Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Alexander Pope, DSO. Double War Hero

Edward Alexander (Alec) Pope was the second son of Alfred Pope and the eldest child of Alfred's second wife, Elizabeth.  He was born in Dorchester in 1875 and educated at the Elizabethan Grammar School, Dorchester before moving on to Weymouth College then Winchester College.

Edward Alexander Pope, 1875-1919

On leaving school he followed his father into the legal profession, firstly being articled to a firm of solicitors in Bath before spending a year studying in London.  However in 1898 he became a Director of Eldridge, Pope and Co., but was shortly called away from the brewery to serve in the Boer War.

In 1894 he had obtained a commission as Second Lieutenant in the Dorset Militia and in 1898 was transferred as a Captain in the 3rd Battalion Welsh Regiment.  The Battalion volunteered for active service in South Africa and sailed from Southampton in 1900.  Alec set out with a detachment to drive the Boers out of Philipstown, but arrived to find they had left at news of his advance.

After this he proceeded to Vryburg, near Mafeking, where he was responsible for the safety of the gaol containing 170 Boer prisoners.  He defended Vryburg against a Boer attack and was subsequently put in charge of an armoured train, guarding a construction train repairing a damaged line. During his seven months in charge of this train he had many brushes with the enemy.  Alec then developed severe sciatica and was invalided home in autumn 1901.

On arriving back in Dorchester his carriage was drawn with ropes by a large body of cheering men all the way to Wrackleford House as the church bells pealed their welcome.  Like other Dorchester officers and men who had served in the Boer War he was given the freedom of the borough.

In 1904 he married Sybil Briggs and was elected as a member of Dorset County Council. In 1915 he took the oaths to become a J.P.

He returned to civlian life at the brewery but retained his commission in the Welsh Regiment.  He continued to study soldiering and was promoted to the rank of Major in 1913 and shortly before the outbreak of war passed the examination in Tactical Fitness for Command, qualifying him to assume command of his battalion.  He believed that war with Germany was imminent and he left to join his regiment at Cardiff on 6th August 1914.  He trained reservists and recruits for the front line and in April 1915 was given the task of raising the 12th Service Battalion of the South Wales Borderers and given the rank of temporary Lieutenant-Colonel.  Alec raised 1100 men and 38 officers and began to train them for service in the field.  On the review of his Battalion on July 3rd 1915 he said, "We can stand together in fine weather and foul, and if you play the game by me I will do my best to play the game by you."

Seven weeks later the South Wales Argus carried a report which stated that:

`He has done his best for his men.  He has been their guide, philosopher, and friend.  To him they are more than a mere body of men whom patriotism and a love of home have brought together in a common desire to serve their King and country. They are men with individual needs and aspirations.  They possess character.  Colonel Pope has studied them, has made it his business to understand them, to join them in their work and in their play.'

The correspondent added a character sketch of of Alec:

`Tall, finely built, a born leader, a stickler for discipline and efficiency, detesting all that smacks of slackness or denotes the slacker, a man, in short, who is every inch a soldier, he has instilled the soldierly spirit into those over whom he has command.  He has won the respect and esteem of his officers and the admiration of his men, who are ready to go anywhere with him, do anything for him.  Under such happy conditions it is not surprising that the 12th has become a crack battalon in something like record time.'

On 1st June 1916, a month before the first day of the Battle of the Somme, Pope's Division embarked at Southampton for service in France.  The 12th Battalion was put into the trenches at Callonne and Loos and fought on the front line for six months.  The casualties were high, losing half their men killed or wounded.

In November 1916 Alec was mentioned in despatches by Field-Marshal Douglas Haig and on 1st January 1917 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, `For skilful leading of his battalion during the past months.'

At Christmas 1916, the 12th Battalion was moved down the line to the Somme, taing part in the advance and capture of Villiers-Paish and Goneaulieu.  Alec was wounded in April 1917 and returned to England. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, in charge of his old battalion, the 3rd Welsh.  He was passed fit for home service and took command in Redcar.

Due to the excessive cold and exposure following his arduous spell in France, Alec had a severe bronchial attack and was invalided to the south of France.  He returned to his commany in Redcar in May 1918, where, Bartelot noted, `we now leave him carrying on his military duties with his former energy and ability.'

However whilst the memoir had been printed and was in the binder's hands, tragedy struck.  In March 1919 Alec experienced a relapse of his bronchial trouble, caused by mental strain and overwork..  He was moved to Queen Alexandra's Hospital for Officers where he died on 9th April 1919, to `disease contracted whilst on active service.'

Following a service in the Guards' Chapel at Millbank, his body was cremated at Golders Green and a memorial service held at Holy Trinity Church, Dorchester.  On the following day his bronze burial casket was interred in the family burying place in the churchyard of St. Mary's, Stratton in the presence of his relatives and friends, and tenants and employees of the Wrackleford Estate.