Reuben was born in St. Olave’s Workhouse in Dulwich on 18th July 1899; his parents were the Master and Matron of the establishment. He joined Ilford County High School from Highlands Elementary School, Ilford, in September 1912. In Ilford, his family lived at 13 De Vere Gardens.
Reuben was a keen sportsman and came second in both the ‘slow cycle race’ and ‘cycle musical chairs’ events during the school’s tenth annual sports day in 1914. He also came third in the High Jump and helped Castle House to victory in the Junior Tug of War. In the inter-school sports competition, he took part in the half-mile race. The above picture is from the 1914 school athletics team photograph.
He studied at the school until July 1915, when he enlisted for the London Rifle Brigade. Reuben lied to the recruitment office in Finsbury, claiming to be 19 (the minimum age for overseas service) instead of 16. The Autumn 1918 edition of Chronicles included the following report on Reuben’s military career and death, referring to a letter sent to Reuben’s parents by his platoon sergeant;
‘Lance Corporal R. A. Hope enlisted at 16, left for France in January 1916, and remained there until recalled on account of his age in November. He was sent out to France again in March of this year (1918), and was killed at the beginning of May. The Sergeant of the platoon says:-
“We were coming out of the line, and as we were coming through the wood the German began to whizz-bang. We had only one man touched by the shells and that was your son, who was in charge of company H. Quarter Gun. You will be pleased to hear he did not suffer any pain.”
The Sergeant goes on to say that, had there been any officers left, he would certainly have been recommended for decoration for his work that day; but every officer was either killed or wounded.’
He died, aged 18 on 6th May 1918. His body was not recovered and so his name appears on the Loos Memorial.
Research by Andrew Emeny, History Teacher at ICHS
Sources:
Ancestry.com
ICHS school records and magazines
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Note
Ilford County High School started life as the Park Higher Grade School in 1901 in Balfour Road, Ilford. It was renamed Ilford County High School (or initially County High School, Ilford) in the years after the school’s management was transferred from Ilford School Board to Essex Education Committee in 1904.