Name
Ernest Cooper
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/11/1918
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
331067
Lancashire Fusiliers
15th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LANDRECIES BRITISH CEMETERY
B. 62.
France
Headstone Inscription
IN MEMORY EVER DEAR
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the Letchworth memorials, Not listed on the Hertfordshire Yeomanry Memorial, St Albans Cathedral
Pre War
Ernest Cooper was born in Baldock in 1891 (baptised 28 Feb 1892), the son of George Cooper, labourer, and Annie (nee Brown) and one of six children. He was baptised on 28 February 1892 in Baldock.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Bertie (born 1886, errand boy)), Ada (born 1888), Ernest, May (born 1894), Hugh (born1896) and William (father’s brother) were living at Pond lane, Baldock, where his father was working as a groom and horse keeper on a farm.
By 1911 Census the family of parents, Ernest, May (day servant)and Hugh (errand boy) had moved to Station Road, Baldock, and Ernest was working as a grocery carman.
He married Amy Maria Albon on 12 June 1915 at Hackney Register Office, London. At that time he had already enlisted and his occupation was given as Trooper with the Herts Yeomanry living at The Barracks, Hertford. Amy was living at 83 Fassett Road, Homerton. Their child, Hubert Ernest was born on 17 December 1917.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hertford and initially joined the Hertfordshire Yeomanry under regimental number 2191 (renumbered in 1917 to 105532). At some point (late 1917) he was transferred to the 15th (Service) Battalion (1st Salford), Lancashire Fusiliers under regimental number 331067 and promoted to Lance Corporal. The battalion was part of 96 Brigade, 32nd Division and in 1918 took part in the battles of Arras (28 Mar), Ancre (5 Apr), Amiens (8-11 Aug), Albert (21-23 Aug), Bapaume (31 Aug- 3 Sep), St Quentin (29 Sep-2 Oct), Beaurevoir (3-5 Oct).
Ernest was killed in action on 2 Nov 1918 during the Final Advance in Picardy prior to the action of the Sambre Canal, and is buried in Landrecies British Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £23 and pay owing of £34 6s 8d. She also received a pension of £1 0s 5d a week for herself and her son. She later lived at Letchworth Lane, Letchworth, Herts.
N.B. Listed at a Private on the Regimental Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson, Jonty Wild
