Adrian Hope

In the west aisle of the north transept of Westminster Abbey is a memorial stone to Brigadier the Honorable Adrian Hope, who was killed in India. He also had a stained glass window in the aisle but this was destroyed during the second world war. That showed illustrations from the life of Asa. It was part of a series of windows to officers and men who died during the Indian Mutiny showing Biblical figures from the Old Testament.

The inscription in brass letters on the stone reads:

To the glory of God and in memory of Brigadier the Honble. Adrian Hope C.B. Lieutenant Colonel 93rd Highlanders, youngest son of General John, Fourth Earl of Hopetoun. Born March 3rd 1821 killed before the Fort of Rohya in Oude April 15th 1858. The lancet window in this aisle was enriched with stained glass by his family 1860.

His father, known as Sir John Hope, served in the Peninsular war and succeeded to the Earldom in 1816. According to a guidebook to the Abbey of 1865 Adrian served with the 60th Rifles in the Mediterranean and the West Indies between 1838 and 1851. He fought in the Kaffir war in Africa and later in the Crimea including the battles at Alma and Inkerman. In January 1856 he returned to the Crimea with the 93rd Highlanders and they were among the first to arrive in India at the outbreak of the mutiny in 1857. He was prominently engaged in the relief of Lucknow and commanded infantry at Cawnpore and was mentioned in despatches. He was promoted to Colonel and received the cross of Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).

Born

3rd March 1821

Died

15th April 1858

Occupation

Soldier

Location

North Transept

Memorial Type

Stone

Adrian Hope
Adrian Hope memorial

This image can be purchased from Westminster Abbey Library

Image © 2024 Dean and Chapter of Westminster