray wound. A bullet entered my forearm and came out at the top after shattering the bone. Afterwards we captured two enemy guns and prisoners. Out of 1,100 men our battalion only 542 remained. If the Germans had had any pluck they would have swept us out of their path, because in addition to superior numbers they were better equipped regarding guns. It was a perfect slaughter house, but things have got better now I think.” Private Coupland is with his parents on one month’s sick furlough, and has to report to depot on February 7th, when he expects to again enter hospital. “By the way,” he added, “you might advise anyone who intends sending parcels to the front to wrap them in canvas with a label of similar material. Parcels wrapped in paper are more likely to get lost than not.”

Belper News Friday 2 April 1915

Private Harry Coupland, son of Mr. Coupland, King Street, who was wounded at Ypres, has successfully undergone a severe operation in London, and is making fair left arm and thigh. Private Coupland is to be married this Easter to a London lady, and then he proceeds to the residence of Lady Warner of Brettenham Park, Suffolk, where he has an invitation to stay. Since Coupland has been in this country he has received much kindness from Lady Murray. Her son was a Lieutenant in the 2nd Scots Guards, and is now Captain in Harry Coupland s platoon.

2 July 1915

Mr. A. Coupland, of King Street, Belper, has received a letter from his son John, who is among the shot and shell at the front in France. The letter is dated last Friday, and he apologises for not writing earlier, the reason being that his regiment was going into the trenches for five days- John says: — we went in on Saturday night to hold some trenches captured a day or two before from the enemy. On the way we passed through the city which was absolutely knocked pieces. I don’t believe that there is one house left untouched, end the stench in some parts was awful. It was the same place that Harry was wounded at.” Harry Coupland, it may be explained, was wounded early in the war in an engagement which the Scots Guards were concerned. Proceeding, the letter remarks; “When relieved the regiment that was in had to retain and make the trenches serviceable, for they had been battered by our artillery. There were several dead about, both English and German, and we buried them. Our artillery was shelling the enemy, and several shells fell short. I continued to get buried under the debris of our trench, which was blown in, but I got out all right. Thank all for their letters. When I have nothing to do it is very nice to read them.”

17 Sept 1915

The funeral of Private Fred Gamlin, 14th Company Grenadiers, whose death we reported last week, took place on Wednesday with full military honours, the cortege proceeding from Queen Alexandra Hospital to Brompton Cemetery, attended by the Guards Band. The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Sergt.-Major Parry. In addition to the wreaths sent by relatives were others from Belper the members of the Congregational Bible Class, the Belper Wednesday football team, and the manager and staff of Hunter’s Stores, King Street. The funeral was watched by a crowd of people at the Cemetery. Among those attending the interment was Private Harry Coupland, formerly of the Scots Guards, who was wounded early in the War, and bis wife. Private Harry Coupland, whose severe-wound in one arm will be well remembered, has now obtained a post in London as commissionaire, and is of course pensioned.

1^st Oct 1915

morning, Mr Coupland, King Street, Belper, received a card from his son, Pte. J. W. Coupland, dated September 26th. stating that he had been wounded and was in hospital, but no place was mentioned. Pte. Coupland belongs to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, is the fourth son of Mr Coupland, two of whom have been with the Forces, one being discharged from the Army after a very severe and permanent injury. Pte. J. W. Coupland is at a base hospital, and it would seem that he may have been in the engagements of last Friday or Saturday in France.

8 October 1915

A letter received from Pvte J.W. Coupland of the 5^th Oxs and Bucks, and son of Mr. A. Coupland King Street Belper, gives us some details of the recent British attack around Ypres, which was the first assigned to the new army.  Lord Kitchener addressed the troops previous to the charge. Pvte. Coupland’s company went into the trenches on a Friday night, and at 4.30 Saturday morning after being bombarded by our artillery and explosion of a mine, the men leapt over their parapet, Pvte. Coupland proceeding with a machine gun section. A storm of lead met them from a Maxim and other field guns, but the German trenches were captured. A counter-attack followed in two hours, by five lines of Prussians, during which one of our machine guns was put out of action, and rifles and bayonets were resorted to. The Germans, however, were too many, and a retirement had to be effected to the British trenches, where Pvte. Coupland met with a mishap, being buried under the sandbags as the result of a shell explosion, and sustained a sprained back.  The re-inforcing brigade, however, re-took the German trenches and held them. About fifty German prisoners were taken. The letter concludes by stating that two Belper men, Flint and another, had just arrived with the 7^th Rifle Brigade. 

