4867 Private George Roper
7th Battalion Gordon Highlanders
13th November 1916
Born on 31/07/1889 in Shipley, Yorkshire and baptised on 09/02/1890. His parents were Benjamin Roper (1851-1903) and
Eliza Langley (1854-1927). They were married on 08/02/1873.
George had 3 brothers, Thomas William (01/05/1879-1951), Benjamin (1883-27/04/1946) and Ernest (29/10/1885-06/01/1944). He also had 2 sisters, Mary Ann (born on 13/04/1876) and Ellen (13/09/1877-02/08/1955).
In the 1901 census, the family were recorded as living at 74 Seaton Street, Bradford, Yorkshire.. Benjamin snr. was employed
as a stone miner.
The 1911 census just shows George living with his widowed mother at 68 Ripon Street , Bradford. George was employed as a warehouse worker.
He enlisted in Bradford and was killed in action on 13/11/1916.
His mother was awarded a pension of 12/6 a week on 04/-7/1917 to start from 26/06/1917.
The Shipley Times and Express – Friday, November 16, 1917
In Memoriam
Roper – In loving memory of Private George Roper, Gordon Highlanders, killed in action November 13th, 1916.
“Gone but not forgotten”.
From Mother, Sister and Brothers.
His brothers Benjamin and Ernest both emigrated to Canada and they enlisted into the Canadian army in ww1.
Benjamin enlisted in Toronto on 18/04/1916 as Private 237581 in the 204th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force.
He was gassed twice, 29/08/1917 and 28/02/1918.
Ernest also enlisted in Toronto on 12/06/1916 as a Driver 339894, 16th Battery Canadian Field Artillery.
He was badly wounded at Arras , France on 24.04/1918 from multiple gunshot wounds in the back.
Both men recovered from their wounds and survived the war.