Born at Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow.
Enlisted into the 6th Dragoon Guards at Liverpool on the 18th of August 1849.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: Engraver.
Transferred to the 17th Lancers at Dundalk on the 1st of May 1850.
From Private to Corporal: 16th of November 1855.
Corporal to Sergeant: 7th of September 1857.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
The muster rolls for the period July-September 1858 show him as being "On Field Service" during the whole of this period.
Served in the field at Rajghur and Mungrowlee with Captain William Gordon.
Died at Sooljanalpoor, India, on the 26th of March 1859.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Mutiny medal without clasp.
The Returned Medal book states "Mutiny medal sent to the Mint. No trace of issue."
Further medal information archived.A Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol and named to "Corporal J. Cope. 17th Lancers." is in the Regimental Museum.
Died at Sooljanalpoor, India, on the 26th of March 1859.
Extract from the Mutiny diary of Ensign Robert Emmett of the 92nd Highlanders relating to events when his company formed part of a Force with the 17th Lancers:
"Wednesday, 23rd of March 1859, when at Sooljawulpoor, [sic]:
"This afternoon we amused ourselves with impromptu races at the Lancers's camp. The officer's hurdle was very well contested between Captain Sir W. Gordon and Captain White, the former winning the race by about a length. After three or four races amongst the officers a tattoo (pony) race open to all the camp was won by a tattoo belonging to Colour Sergeant Yates (92nd.) and ridden by a non-commissioned officer of the 17th. This race closed the proceedings, and unfortunately with an accident, for Sergeant Cope of the 17th fell with his pony at the fourth hurdle, he being too much heavy in weight for its strength; he fell on his head and was taken up quite insensible.
"Sunday, 27th of March: Sergeant Cope died of his injuries received last Wednesday, this morning; he was quite sensible for a short time but never able to speak. He is greatly regretted by both his officers and his comrades; he served throughout the Crimean campaign and was one of the 600 of the Balaclava Charge. Our piper and many of our men showed very good feeling by asking leave to accompany his remains to their last resting-place, which was of course, granted. He was buried beneath a tree in the vicinity of the Cavalry camp and an inscription on it alone marks the spot where he sleeps."
Thomas Morley, in his "Memoirs", states that "Private James Cope came back with him after passing through the Russian guns." (See copy in the "Memoirs" file.)
He saved the life of Sir William Gordon at Mungrowlee, India, in September of 1858 by killing a rebel sepoy who was about to fire on the officer from behind.
In his manuscript account of the Indian Mutiny, 1177 James Wightman tells of the crossing of the Godar river:
"Sir William Gordon thought he could ford it, when he and Sergeant Cope, who were leading, suddenly disappeared — both getting a good ducking."
(See copy in the "Memoirs" file)