George F. Hopkinson
| George Frederick Hopkinson | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Hoppy" |
| Born | 14 December 1895 Retford, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Died | 9 September 1943 (aged 47) Castellaneta, Italy |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Years of service | 1915–1943 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | North Staffordshire Regiment |
| Commands held |
31st Independent Infantry Brigade Group 1st Airlanding Brigade 1st Airborne Division |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Officer of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross |
Major General George Frederick Hopkinson OBE MC (14 December 1895 – 9 September 1943) was a senior British Army officer who commanded the 1st Airborne Division during World War II, where he was killed in action in Italy. He was one of the few senior British commanders to lose his life during the conflict.
Prior to the start of the First World War, Hopkinson worked as an apprentice at an engineering works at Retford, Nottinghamshire, his birthplace. Too young to join up when the conflict began, he enlisted in the British Army in early 1915, joining the Officers Training Corps and then being commissioned as a second lieutenant into the 4th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment as a second lieutenant (on probation) on 27 March 1915. After a short period on Guernsey with them, Hopkinson was posted to France as a signal officer in the 72nd Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division. On 16 September 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross for his actions during the retreat of the British Army in 1918; the citation read:
Lt. George Frederick Hopkinson, N. Staff. R., Spec. Res.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During a fortnight's operations of a most arduous description, his services in maintaining communication between brigade headquarters and the front line were most valuable, and his example of fine personal courage and coolness under heavy fire, worthy of the highest praise. On one occasion, having been unable to find the battalion to whom he was to convey orders for retirement, he returned a second time, but encountered an enemy patrol, who opened a heavy fire. Eluding the patrol, he came across one of our wounded, whom he helped to get on to his motor-cycle and managed to convey back to safety, though all the time being subjected to heavy fire.
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