John Henry Pope was born in Hanley, Staffordshire, on 4th February 1890 to parents John Pope, born 1865 at Hanley, Staffordshire, and Jane nee Morris, born 1872 in Flintshire, Wales. John and Jane were married at Northwood Holy Trinity Church on the 1st December 1889. They would go on to have 2 children, John Henry and Robert William, born on 24.01.1891 at Hanley.

The Census of 1891 shows that John Henry Pope is a 14-month-old living with his parents at 31 Meadow Street, Hanley. His father, John, is a 25-year-old Potter's Sagger Maker, his mother, Jane, a 19-year-old Potter's Transferrer, and Robert William is only 10 weeks old. Also living with them were Jane's parents, John Morgan Morris (55), a coal miner born in Flintshire, and Sarah Morris (51), born in Flintshire. 

Sadly for the family, Jane died in 1894, and we see from the Census of 1901 that the rest of John's family are living with his grandmother at 34 Chell Road, Hanley. Grandmother Mary Ann Pope is 62 years old, John Pope Senior is now 35 and remains a Potters Sagger Maker, John Henry is 11, and at school, Robert William is 10 years old at school. Also present are an uncle, Henry Pope, aged 33, a Potter's Sagger Maker, and an aunt, Lydia Pope, aged 19, a Potter's Transferrer.

The 1911 Census shows that the family moved to 166 Back High Street, Hanley. Mary Ann Pope is now aged 72. John Henry Pope is a 24-year-old Potter's Sagger Maker, and Robert William Pope is a 23-year-old Potter's Sagger Maker. Uncle Henry is a 41-year-old potter's sagger maker. Aunt Lydia (30) is now Lydia Leigh, having married Albert Leigh in 1901, working as a  Charwoman and has 2 children, Annie Leigh, aged 7, and Harry Leigh,  aged 1.

John Pope Senior is to be found elsewhere in the 1911 Census, specifically the Workhouse Hospital and Infirmary, London Road Near Newcastle, Staffs. He is an inpatient with a condition described as feeble-minded.

John Henry Pope enlisted in the North Staffordshire Regiment on the 7th January 1915. His WW1 service papers survive and tell us that he is described as a 24-year-old, 5’7” tall, with a 36.5” chest with 3” expansion. His trade is that of Sanitary Placer, and his address is 38 Clarence Street, Longport, Staffordshire, and he is married to Lydia Mary nee Broadhurst and has 2 children, Samuel born 26th July 1912 at Longport and Sarah Ann born 30th January 1915 at Burslem. 

John and Lydia had married at St Paul's Church, Burslem, on the 11th February 1912.

On the 26th January 1915, he was posted to the 9th Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment, a pioneer battalion, and on the 28th July 1915, he was sent to the Western Front in France. The next we know of John's service is the report of his death, which occurred on the 26th April 1917. He was initially reported missing but confirmed killed in action that same day. Unfortunately, the war diary for the period 24th - 26th April 1917 is missing, but we can see from the previous days that they are in the area of Arras repairing trenches after the second battle of the Scarpe, which took place from the 23rd-24th April 1917.

He is buried in the Point Du Jour Military Cemetery, Athies, France, in plot number III.B.15, and he is remembered on the Royal Doulton Kilngate Memorial.

His wife Lydia was awarded a widow's and dependants pension of 22 shillings and 11 pennies from the 10th December 1917, but this was increased on the 18th August 1920 to 44 shillings and 2 pennies.

His effects were returned to Lydia and consisted of a watch and strap, wallet, and photos.

A report in the Staffordshire Sentinel dated 28th May 1917 informs John's wife that he is missing in action.

Mrs. Pope, 28, Clarence-Street, Longport, received official news that her husband, J. H. Pope, North Staffs. Regt. is missing; he enlisted in 1915, prior to which he was employed by Messrs. Doulton, Burslem. His brother is on active service.

