Name
William Cooper
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/09/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
16771
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GUILLEMONT ROAD CEMETERY, GUILLEMONT
XII. N. 8.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
He was the son of Mr J. Cooper of 17, Exchange Yard, Hitchin. He was born in Hitchin and was resident there when he enlisted.
Wartime Service
He enlisted into the 8th Battalion with the Regimental Number W.16771. This Battalion was in the 16th Brigade of the 6th Division.
The 8th Battalion attacked a strongpoint known as the ‘Quadrilateral’ opposite Ginchy and Bouleaux Wood, on the 15th September 1916. Of the tanks that were supposed to have been in advance of the infantry, only one appeared and that immediately stuck in the mud. In the attack they were assisted by the Heavy Section of the Machinegun Corps. Zero hour was 6.20am with three assault waves. Quadrilateral on the left flank with ‘B’ Company attacking the trench leading to it. At 6.00am heavy artillery opened a slow barrage on the line Morval to Les Boeufs. At zero hour the barrage became more intense but was cut short leading to numerous casualties. At 6.00pm they were relieved and put into Brigade Reserve. The attack had failed and the casualties were numbered in hundreds.
He was buried in Plot 12, Row N, Grave 8 in the Guillemont Road Cemetery in France.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
