Francis Hopkins was born in Chinnor, Oxfordshire on 23rd December 1895 to John and Mary Ann Hopkins (nee Loader) and baptised at St Andrew’s church there on 22nd January 1896.

Frank was living with his widowed mother in Moorend Lane, Thame in 1901 and 1911. When he died, age 20, his mother was living in Lower High Street in Thame.

At Kitchener’s calling he joined the Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry at Oxford, and was among a group of men transferred to the 7th (Service) Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment, also known as Duke of Edinburgh’s Regiment.

The 7th Battalion initially served in France but in November 1915 they sailed to Salonika. In 1916 they were fighting near Kalinova having taken over from the French and by the end of 1916 they were in the area around Lake Doiran. The first Battle of Doiran took place between 22nd April and 8th May 1917.

On the night of the 24th April, the 7th Battalion launched a night attack on the fortress of Grand Couronne, coming up against devastating fire and un-breached wire. Fourteen out of the fifteen officers became casualties, together with about 300 other ranks, including Private Richard Line.

13767 Private Francis Hopkins was killed in action on 24th April 1917; he has no known grave and is remembered on the Doiran Memorial, Greece.

In Thame he is remembered on the town war memorial, and the All Saints church memorial board