A further report in the Staffordshire Sentinel on the 9th June 1917 informs that his wife received intimation of his death. 

NORTH STAFFS. REGIMENT.

Latest List of Casualties.

The following casualties in the North Staffordshire Regiment are reported:-

KILLED IN ACTION.

Mrs.S. Pope, 28, Clarence-Street, Longport, has received official intimation that her husband, Pte. John Pope, North Staffordshire Regiment, has been killed in action. He was 27 years of age and was formerly employed by Messrs. Doulton, Ltd., Burslem.

For his service, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.

His brother Robert William Pope also served in the Great War as Corporal 201386 of the Northumberland Fusiliers. He enlisted on the 3rd April 1916. Records show that he was taken prisoner of war at Croiselles on the 22. 03.1918 as a Corporal with ‘B’ Company, 21st Battalion N.F. He gives his date of birth as 24.01.1891, his place of birth as Hanley, and his address as 16 Dobson Street, Burslem. He survived the duration of captivity to return to England and was discharged on the 4th August 1919, suffering from Osteo Arthritis. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Robert had married Lilian Pritchard in October of 1916, registered in Wolstanton. 

In 1921, he was a patient in the North Staffordshire Infirmary, and in 1939, he was described as incapacitated, living at 39 Leonard Street with his wife, Lilian, a Cleaner.

An obituary from the Sentinel Newspaper reads. 

Deaths: POPE. At rest on May 1st, 1975. After a long illness, patiently borne. at his sister-in-law's home. 3. Kingsway West, Westlands. Newcastle, Robert William Pope, aged 84 years. The beloved husband of the late Lilian Pope of 21. Leonard-St., Burslem.

In 1921, widowed Lydia Mary Pope (29) was living at 28 Clarence Street, Longport, with her parents, Samuel Broadhurst (65), a Railway Platelayer born in Bretton, Cheshire, and Sarah Ann (65), born in Burslem, and her two children, Samuel (8) and Sarah Ann (6).

The 1939 register sees Lydia Mary Pope born 5.5.1892, widowed, living alone at 28 Clarence Street, Longport. Her son Samuel Pope, now aged 27, is working as an Electrical Engineer, married to Doris Smith in 1938, and they lived at 44 Davenport St, Burslem. Daughter Sarah Ann (Sally) Pope was single, working as a barmaid, living at 22 Church St, Birmingham. 

Lydia Mary Pope died in 1961, aged 69. 

SOURCES:

• Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2168; Folio: 69; Page: 27; GSU roll: 6097278
• 1901 census Class: RG13; Piece: 2601; Folio: 50; Page: 3
• RED CROSS GRAND GUERRE POW RECORDS PA 26837 AND PA 31572
• https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/File/Zoom/E/04/01/C_G1_E_04_01_0135/C_G1_E_04_01_0135_0039.JPG/4 
• https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/List/3936041/698/31572/ 
• ANCESTRY WW1 Service papers
• https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/file/645307605?terms=16342%2Cpope
• https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/file/669431728?terms=16342%2Cpope 
• https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/image/324714428/pope-john-h-page-11-uk-wwi-british-army-medal-roll-index-cards-1914-1920?terms=16342%2Cpope 
• National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 505001-506500; Reference: 289
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
• Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 153/0745/Pon-Pop
• John Henry Pope service records, The National Archives; London, England, UK; War Office: Soldiers' Documents, First World War Wo363
• Lydia Mary Pope, The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/12616, ED 2, Sch 103; Book: 12616
• Robert William Pope, The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/12708, ED 29, Sch; Book: 12708
• Lydia Mary Pope, The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/5280C
• Sally Pope The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/5557A
• FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD HAN/031/026, HAN/038/021, HAN/080/095, 04/09/105, 24/4/124
• https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/257359/john-henry-pope/ 
• STAFFORDSHIRE SENTINEL 28.05.1917 AND 09.06.1917
• https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19170528/060/0002
• https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19170609/015/0001