2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers
by Robert Simpson
Herbert Cooper was born on 9 January 1874 in Norwood, Surrey. His parents were Thomas Cooper and Mary Ann Pocock. A marriage reference for them cannot be found, so it is not known where or when they married. Thomas had been born on 27 August 1844 in Chiswick, London and Mary had been born in early 1849 in Newbury, Berkshire. Herbert was their first child and only son. On 28 March 1875 Herbert was baptised in West Dulwich Emmanuel Church in Lambeth, England with their address stated as Ivy Villa, Hamilton. Thomas was listed as a gardener. A record for Salters Hill School, Gypsy Road, Lambeth, for an admission for Herbert Cooper on 7 July 1879, lists his parents as Thomas and Mary of 6 Cleveland Terrace but gives his date of birth as 23 January 1875. It also records he left the school on 8 September 1879. This is the only record which gives a different birth date, all his service records have the above date.
Grace Cooper was born in 1877 in Norwood and was baptised on 28 January 1877 in the same church and their address had changed to 6 (hard to read?) Terrace, Hamilton Road and he was still a gardener.
Edith Cooper was born in 1883 in Chiswick. She died in 1925 according to another family tree.
Elizabeth Cooper was born in 1885 in Chiswick.
Their last child, Florence Cooper was born on 17 January 1886 in Hammersmith, London. According to another family tree she died in Wandsworth London on 19 April 1975.
In the 1891 census they were all living at 14 Carthew Road, Hammersmith, London. Thomas was listed as jobbing gardener; Herbert was a provision porter and three of the girls were scholars. Sometime between this census and the 1901, Mary passed away. There is a record for a Mary Ann Cooper born about 1849 who died in late 1897 in Whitechapel, London but it is not known if she is the right person. By the 1901 census, they had moved to 6 Garrick Grove Chiswick. Thomas was listed as a domestic gardener and was living with the three youngest daughters, with Edith and Elizabeth being packers in a soap factory. According to another family tree, Thomas passed away in 1924. No other details can be found on the family.
Herbert attested with The Royal Fusiliers at Hounslow on 9 September 1892 for short service and was given the Regimental Number RF 4391. The newly formed regiment was established as the city regiment for London and started numbering from 1 in 1881. He stated he was born in Norwood London and was an 18 year 8-month old porter. Herbert was already serving with the 5th Royal Fusiliers and was not married, not an apprentice and had no sentence or discharge. His physical description showed he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighed 131 pounds, had a chest measurement of 32½ to 34½ inches and had a fresh complexion with brown eyes and dark brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England and his address on enlistment was 86 Stowe Road, Shepherds Bush, London. He took the oath and was considered fit for the army on that day. Herbert received a conditional discharge of militiaman which showed he had been in 5th Battalion Royal Fusiliers and had performed 71 days of drill whilst with them. It was dated 10 September 1892. A medical history also shows his physical development was good, he had two vaccination marks in the left arm from infancy and he was fit. He was also re-vaccinated with two injections in the right arm on 22 September 1892.
On 30 September 1896, a court of inquiry was held at Station Hospital Curragh in accordance with para 253 Curragh Standing Orders 1896, the purpose of was to enquire into and report on an injury sustained by No. 4391 Corpl. H. Cooper 2/Roy. Fusrs. Herbert stated ‘On 22nd Sep. I was playing football & in trying to kick the ball I sprained my knee. I took no notice of it at the time, but on Sep 26th I had to go sick & reported to hospital the following day.’ Medical evidence was supplied. It was considered ‘I. That Corpl Cooper sustained the injury to his knee when not on duty. II. That it is the result of an accident. III. That it is not likely to affect his efficiency as a soldier. I do not recommend the remission of hospital stoppages.’ Whilst stationed at Gibraltar, on 23 February 1900, Herbert completed a form asking to extend his army service to complete 12 years with the colours. He was recorded as 4391 Sergeant Herbert Cooper, who had served 7 years and 6 months, had a very good character and was awarded two good conduct badges. He had been promoted to corporal on 7 January 1895 and to sergeant on 4 April 1898 and his army service was to expire on 9 September 1904.
