Coppins, Reginald Clinton
349 Gunner Reginald Clinton Coppins - 36th Heavy Artillery Group
Reginald was born on the 2nd January 1889 in Margate Kent England to James and Caroline Coppins, being one of eight siblings. He lived his early years in Margate Kent and then the 1901 census has him living at Dulwich Camberwell England.
His father died in 1903 and his mother died in 1909. The 1911 census then lists him as a man servant working at West Norwood Lambeth London.
Reginald came to WA in 1912 and joined the Australian Permanent Artillery. He would be based as a Gunner at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks and would served on the Guns at Fort Forrest and Arthur Head which protected Fremantle Harbour.
Reginald was a fixture in the RAGA British football team, being the goalkeeper for the team.
When the Great War began, the permanent Gunners were retained in Australia due to the threat of German Naval ships. However when that threat eased, the Gunners were able to enlist and were replaced in their role in Australia by reservists. There had been a call for experienced Heavy Artillery Gunners on the Western Front.
Many of the Permanent Gunners who were based at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks were able to enlist on the 1st June 1915. Reginald was among them and was passed as fit by the medical examiner who recorded Reg's details as (attestation form is missing);
Height - 5 feet 8 & 1/2 inches tall;
Chest Measurement - 40-44 inches
Upon his successful enlistment, the men of the permanent artillery from Fremantle were sent across to Melbourne to join their fellow artillerymen and after further training, they embarked on the H.M.A.T. “Orsova” on the 17th July 1915.
However prior to their departure, the men were marched through the streets of Melbourne, as seen below (Published in the Australasian July 1915)
From September 1915 to February 1916 the men of the 36th Heavy Artillery Group trained in England in preparation for their service in England. William had originally been allotted to the 55th Battery but in October 1915 he was transferred to the 54th Battery.
The batteries of the 36th HAG were sent to France in February 1916 but Reg was kept in England till August 1916. On the 17th August 1916 he was taken on strength of the 54th Battery in France and served with them during the Somme campaign.
In 1917 William served with the 54th Battery 36th Heavy Artillery Group during the Hindenburg Line outpost battles, Messines, The Third battle of Ypres and the Battle of Cambrai.
In April 1917 he got into trouble for going absent without leave for a day and also being drunk while on duty. For both charges he had to forfeit 21 days pay and also had to undergo 21 days of Field Punishment No.1. This involved heavy labour while being shackled.
On the 15th September 1917 while at Ypres, Reg got into trouble again for being drunk while on duty and threatening to strike an officer. He was awarded 28 days of Field Punishment No.1 but he continued to serve on the guns. On the 1st October 1917 Reg was blown up by a German shell and was severely concussed but miraculously was not hit by any shrapnel.
He was taken to the Field Ambulance and then the Casualty Clearing Station before being sent to the 53rd General Hospital at Boulogne. On the 19th October 1917 he was then sent to the 19th Convalescent Camp. He would be here for several weeks on recovery.
On the 6th January 1918 Reg was returned to the Base Depot at Le Havre, and was then transferred to his unit in February 1918. A week after rejoining, Reg was given two weeks leave to England. He got into trouble on his return by reporting back four days late and was fined nine days pay.
As a result of the German breakthrough on the British Army Front on the 21st March 1918, the Australian Infantry divisions had been sent south to the Somme region where they helped stop the German advance. The 36th Heavy Artillery Group was therefore one of the few Australian units still in Belgium when the Germans broke through the British lines in Belgium. Several guns had to be hurriedly withdrawn as the Germans made a rapid advance.
The guns withdrew into northern France where they could begin firing on the Germans. From May through to July 1918, they were in position in Northern France providing fire support around Merris and Meteren.
They remained in Northern France and helped the infantry with fire support in their advance against the Germans through August to October 1918. On the 3rd October 1918 Reg was sent to hospital with knee issues. He would spend a month at the 7th Stationary Hospital after which he would be sent to the Convalescent Camp to rest up.
When the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918, Reg was at the 1st Australian Convalescent. After a few more weeks here, Reg was sent to the Base Depot at Le Havre and was then returned to England on the 23rd December 1918. Reg went to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth.
On the 4th March 1919 Reg went aboard the transport ship Euripides and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 10th April 1919. After a medical check at No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle, Reg was discharged from the AIF on the 22nd June 1919.
Upon his return from the war, Reg resumed service with the Permanent Forces and was again based at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks as well as Fort Forrest and Arthur Head.
Reginald then travelled across to New South Wales where he spent the next thirty years, being based around Rose Bay Wentworth.
Reginald then returned to WA and died aged 82 in Claremont on the 18th February 1971. He was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery plot Anglican PD 0170.