Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

It will be learnt with deep regret that Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Hopkins, of Brown Street, Hamilton have been the recipients of the sad message that King and country have called their son to make the great sacrifice, nobly rendered, of his life. The tender and sympathetic breaking of the news by the Ven. Archdeacon Harris helped to soften the blow, which has dissipated for over the high and natural hoopes of the future, for which, for the presnt, the brief official telegram notifying that "Captain C.B. Hopkins was killed in action, 20th July,  1916" gives very little comfort.

The late Staff-Captain Clive Boyer Hopkins was on the headquarters' staff on an Australian division.  when at the Warrackneabeal college, at 12 years of age, the principal, Mr. Bingham Lockwood, M.A., was delighted with his attitude, and reluctantly parted with him after giving him much of the stable groundwork which helped him to a successful course in the Warrnambool High School. At this period he was a sergeant in the cadet force.  He added lustre to the school records by securing entrance to Duntroon, where he graduated in October, 1914, and when, at Lord Kitchener's request, his class was called to service they were appointed first lieutenants, and left for Egypt, then being attached to the 13th Battalion, 4th Brigade.

By that time the great vaule of the Duntroon graduates - trained on the lines suggested by Lord Kitchener, and under the brilliant commandant of the Royal Militiary College, General Bridges - was clearly seen.  But it was not until the Australians and Turks were in deadly gains on ferocious Gallipoli that our lads proved that Australia, protected by its gallant soldiers in the ranks, could safely trust to the genius of Australian trained officers, and this was delightedly made known to the King by General Birdwood.  Before August 10, 1915, Captain Hopkins had received promotion in recognition of distinguished service, and that date was deeply marked by wounds received through his revolver being smashed in his pocket by a bullet during a notable night march.

Prior to this gallant and conspicuous service had caused him to be mentioned in despatches by General Sir Ian Hamilton.  Six days later he was in the hads of the capable nursing staff of the 2nd Australian Military Hospital at Heliopolis.  In the course of a few weeks he fully recovered from his wounds, and was placed on light duty.  Having proceeded to Alexandria to pick up his kit, weakened by his wounds and enervated fromt eh inscessant strain of Gallipoli, he easily became subject to an attack of enteric which was fortunately modified by previous inoculation.  As soon as fit he was again on light duty, recovered rapidly and then was appointed second in charge of the Abbassia Australian training camp, and was actively engaged in Egypt until he left to reach France about June 10th.  There he was engaged to the end.  His modesty was such that his part in the wonderful experiences in untold.  It remained for a friend and fellow collegian to uplift to some extent the veil.

Although in a sense a youth, Captain Hopkins was born February 9th 1896, had fine physique (he was nearly six feet in height, and thoroughly trained physically) enabled him to carry out the arduous duties of such a stern campaign.  His collness and charming manner endeared him to his gallant contrymen in all ranks.  Like them, he could play, as well as fight hard.  Captain Hopkins, who was clever with pencil and brucsh, was by predilection a soldier.  His ideals were fostered by thoughts of his fathers' uncle, the late Major-General Hopkins, C.B.,  and his distinctive orders, and of the general's son as Lord Wolseley's secretary,w ith subsequent high career in the diplomatic service, the fine work of his maternal grand father, Captain Mahoney (a gifted mathematician), while the coaching in shooting by his father (an inter-State rifelman and ex-artillerist) clinched his desire to serve his country as a soldier.

The open gates of Duntroon formed the Mecca of the ardent young officer, and assisted him to go so far and so quickly in the profession he was so quietly proud of and in which he so nobly served to the end, which is sadly, but finely and sypmatheically marked by the following letter from the Governor General on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia, to his father, Mr. C.W. Hopkins:-

"Governor-General's Office, Melbourne, 10th August, 1916.  Dear Sir, - I am desired by his Excellency the Governor-General to transmit to you the following message from their Majesties the King and Queen: - "The King and Queen deeply regret the loss you and the Army have sustained by the death of your son in service of his country.  Their Majesties truly sympathise with you in your sorrow."  In addidtion to the above message, I am desired by the Governor-General to express their sympathy with you on the death of this gallant officer, who fell fighting for his country and Empire.- Hamilton Spectator."