ROPER, George Frederick

George Roper lived in Colley Gate, Cradley, and enlisted in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was transferred to the Inniskillings, probably in early 1918, and served in the 1st Battalion. They were stationed on the front line in March 1918 and were forced into retreat in the first German Spring offensive. In April they retreated again in the face of the second German offensive on the Lys. However, after rebuilding, they took part in the remarkable Advance to Victory just six months later. Victory in the last Battle of Ypres in early October was followed by the last great battle of the war at Courtrai. It opened on the 14th October but Private George Roper was killed in action on the 15th. He is buried in Harlebeke New British Cemetery (V A 7) and commemorated on the Cradley and Halesowen Memorials.