ERIC HOOPER ROYCE
17 May 1895 - 19 May 1918
At School 1908 - 1914
Trooper 3609 1st Life Guards Household Cavalry
Eric was born in Eccles, Manchester and in 1901 was living at 4 Albert Road, Eccles with father Mark, a commercial traveller in the Drapery trade, mother Amelia, older brothers Howard and Reginald and a domestic servant. By 1911 the family had moved to 208 Plymouth Grove, Manchester and Eric aged 15 was a pupil at the School. He was a keen all round sportsman winning prizes in the swimming sports and being awarded caps for football and lacrosse.
In 1914, Eric was continuing his studies at School with a view to becoming ordained, however following the outbreak of war he enlisted in the 1st Life Guards on 14 November 1914. Eric was the first boy to enlist straight from School and was presented on the occasion, in November 1914, with field glasses by masters and boys. After training in London he was posted to France on 16 March 1916, disembarking at Rouen on 17 March. He then left for his Regiment on 18 March, arriving on the 20th amongst a draft of 26 other ranks. At this time the 1st Life Guards were in winter quarters in the Rumilly area, some 23 miles south east of Boulogne. Squadron training was carried out during March and April and in May the Battalion moved to Caours near Abbeville