Herbert is possibly one of the middle Sergeants.
His medical record from 1892 to 1903 shows he mainly had no admissions apart from his right knee sprain in 1897 at Curragh and ‘Syph Prim’ while at Guernsey for which he spent 53 days in hospital. It lists various places he was at including Belfast, Dilwara and Bermuda and a few ships.
Herbert married Rose Hannah Martin on 14 July 1905 in Bermuda, West Indies and was recorded in General Register Office Index for Army Marriages. Rose had been born on 14 February 1879 in Cirencester, Gloucestershire and was baptised there in the Church of England on 23 March 1879. Her parents were listed as Henry and Jane, with Henry being a labourer. They were living in Gloucester Street.
While at Prospect, Bermuda, Herbert filled out a re-engagement paper stating that 4391 Colour Sergeant Herbert Cooper 3rd Battalion The Royal Fusiliers had enlisted for 7 years with the colours and 5 years with the reserve and desired to re-engage with the Royal Fusiliers to make up a total continuous period of 21 years of army service. His commanding officer recorded Herbert had 11 years and 316 days service towards discharge and signed the form on 22nd July 1904. He was also medically examined and found fit for service on the same day. He was re-vaccinated on 20 November 1909 with two injections in the left arm.
In the 1911 census they were recorded as with the 2nd Battalion The Royal Fusiliers with Herbert a Sergeant Major aged 36, married, ‘none’ for trade or occupation and born in Norwood Surrey. Rose was listed in ‘Return of Wives and Children of Officers and Soldiers, who passed the night of Sunday, April 2nd, 1911, in these barracks or quarters’ as a wife aged 31, who had been married for 5 years and had no children and was born at Cirencester England. The cover of the census book shows it was an enumeration book for military establishments for 2nd Battalion The Royal Fusiliers at Hugh Rose Barracks Jubbulpore. The commanding officer was Major C H D Lyon-Campbell. The Delhi Durbar 1911 medal roll for the 2nd Battalion the Royal Fusiliers (city of London Regiment) lists that 4391 Sergeant Major H Cooper was in the army allotment and it was sourced from the adjutant general in India. Herbert received an anti-typhoid inoculation on 24 October 1911. The Long Service and Good Conduct Register for the Royal Fusiliers Regiment in 1911 lists that 4391 Sergeant Major Herbert Cooper was recommended for the medal on 1 January 1911.
Sergeants 2nd RF Jubbulpore June 1913 “Tennis at Home” Herbert on far-left standing.
On 4 January 1913 he was examined and found fit for continuance of service over 21 years. In January 1913, Herbert signed a form to continue for longer than 21 years in service at Jubbulpore. It showed that 4391 Sergeant Major Herbert Cooper had served 20 years and 4 months, his character was exemplary, he was entitled to four Good Conduct Badges, he had been promoted to a warrant officer on 25 March 1908, his date of birth was 9-1-74 and his period of army service expires on 8 September 1913. It was signed by a medical officer and a captain at Hounslow on 4 February 1913. The Deputy Assistant Adjutant General 5th Mhow Division sent a memorandum to General Officer Commanding Jubbulpore Brigade about the retention in the service of Sergeant Major Cooper 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers on 4 April 1913. He was permitted to continue the service as a warrant officer on that date. On 19 August 1913, he signed an insurance form to continue his insurance under the National Insurance Act of 1911 and for 1½d per week to come from his pay. It was signed at Jubbulpore by the officer commanding D Company. On 12 December 1913 he was in Calcutta.
Herbert appears in British Army Lists, with the 1912 list showing him as a sergeant major in the Royal Fusiliers with a birth date of 9 January 1874. In the 1915 list he was a 2nd Lieutenant, by the 1916 list he was a Lieutenant, which continued in the 1917 and 1918 lists.
