Lieutenant Charles Pope

Ranks Held	Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant
Birth Date	05/03/1883
Birth Place	United Kingdom: England, Greater London, Mile End
Death Date	15/04/1917
Death Place	France: Picardie, Somme, Louverval
Final Rank	Lieutenant
Service	Australian Imperial Force
Units	11th Australian Infantry Battalion 11th Australian Infantry Battalion
Places	Louverval Mile End Western Australia
Event	The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Lieutenant Charles Pope VC 11th Battalion, AIF, First World War 1914-1918
Conflict/Operation	First World War, 1914-1918

Description

Charles Pope (1883-1917) was born in London but migrated to Canada, where he worked for the Canadian Pacific Railways. He returned to London in 1906 and joined the Metropolitan Police Force, resigning in 1910 to come to Australia with his family. He enlisted in the AIF in August 1915, and in February 1916 he was commissioned as an officer.

Pope was killed in action at Louverval in a desperate "last stand" charge, and was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. Occupying an important picquet post during a German attack on the village, he was ordered "to hold this post at all costs". The enemy attacked the post and surrounded it, while Pope sent back an urgent request for re-supply. Before anything could arrive, and with his men out of ammunition, Pope ordered them to charge the large German force. Later his body, together with those of his men, was found close to 80 dead Germans. He is buried in Moeuvres Communal Cemetery in France.

Collection items

Rolls

Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files:

Unit

11th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Lieutenant
Honours and Awards:

Unit

11th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Lieutenant
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Unit

11th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Lieutenant
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Unit

11th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Lieutenant
First World War Embarkation Roll:

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Second Lieutenant
First World War Nominal Roll:

Unit

11th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Lieutenant
Roll of Honour:

Unit

11th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Lieutenant

Timeline

Date of birth	05/03/1883	Mile End, London, England.
Other	1910	Migrated to Australia.
Date of enlistment	01/09/1915
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs)	25/08/1915	11 Battalion.
Date of embarkation	15/07/1916
Date commissioned	10/02/1916	Appointed 2nd Lieutenant.
Date promoted	26/12/1916	Appointed Lieutenant.
Date of death	15/04/1917	Louverval, France.
Date of honour or award	15/04/1917	Awarded Victoria Cross for action at Louverval, France whilst serving with 11 Battalion, 3 Brigade, 1 Division as a Lieutenant
Date of recommendation honour or award	28/04/1917