Name
Harry Cooper
January quarter of 1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/11/1917
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
25494
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY
IXA. E. 11.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no family insription on his headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
St Leonard's Church Lychgate, Sandridge, We are not aware of any Roestock Memorial, Not on the London Colney memorials (*1)
Pre War
Harry COOPER was born in Roestock/London Colney, Hertfordshire (Depending on the document) in the early part of 1895, son of James Cooper a Labourer and Fanny Cooper (nee Martin). One of 12 children.
1901 Census records Harry aged 6, at school, living with his parents, four brothers and two sisters Caroline (8) and Emily (7) at 1 Beech Cottages, St Peters, St Albans, Herts.
1911 Census records Harry (16) employed as a Farm Labourer, living with his parents, and brother Edward (23), now living in Sandridge, Herts. Brother Stanley Cooper was born in 1912.
Wartime Service
Harry enlisted twice, firstly in September 1914, at St Albans, Herts, for three years with the Colours, joining the Bedfordshire Regiment, at Bedford on 14th September 1914, and issued with the service number 17143, believed to be the 8th Battalion. He was discharged just 62 days later, on 14th November 1914, under Para 392 (iii) KR.
His service record for his second attempt was not found. Other records found that he joined the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, issued with the service number 25494. On completion of his training Harry was sent to the Western Front. He was Killed in Action on 12th November 1917, aged 24. He is buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery, Belgium. Grave Ref: IXA. E. 11.
The War Diary of the 1st Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment states:
12th November 1917 - Polygon Racecourse.
Battalion relieved 12/13 Northumberland Fusiliers in frontline near Polygon Racecourse. Relief was shelled 6 ORs being killed.
Additional Information
His mother Fanny Cooper received a dependents pension of 4/- a week from 4th June 1918, increased to 12/6 a week from 13th January 1919. His effects of £4-03s-00d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £8, went to his father James Cooper.
Harry’s sister Emily married Frederick Swain in May 1914, who was killed in Palestine in July 1917, his brother Charles Swain was also killed in Palestine in March 1917.
*1 Possible the connection is to Colney Heath.
Acknowledgments
Sarah Burns, Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild, Mark Collins (Great Grandson)
