Name Frederick Coppins Years of service 1914 - 1919 Role Armed force officer | Rank Corporal Battles and wars World War I Battles/wars First World War Awards Victoria Cross | |
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Buried at Chapel of the Chimes columbarium, Oakland, California Died March 20, 1963, Liver, California, United States Place of burial Oakland, California, United States Service/branch British Army, Canadian Expeditionary Force Similar People Princess Der Ling, Andrew Mynarski, Alexander Picton Brereton, John Brunt, Frederick William Hall | ||
Allegiance United Kingdom
Canada | ||
Frederick George Coppins (25 October 1889 – 20 March 1963) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was born in England and served with the Royal West Kent Regiment before the First World War
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He was 28 years old, and a corporal in the 8th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 9 August 1918 at Hatchet Woods, near Amiens, France, Corporal Coppins' platoon came unexpectedly under fire of numerous machine-guns. It was not possible to advance or retire and there was no cover. Corporal Coppins, calling on four men to follow him, leapt forward in the face of intense machine-gun fire and rushed straight for the guns. The four men with him were killed and he was wounded, but going on alone, he killed the operator of the first gun and three of the crew and took four prisoners. Despite his wound, he then continued with his platoon to the final objective.
Later life
After the war, he enlisted as a special constable during the Winnipeg General Strike. Within hours of his appointment, he charged his horse into a gathering of strikers and was dragged off his horse and severely pummelled.
Coppins played a minor role in the 1930 film All Quiet on the Western Front, as a German machine gunner.
A record exists for his enlistment in World War II at Angel's Camp Calaveras Co. California aged 50 but it is unknown what role he played. He later moved to California where he died. He is interred at the Chapel of the Chimes columbarium in Oakland, California. Coppins' medals are located in a collection at the Royal Winnipeg Rifles Museum, Winnipeg, Manitoba.