Frederick George Coppins

He rushed the machine guns and fought on despite his wounds.

Frederick George Coppins was born in Kent on 25 October 1889. After service in the Royal West Kent Regiment he emigrated to Canada, attesting in 1914. He eventually joined the 8th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force.

On 9 August 1918 near Hatchet Wood in France, machine guns trapped his platoon without cover. Coppins led four volunteers in a direct attack. His companions were killed and he was wounded, but he pressed forward, overcame a gun crew and took prisoners. He then continued to the objective. He received the Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace that October.

After the war he lived in Winnipeg and later California, where he worked in construction. He died in Livermore on 30 March 1963, and his ashes were interred in Oakland.