b. 17/08/1862 Ardingly, Sussex. d. 12/04/1942 25 St James Park, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
DATE OF EM ACTION: 01/10/1917 White Lund Explosion, Heaton with Oxcliffe, Lancashire.
Thomas Coppard EM
Thomas was the fourth of seven children born to John and Maria Coppard (nee Davey). He was born in Ardingly, Sussex on 17th August 1862, and was baptised on 28th September 1862. His siblings were Harry, Fanny, Sarah Maria, Naomi, Annie and Frederick. When Thomas was 9, the family moved to Tunbridge Wells, Kent. In 1890 he married Mary Matilda Martin in Hastings, Sussex, where he had joined the Police Force as a Constable. They lived at 5 Stone Street in Hastings, and he rose to the rank of Detective Inspector. He retired from the Police during the Great War, and found himself in Lancashire, and involved in the White Lund Explosion on 1st October 1917. He was one of just 25 Edward Medals in Silver awarded. Following the war, he retired to Kent, and settled in Tunbridge Wells. His wife passed away in 1940, and less than two years later, on 12th April 1942, Thomas passed away aged 79. He was buried three days later in Tunbridge Wells Cemetery with his wife.
EM CITATION:
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Edward Medal in Silver to: Thomas Coppard, Abraham Clarke Graham, Thomas Kew, and Thomas Tattersall. also the King’s Police Medal to: Fred Brocklehurst, William Bramwell Hodgson, .D’Arcy Benson Moffat, Richard Newsham, George Albert Oakes, Alonzo Savage, Daniel Devine Sloan, and William Andrew Wearing, on account of their gallant conduct on the occasion of a fire which occurred at a Munitions Factory on the 1st October, 1917.
BURIAL LOCATION: TUNBRIDGE WELLS CEMETERY, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT.
B9/CON/45
LOCATION OF MEDAL: CITY MUSEUM, LANCASTER, LANCASHIRE.