22 Oct 1915

Mr Coupland, King Street. Belper, who has a son with the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, in France, received on Tuesday morning a letter from his boy, thus refuting some untruthful reports that had obtained currency. I quote from this letter, written from the Division Base, follows; —”I am here for a few days more or less a week, and now marked active, waiting for the next draft of the regiment. Then up for another look at Fritz. Am going to a different part of the line, I hear, and I am not sorry, as I have had enough of .” Private J. W. was wounded some weeks ago. and appears to have recovered quickly. Concluding the letter the Belper youth said one of his companions who had been reported killed or missing. returned to the camp.

5 Nov 1915

A letter was received on Tuesday morning from Lance-Corporal B. S. Easthope, of Mr manager Messrs Loverock’s Market Place. Lance Corpl Easthope, who belongs the Shropshire Light Infantry, writes from camp in France. He states that is occupying a barn where he discovered pasted on the door the name J. Coupland, Belper, who apparently had preceded him as member of a unit who had been there. Furnishing the information that the troops had already been provided with their winter clothing of goatskin coats, which renders their appearance far more like Arctic explorers than British Tommies, further states that they were in the trenches 14 days, luckily having few casualties. Their leisure time mostly devoted to football despite much its enjoyment being marred by mud. His letter appears to have been written under difficulties, the top of a flight of steps particularly draughty.

21 July 1916

In a letter to his parents, Private J. Coupland refers to the lively doings on the British front at the beginning of the month, and to the gas attack much resented by the Germans. “Everyone in the trenches are full of hope and very cheerful, for we are at last paying off old scores, and we had waited a long time. It is good to see our artillery crumbling up their trenches as they crumpled ours when we first came out, but now we are fighting on more equal terms.’Of course they retaliate, but that only means more trouble, for our artillery are mad-headed and short of nothing It is a pity that Lord Kitchener is not alive to see his armies victorious. The Germans stuck a board up in front of us about a fortnight ago written upon it, ‘We have wiped out the Regulars, beaten Kitchener’s, and now want to see the Derbyshires,’ but I don’t think they have quite finished with Kitchener’s. I don’t suppose I shall be in the big advance, for we have been holding the line for four months, while other troops have been preparing, but that is my bad luck.’

Friday 13 October 1916

BELPER MAN DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED. A telegram was received from York Friday for Mr and Mrs Coupland, King Street, Belper regretting report that their son, Lance Corporal Fred Coupland of the Northumberland Fusiliers, was Dangerously wounded and was in a hospital in France. Gun shot wounds in the right arm were stated preclude the patient from receiving a visit. Lance Corporal Coupland is married, and lived with his parents until the period of joining the Forces, on 19th May last. He assisted in the business of his father’s boot and shoe emporium. He went to France on August 10th last. A letter to Mrs Coupland, junior, from the hospital, intimates that the wounds are in the arm and that his condition is not all satisfactory. In five days there had been no improvement The surgeon feared gas infection ‘He is having the very best of treatment and care and you must hope for the best. He is unable to write to you himself, the right arm having been wounded,’ states  the nurse. Since the receipt of the telegram and letter mentioned, Mr. Coupland has heard from his  son, and the communication says:—“l am sorry I had not written before. I could not write myself owing to the upper right arm being injured, through a shell bursting close to my side, taking part of my arm away and also hitting me in the ribs. Had it not been for the tuck box in my pocket I should have been knocked out. I have to lie flat in bed, with my arm fastened in a case. Here we live like fighting cocks. Plenty of everything. I had an operation last Monday. I was wounded on Thursday midnight while in charge of a working party digging first line trenches in newly won ground. I expect to come to England when better.” Fred is the second of the family to be wounded.

Friday 17 November 1916

J. W. COUP- LAND. Front, and 20 year.’ of and single. After leaving the Strutt Schools, Helper, was apprenticed to the Hritisli Thr«mj>»on Houston Co., Rughy. electrical engineer. lie enlisted in Kitctmncr’a Army in August following the outbreak war. being one of tire first to respond to the late Lord Kitchener’s call for men aud wa.« drafted into the Bucks Light Infantry. Though 17a years age. was ah to pass for 19 and trained chiefly at Aldershot ana neighbourhood. proceeded to France on 19th May, 1915, and was wounded September Hie same year, and month in hoe pital at the base *n Fiance. was appoints d to the Machin Gun Section in February last. Two of Gunner Couplands brothers also joined tho Army. Harry, of the Scot* Gua ds, was wounded th<- « arly part of the war with disabled arm. was some months ago. ami is now employed in a London bank. . Fr- the Northumberland Fusiliers, is a patient Lichfield Military Hospital, where has be’n on hi« back six weeks, but is making favourable prog res# towards recovery.

