John Frederic Roundel Hope CBE DSO

[rdiedo]

Hello

Is there anyone out there that has a photo of this man? He served in the First World War in the Kings Royal Rifle Corp and the Machine Gun Corp, ending the war as a Lieutenant Colonel. After the war he was ADC to three monarchs, lived in Hampshire, and even had time to write a book called History of Hunting in Hampshire by JFR Hope and at least one article for the Farmers Union. I believe he lived in Preston Grange, Preston Candover, Hampshire.

My interest? My Great Grandfather served in the Machine Gun Corp during the first world war and I have a photo of him among other soldiers. I'm trying to identify some of the other soldiers, including the commanding officer who is centre stage. It might be Lt. Col JFR Hope, and I'm hoping to either find a photo to compare it to, or get someone who knew him to verify it.

If by chance any descendants of Mr Hope do pick up message please do respond. I'll gladly let you have a copy of the photo in question if it is your ancestor.

Thank you

Richard

[barryd]

His medals were in an Auction 2008. Item 578. No mention of the Machine Gun Corp in the auction catalogue. Read the catalogue on the website below.

http://www.bosleys.net/b70/medals.html

[rdiedo]

Thank you for the link Barry. Yep, I had seen that link, seems Mr Hope was quite a man and had a long and distinguished career. I noticed the auction lot made no mention of the MGC, perhaps because none of his medals stemmed from his time with the 57th Battalion and it was just one small part of his long career. He was definitely commanded a battalion of the MGC as he is mentioned several times in the London Gazette for example here http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30628/supplements/4494/page.pdf

There must be photos of him out there, I only hope I can find someone who has one!

Thank you for your interest

Richard

[fizzix]

Have you seen the Machine Gun Corps website they may be able to help.

http://www.machineguncorps.co.uk/index.html

[pete1789]

Hampshire record office has a few photographs of JFR Hope listed in the online catalogue of images:
http://calm.hants.gov.uk/DServe/DServe.exe?dsqIni=DserveD.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=Overview.tcl&dsqSearch=((text)='hope')

Pete

[rdiedo]

Fizzix - yep have been working with their archivist trying to identify the officer in question but thank you for the suggestion.

Pete - that link you sent me is absolute gold dust - thank you for that! They seem to have three potos of Mr Hope. The on of him on horse back is clearest.

I think it is him - what do you think?