Lieutenant Eric Neville van den ben Copeland
| Date of Birth | 10/05/1897 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 21 |
| Date of Death | 26/03/1918 |
| Service Number | Z/1331 |
| Military Service | Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve |
| Merton Address | 1 Berkeley Place Ridgeway in Wimbledon (afterwards 1 Grand Drive, Leigh-on-sea, Essex) |
| Local Memorial | Rutlish School, Merton |
Additional Information
Eric was born on the 10th May 1897 in Wimbledon, the only son of Henry and Emma Hannah van den ben Copeland.
The 1901 Census reveals that the family resided at 67 Merton Hall Road. 31 year old Henry was employed as a clerk to an electrical engineering firm. The family employed 18 year old Fanny Jefferson as a general servant
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family had moved to 1 Berkeley Place in Wimbledon. Henry and Emma Hannah had been married for 17 years with a total of 3 children. 13 year old Eric was attending school his twin sister Enid Maud and Irene Kate were just 6 years old. The family now employed 2 servants 22 year old Ethel Daisy Dorothy Fyles as a cook and general domestic along with her 16 year old sister Beatrice as a nurse housemaid domestic.
Eric joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve the 63rd Machine Gun Brigade RN Division and was killed in action on the 26th March 1918.
His service record was not available on Ancestry but can be viewed free at The National Archives.