Lance Corporal George Edward Cooper

[MartinCooper]

Hi there - hoping members are able to add some further knowledge/information regarding a family member who was killed in action during WW1, to help piece together more detail for our Ancestry family tree. Here is what I know so far: 

• George Edward Cooper
• Born ~1897 in Warrington. I believe it came under Lancashire during this time but is Cheshire now.
• Died 12th August 1916 and is buried at Hebuterne Communal Cemetry, Pas de Calais. 
• Father was Frederick Cooper, Mother Selina Cooper (nee Holt)
• Service number: R/2484, Rank: Lance Corporal, Corps/Regiment/Unit: Kings Royal Rifle Corps.

Below are a couple of links of information I have been able to find via Ancestry and Google: 

Every One Remembered - Soldier Profile George edward Cooper

11th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps. - Remembering The Dead Of World War 1. (weebly.com) (the first headstone after the first two larger pictures)

Also attached is register of soldiers effects (his name is at the top) and a dependants pension - both from Ancestry. 

 

Any push in the right direction for more information would be greatly appreciated. 

 

Martin

 

[kenf48]

Welcome to the GWF

A gentle reminder when posting extracts from paid sites for copyright reasons please acknowledge sources.

I'm sure KRRC specialists will be along soon

In the meantime you can download the war diary from TNA for free if you register https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7353105

also on Ancestry as you have access.  CWGC states he was in D Coy

 

[MartinCooper]

Thanks for that, Ken. I have added an acknowledgment as requested. 

Appreciate the links - I have downloaded the war diaries and working through them - fascinating the information they contain. I have found George in one of the entries, listed on the right side where they appear to reference those killed/wounded, but it doesn't say for him and a few others - after that he doesn't appear to feature at all. 

If any of the KRRC experts have anything to add - very much appreciated. 

[Gunner 87]

1 hour ago, MartinCooper said:

Thanks for that, Ken. I have added an acknowledgment as requested. 

Appreciate the links - I have downloaded the war diaries and working through them - fascinating the information they contain. I have found George in one of the entries, listed on the right side where they appear to reference those killed/wounded, but it doesn't say for him and a few others - after that he doesn't appear to feature at all. 

If any of the KRRC experts have anything to add - very much appreciated. 

'St Helen's Examiner' Saturday, August 26th, 1916...

Full page sent over by pm.

Courtesy of Find My Past Newspapers. 

 

 

Edited 29 December , 2023 by Gunner 87

[MartinCooper]

Outstanding! It's great to put a face to the name. Thanks a lot!

[Gunner 87]

43 minutes ago, MartinCooper said:

Outstanding! It's great to put a face to the name. Thanks a lot!

Martin. You're welcome.

As per the link kenf48 mentions this is the relevant page in the War Diary which records George being killed on the 11/08/16 as posed to the 12/08/16.

kind regards

Gunner

[MartinCooper]

You are eagle eyed, I skipped straight past that! Thanks again. 

[Gunner 87]

20 minutes ago, MartinCooper said:

You are eagle eyed, I skipped straight past that! Thanks again. 

 it's not that common to see an enlisted man recorded by name in a War Diary. 

[Matlock1418]

13 hours ago, MartinCooper said:

Mother, Selina, is recorded as Sole Legatee - i.e. there was a Will.

His Will is available for a small fee at: https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate Probably won't say much but it will have his signature

War Gratuity £9 can be back-calculated from his death to give an approx. date of enlistment = I got 24 months service = Aug 1914 [which seems to match the newspaper article]

M