His service record from 1892 to 1913 reads: – Attested The Royal Fusiliers as Private 4391 on 9 September 1892 Posted to 2nd Battalion as Private on 30 November 1892 Appointed Lance Corporal 12 May 1893 Granted Good Conduct pay at 1d on 9 September 1894 Promoted to Corporal 7 January 1895 Posted to Depot as Corporal on 1 October 1896 Posted to 2nd Battalion as Corporal on 9 November 1897 Appointed Lance Sergeant on 4 April 1898 ‘Elected to come under new messing rates Special Army order of 2nd April 1898’ on 18 April 1898 Posted to 3rd Battalion as Sergeant on 1 November 1898 Promoted to Colour Sergeant on 15 January 1900 and granted Class 1 Service pay at 7d on 1 April 1904 ‘Re-engaged for “The Royal Fusiliers” at Bermuda on the 22nd July 1904 for such term as shall complete 21 years service’ as a Colour Sergeant Posted to 4th Battalion on 19 December 1905 Posted to Permanent Staff 4th Battalion on 18 September 1906 Posted to 4th Battalion on 1 January 1908 Promoted to Sergeant Major, dated 16 January 1909, on 25 March 1908 Posted to 2nd Battalion on 4 March 1909
Paid £16.15.0 Deferred Pay on February 1909 Permitted to continue in the Service beyond 21 years, dated 4 February 1913
The 2nd Battalion was stationed at Calcutta, India, and on 4 August 1914 returned to England. They arrived there in January 1915 and moved to Nuneaton to join the 86th Brigade of the 29th Division.
The London Gazette of 15 January 1915 on page 483 had an entry under War Office for that date for Regular Forces that the ‘undermentioned Warrant and Non-Commissioned Officers to be Second Lieutenants’ from 7 December 1914 and included an entry under Infantry, ‘The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)’ for Sergeant Major Herbert Cooper as one of eight entries for that regiment. His service record noted he was granted a commission as 2nd Lieutenant ‘in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers with effect from 10.11.1914 (vide Gazette of India, 10.11.14)’.
In the graduation list of officers for 1915, Herbert is listed in the 2nd Lieutenants as Herbert Cooper, born 9 January 1874 and it records he was in ranks for 15 years and 197 days and a Warrant Officer for 6 years and 227 days.
The War Diary for the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers starts at Stockingford on 18 January 1915, where they were mobilised. On 21 January their colours were handed over to the Lord Mayor of London by Lieutenant J V Scudmore and 2nd Lieutenant H Cooper. The rest of the month was spent marching, having medicals and inoculations and building up to War Establishment. In February they had more routine marches and companies were changed to X, Y and Z instead of A, B, C, and D. Having received rifles, they commenced to practice on Kingsbury Rifle Range. They also had weekend passes and continued with marches and attack practice. In March they did a route march to Coventry, where they took up new billets. On 12 March, the King inspected them. Half the Battalion left by train on 15 March and the other half on 16 March, reaching Avonmouth and embarking. Some went on SS Alaunia (a requisitioned Cunard liner) and the rest went on SS Mercian, with both ships leaving late in the afternoon. While at sea they did physical drill and ordinary routine. The ships passed Gibraltar at about midday on 20 March and reached Malta at 10.30am on 23 March.
The next entry in the diary says they were at MEX Camp on 30 March. In early April they were practicing embarking and disembarking from boats at a beach near Adami Fort. On 6 April, they were inspected by General Sir Ian Hamilton. On 8 April they struck camp after breakfast and went by rail to the wharf at Alexandria docks. At 3pm they embarked on SS Alaunia, with the transport section boarding SS Marquette. They left the dock the next morning at 10am and ‘steamed straight out to sea. Destination unknown.’ Arriving at Lemnos on 11 April, they noted a ‘good number of troopships including Australians and a number of battleships were already in the harbour’. Over the next few days, they practiced boat and ladder drill, physical drill and rowing. They had issues with the ship crew not lowering the boats some of the time as they were ‘neither under Military nor Naval Law it was difficult to deal with them.’ Training and practice continued through the month. On the morning of 21 April officers had a conference.
