The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Corporal F G Coppins

VICTORIA CROSS

No. 1987 Corporal Frederick George Coppins, Manitoba Regiment, served for four years in the 1st Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment.

For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when, during an attack his platoon came unexpectedly under fire of numerous machine guns. It was not possible to advance or retire, and no cover was available. It became apparent that the platoon would be annihilated unless the enemy machine guns were silenced immediately. Corporal Coppins, without hesitation and on his own initiative, called on four men to follow him, and leapt forward in face of intense machine gun fire. With his comrades he rushed straight for the machine guns. The four men with him were killed and Corporal Coppins wounded. Despite his wounds, he reached the hostile machine guns alone, killed the operator of the first gun and three of the crew, and made prisoners of four others, who surrendered. Corporal Coppins, by this act of outstanding valour, was the means of saving many lives of the men of his platoon, and enabled the advance to be continued. Despite his wounds, this gallant N.C.O. continued with his platoon to the final objective, and only left the line when it had been made secure and when ordered to do so.

This page was last updated on 11-Sep-2010.