Name
Percy Cooper
1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/03/1918
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
18th Bn.
'B' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 90 to 93.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France, to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Broxbourne Town Memorial, St Augustine’s Church Memorial, Broxbourne, Not on the Hoddesdon Memorials
Pre War
Percy COOPER was born in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, his
birth was registered in Ware, in the third quarter of 1888, son of Howard
Lister Cooper a Stockbroker and Mary Beatrice Cooper (nee Cooper). The second
of four children. His parents married on 22nd October 1885, at All
saints Church, Marple, Cheshire.
1891 census records Percy aged 2, living with his parents,
and brother Howard Lister Jr. (4), at Riverdene, St Catherine’s, Hoddesdon, Herts.
The family had four Domestic Servants, a cook, Nurse, Under Nurse and a
Housemaid.
1901 Census records Percy aged 12, a Pupal at Sunny Down
Private School, Compton, Nr. Guilford, Surrey. His parents, sisters Marjory (8)
and Dorathy (7), are still living at Riverdene, St Catherine’s, Hoddesdon. The
had a Governess, three Domestic Servants, a Cook, Parlourmaid and a Housemaid.
1911 Census, Percy aged 22, is a lodger at Knockhall Lodge,
Greenhithe, Nr. Swanscombe, Kent, he is recorded as a Fruit Farmer employing
two people. His brother Howard Jr. a Motor Engineer, is still living at the family home,
Riverdene, St Catharine's, Hoddesdon, with three Domestic Servants. His parents
and sister Marjorie (18) are recorded as Lodgers at 5 Regency Square, Brighton,
Sussex, an apartment house, (possible on a family holiday). His parents’
occupations are given as Members of the Stock Exchange.
Wartime Service
Percy enlisted in 1914, posted to the Duke of Cambridges Own
(Middlesex Regiment), issued with the service number PS/922. His Medal Index
Card (MID) records he landed at Boulogne, France on 17th November
1915, with the rank of Sargent. He was discharged to a Commission on 4th
August 1916. Gazetted 2nd Lieutenant to the Machine Gun Corps in
1917. He was Killed in Action on 22nd/23rd March 1918,
aged 28, he has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial,
Somme, France, to the missing. Panel 90 to 93. He was killed during the Second Battle of the Somme 21st March to 5th April 1918.
Additional Information
His effects of £111-17-01, pay owing and his war gratuity of £13-10-00, went to his father Howard Lister Cooper.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Richard Barber
