Staff Sergeant Cecil Morney Coppin

Cecil Morney Coppin was born at Addlestone, England, on 1 April 1893 to parents Francis Morney Coppin and Alice Coppin (née Hewlett). He was the youngest of three children in a family of two sons and one daughter. Coppin was living in Wimbledon, England, with the occupation of farmer in 1911. On 21 July 1911, Coppin emigrated from England, arriving in Sydney on the ship Ophir. His occupation was given on the passenger list as joiner.

Coppin was living at Albury, New South Wales, prior to his enlistment and working as a typist and correspondence clerk. He was a prominent sportsman and was a foundation member of the Albury Hockey Club and its best player; he was also honorary secretary of a local cricket club and played British Association football.

Coppin enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Liverpool, New South Wales, on 9 March 1915 and was attached to the 5th Australian Field Ambulance (AFA) as a private. On 12 April 1915, Coppin was promoted to sergeant clerk. He embarked from Sydney for Egypt on 31 May 1915 aboard the troopship Ajana. Coppin was in action on Gallipoli in August 1915 and was hospitalised with influenza for several days in October 1915. He returned for duty on Gallipoli before the evacuation, and arrived in Alexandria, Egypt, on 9 January 1916. After a further short period in hospital with influenza, Coppin was discharged fit for duty on 1 February 1916. He then proceeded to France on the troopship Arcadian and arrived in Marseilles on 23 March 1916.

Promoted to staff sergeant in August 1916, Coppin remained in the field in France and Belgium until July 1917, when he returned to England for leave. On 4 October 1916, Coppin was mentioned in despatches: his “constant attention to his duties materially assisted in the work of his unit.” On 8 June 1917, Coppin participated in a concert titled “An evening at the Bullocky’s Rest” held in the field at the 28th Battalion sergeants’ mess. Coppin sang the ninth song in the program, “Up from Somerset”. At the time of this concert, the 28th Battalion and the 5th AFA were located at Senlis, about 40 kilometres north of Paris.

Coppin rejoined his unit in France in August 1917 and in December 1917 was detached for temporary duty with the records section. He was recommended for the Meritorious Service Medal in March 1918 in recognition of his work and valuable aid for his unit during the Ypres operation in September and October 1917 and later in the Nieppe area. The awarding of the medal was announced in the London Gazette of 17 June 1918.

After a period of leave in England during August 1918, Coppin rejoined his unit in France. In November 1918, Coppin was sent to AIF Headquarters in London for duty. Following his return to France in the same month, Coppin was promoted to Warrant Officer Class 1 and transferred to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. Coppin remained with this unit in France until marched out to England on 18 March 1919 in preparation for his return to Australia. Coppin embarked for Australia on the troopship Runic as part of the nursing staff complement on 27 April 1919 and disembarked on 11 June. He was discharged on 10 August 1919.

After his discharge, Coppin returned to Albury and established a business, C. M. Coppin & Co trading as The People’s Mart, auctioneers. Coppin married Alice Hilda Hunt at Albury on 21 September 1920 and the couple had a son, William Morney born in 1924. In April 1921, Coppin left Albury and moved to Sydney to establish a stationery business.

In 1930, Coppin is recorded as working as a motor instructor and living in the Sydney suburb of Five Dock. From 1934 to 1958 the family lived at Abbotsford, a suburb adjacent to Five Dock, and Coppin was working as a foreman for that period.

During the Second World War, his son William served with the Royal Australian Air Force after enlisting on 21 July 1942.

Cecil Morney Coppin died at Burwood on 5 August 1964 at the age of 71. Alice Coppin died at Manly, New South Wales, on 1 December 1988 at the age of 97.