COOPER Fred

Known information

Private Fred Cooper was a waggoner living at Burley-on-the-Hill before the war with his wife and seven children. He joined the Royal Garrison Artillery on 1 November 1915, and was sent to France on 6 January 1916. He was wounded in the leg when working with an officer on a trench howitzer on 1 March. The officer was also wounded and taken to a dressing station and on returning to bring in Fred he found him missing. It was not until Easter Sunday morning the following year that news of his death reached his widow, who mourned "the best of husbands," and whose seven children miss "the kindest of fathers." He was 38 years of age. Fred has no known grave and so he is remembered on the Menin Gate, Panel 9, as well as on Burley on the Hill's war memorial.

Do you know something about Fred that hasn't been mentioned?
You can add any new information and images as a contribution at the bottom of this page.
  • Burley Church
  • Burley Memorial
  • Menin Gate
  • Panel 9 Royal Garrison Artillery
  • F Cooper

User contributions

Fred Cooper was my Grandfather. He lived in Burley on the Hill in the Toll Bar Cottages at the Exton turn off the Cottesmore Road, at the time he was killed. Shortly afer his death my Grandmother moved the family into the end cottage of Long Row, Burley. I will put some more detail on at a later date.
By Mike237 on Monday 19th May '14 at 6:49pm
Fred Cooper was born in Depwade Norfolk in 1880 .His Mother & Father were Tom and Emma Cooper who lived in Felwell, Norfolk.At the time war was declaired Fred was in Canada, he returned back home and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery in Oakham although at the time his age (36) and his occupation (farm worker) did not require him to join the Services. He was posted to the Artillery due to his knowledge of horses, which were the main pulling power for the guns, and was posted initally to France and the moved to Belgium where he was killed. Fred's name is also on the War Memorial - Brandon, Suffolk.
By Mike237 on Tuesday 3rd June '14 at 3:00pm
In Remeberance. Grandfather Fred died !00 years ago today. Michael & Family
By Mike237 on Tuesday 1st March '16 at 12:28pm
Remembering Great Grandfather Fred. Died 100 years ago today David, Mark, Amanda
By Mike237 on Tuesday 1st March '16 at 12:31pm
After research and visits to Ypres we believe that Fred was killed in the area of the 'Bluffs', in the Ypres Salient. It was officially called 'An Action' not 'A Battle'. The Bluffs are slag heaps made by the diggings from the Ypres-Comiene Canal and because it was high ground it made a good tactical place to observe the Germans. The Germans wanted the high gound as well, so the action was fought from February 1916 to early March 1916. The Germans took the Bluffs and the British eventually won the Bluffs back. It was during the last days of the fighting that Fred lost his life. For details of the action Google -' The action of the Bluffs Ypres Salient '
By Mike237 on Thursday 3rd March '16 at 5:11pm
Remembering Fred Cooper who dies 102 tears ago. RIP
By Mike237 on Friday 2nd March '18 at 5:22pm
 

Rutland and The Battle of the Somme

More than 90 Rutland soldiers died in the Battle of the Somme which lasted from 1 July 1916 until the middle of November. Today they lie in cemeteries across the old battlefield in northern France or are remembered among the 72,000 names on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. By using our interactive map, you can find out what happened to them.

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