Name
William Ernest Cooper
13 September 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/09/1917
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
2170
Royal Field Artillery
D Bty. 59th Bde.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GWALIA CEMETERY
II. C. 7.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Little Gaddesden Village Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Little Gaddesden, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour (2018 Revision), Little Gaddesden, We are not aware of any Hudnall memorial
Pre War
William Ernest Cooper was born on 13 September 1891 at 1 Hope Villas, Eastney, Portsmouth, Hampshire, the son of James and Martha Cooper, and one of four children. At the time of his birth his father was a Colour Sergeant in the Royal Marine Artillery. Sadly he was only 7 years old when his father died in Southsea, Hampshire on 30 November 1898. His mother then needed to find work, and the family moved to Hudnall and William started in Little Gaddesden School on 11 March 1901. On the 1901 Census, William is listed with his sister Winifred as living at No. 7 Little Gaddesden, Herts where his mother was the Matron at the Convalescent Home.
William was a good student and won a prize for achieving the highest marks of the school year in 1904. He also gained a place a Berkhamsted Grammar School and started in September 1905.
On the 1911 Census, he was lodging at the home of his employer, George Mead, a Coachbuilder, at 9 Luke Street, Bedford.
His mother remained at Hudnall, Little Gaddesden as Matron of the Convalescent Home for Boys in 1911 with his sister Winifred as her assistant.
His aunt sister Louisa lived at 43 Little Gaddesden, having married John Young.
Wartime Service
He volunteered early in the War and served as a Gunner in the 59th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery in France from June 1915.
He was killed in action in Belgium on 23rd September 1917, aged 26,
during the 3rd Battle of Ypres. He is buried in Gwalia Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £13 10s and his pay owing of £15 4s 3d was split between his mother Martha, sisters Winifred and Catherine, brother Herbert Archibald and half brother John Dalton. His mother also received a pension of 5 shillings a week.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, dacorumheritage.org.uk, hemelatwar.org., littlegaddesdenchurch.org.uk