Friday 18 May 1917

Mr Coupland, King Street, Belper, has received a letter from his son, John W. Coupland, Machine Gun Section, stating that he had again been wounded and is in the 3rd British General Hospital. He was previously wounded in September, 1915. His two brothers, Fred and Harry, were also wounded over twelve months ago, the former being in hospital in Liverpool, while the latter is acting as  Commissionaire in London with a partly paralysed arm, but was nevertheless called up a few weeks ago for re-examination and not accepted. Concerning his wound, J. W. Coupland writes that although it was not serious it will mean a rest for a month to five weeks, a machine gun bullet having struck him in the right thigh, just missing the bone. It is two years since he went France, having only once been granted leave, last February. Four sons of Mr. Coupland are now the Army, the fourth having joined up a month ago and being stationed Dover.

17 November 1918

BELPER GUNNER WINS MILITARY MEDAL

Gunner J.W. Coupland,  fourth son of Mr. And Mrs A. Coupland, King Street, Belper, is to be congratulated on having gained the Military Medal for continuing to serve his gun at a critical moment on the Somme when most of his comrades were killed or wounded. Such is the information furnished by a comrade, although details of his conspicuous bravery have not been published. The action was fought on 8^th September. Gunner Coupland has been 18 months at the front and is 20 years of age and is single. After leaving the Strutt Schools, Belper, he was apprenticed to the British Thompson Houston  Co, Rugby, as electrical engineer. He enlisted in Kitchener’s Army in August following the outbreak of war, being one of the first to respond to the Late Lord Kitchener’s call for men, and was drafted into the Bucks Light Infantry. Though only 17 1.2 years of age, he was able to pass for 19 and trained chiefly at Aldershot and neighbourhood. He proceeded to France on 19th May 1915, and was wounded in September the same year, and spent a month in hospital at the base in France. He was appointed to the Machine Gun Section in February last. Two of Gunner Coupland’s brothers also joined the army. Harry of the Scots Guards, was wounded in the early part of the war with disabled arm, was discharged some months ago, and is now employed in a London bank. Fred, of the Northumberland Fusiliers, is a patient in Litchfield General Hospital, where he has been on his back six weeks, but is making favourable progress towards recovery.

19 July 1918

An interlude of quarter of an hour in the studies of the pupils at the Herbert Strutt School Wednesday was occupied by the pleasant reunion with a former scholar who has won distinction on the field of battle. refer to Private John Coupland, one of the four soldier sons of Mr and Mrs Coupland, of King Street. * The headmaster, Mr Tunnicliffe, presented the M.M. to his former pupil, recounting some the deeds with which the lad had been associated. The father, mother, two brothers, who have both been wounded, were present, along with a number of friends, in the hall where the ceremony took place. John was formerly a splendid football player, and in the larger field in France had earned distinction. When 17 1/2 years old he had enlisted, and proceeded with Kitchener’s Second Army France in May 1915, having joined in August, 1914. was at Hooge under liquid fire, the first time it was used by the Germans. Wounded, Coupland soon recovered, and went back to the line. Then the terrible fighting on the Yser, at Delville Wood, besides serving in the big offensive on Easter Monday, 1917. The third wound was sustained at Kemmel Hill. Now he is well again. Such is the outline of the youth’s career, young in age, but a veteran in experience. The events through which Pte. Coupland passed brought the decoration, and it was pinned on his breast the schools’ headmaster. From the staff, boys and girls, a silver cigarette case was presented to the “old” boy. a mark appreciation tor gallant deeds which have added honour to the school.

Belper News Friday 8 October 1918

A letter received from Pvte. J. Coupland, of the sth Oxford and Bucks Regiment, and son of Mr A. Coupland. King Street Bclper. gives some details of recent British attack around Ypfes, which was the first assigned to tlie new army. Lord Kitchener addressed the troops previous to the charge. Pvte. Coupland’s company went into the trenches on Friday night, and at 4.30 Saturday morning, after being bombarded by our artillery and explosion of a mine, the men leaped over their parapet. Pvte. proceeding with machine gun section. storm of lead met ihem from Maxim and other field guns, but tho Gorman trenches were captured. A counter-attack foHowed in two hours, by five lines Prussians, during which one of our machine guns was put out of action, and rifles and bayonets resorted to. The Germans, however, were too many, and retirement had to bo effected to the British trenches, where Pvte. Couplond met with mishap, being buried under the sandbags the result of shell explosion, and sustairing sprained back. The re-inforoing brigade, however, took the German trenches and held them. About fifty German prisoners were taken. Tho letter conclude* stating that two Helper men. Flint and another, had just arrived with the 7th Rifle Brigade.