Private Harold Clive Hope, 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, transferred to 736th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps, died at home in Moseley, Birmingham on 26th January 1919. He was born in Hampton-in-Arden in 1887, and was the son of the village schoolmaster, Thomas Hope, attending George Fentham School in the village.
Harold was the fifth of the ten children (eight sons, two daughters) or parents, Thomas and Ruth (née Ravenscroft) who had married in Aston in 1879. The family lived in Hampton-in-Arden from at least 1881 until at least 1901. By 1911, they had moved to Small Heath and 23-year-old Clive, as he was known, was working as a stationer’s traveller.
Clive married Mabel Edith Atkinson on 23rd August 1915 at St Oswald’s Church, Birmingham and the couple set up home in Moseley before he attested for the Army on 15th December 1915, under Lord Derby’s Group Scheme. He was mobilised on 20th July 1916 and was posted to the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He served in France from 11th October 1917 until 17th January 1919, returning home for 28 days’ furlough prior to demobilisation.
Whilst on leave, he developed influenza and pneumonia, and died at home, 83 Springfield Road, Moseley. He is buried at Brandwood End Cemetery, Birmingham but doesn’t appear to be commemorated on Moseley war memorial. Having moved away from his birthplace before 1911, his name isn’t included on Hampton-in-Arden’s war memorial.
If you have any further information, please let us know.
Tracey
Heritage & Local Studies Librarian
tel.: 0121 704 6977
email: heritage@solihull.gov.uk
Solihull Life 
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