The Battalion landed at X Beach
They arrived off Gallipoli at 3am on 25 April. While disembarking into cutters from HMS Implacable at 4am, a general bombardment of the shore by the battleships took place. ‘The Implacable covered our landing with every available gun & except for distant rifle fire there was no opposition to our landing & we suffered no casualties’. The 2nd Battalion The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) landed at Gallipoli as part of the 86th Brigade in the 29th Division. They scaled the cliff and took the top with no opposition. Two companies were sent out to attack Hill 114 and trenches on the left and met with heavy fire and suffered many casualties. After initial heavy contact positions were taken and consolidated. During the night the Turks attacked the positions in considerable force but they withdrew before dawn. Large attacks by the Turks on 26 April were repulsed by artillery and machine gun fire. The next day was quiet and they went into reserve. During the day of the 28th, they were involved in battle that took them to within a mile south of Krithia. (This was the First Battle of Krithia, which due to an overly-complex plan, poorly communicated and the terrain, by 6pm the attack was called off.) They rested on the 30th and on the 1st the Turks attacked at 10.30pm, penetrating the line, so they were used to counter-attack and hold the trenches. They took 250 Turk prisoners and killed 2000. Finally, on 3 May the whole battalion was in the reserve trenches and rested all day and night, their first ‘real nights rest since they landed.’ Due to the whole Brigade having heavy losses, battalions were linked to other battalions. On 7 May an attack took 700 feet ahead of the old trenches but they had to entrench as they could advance no further. Attacks early in May advanced the line but at a heavy cost. (This was the Second Battle of Krithia which was swiftly halted by strong Turkish resistance and about one third of the allies in the attack were casualties. Australians and New Zealanders were also used in the attacks.) They were relieved back to X Beach on 10 and 11 May, where their total strength was 5 officers and 384 men.
Half the battalion landed in boats provided by HMS Implacable; half from boats from other ships. HMS Implacable provided a very efficient shore bombardment with its 12-inch guns, getting close inshore. Depicted in a painting (RFM.926 on display at The Fusilier Museum London) by the renowned British marine painter Montague Dawson. (Also in the book With the Twenty Ninth Division in Gallipoli – A Chaplain’s Experiences)
Lt Herbert Cooper MC on left with Lt Mundy
From 6 June 1915 2nd Lieutenant Herbert Cooper took over writing the War Diary. The first line he wrote was ‘Battalion still occupying trenches they captured 4th.’ He then described the trench and what was going on around it and noted their effective strength was 2 officers and 278 other ranks. (This was during the Third Battle of Krithia, which although planned better than the first two, still led to large losses for not much ground captured). In the book ‘The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War’ by H C O’Neill it mentions the three attacks on page 96, and after the first attack there ‘were now only six officers left’, but it only lists five including Herbert. After the 3rd Battle, ‘Very soon the Battalion was taken from the left rear. Many men were shot in the back. Only one officer 2/Lt Cooper, remained.’ Again, it disagrees with the war diary. Herbert is also mentioned in the book ‘With the Twenty Ninth Division in Gallipoli – A Chaplain’s Experiences’ by Reverend Oswin Creighton. The author uses a lot of letters for officers’ names and Herbert was ‘G’. On page 68 (dated 3/5/1915) ‘They had just come out of the firing line for the first time since landing. But the were wonderfully cheerful. It was quite a joy to be with them again. They had just lost four officers, Shafto and Anstice killed, M and B wounded, and this left J in command, and Mundy as adjutant, Huggett was machine gun officer and with Z, T and G they made a very happy little family.’ Later in page 128 (dated 8/6/1915) ‘I went to Gully Beach where I found what was left of the RF’s and stayed with them till Friday. It was so tragic. I came out with such a magnificent regiment, with such regimental pride, and such a delightful band of officers. Only one left, G, the former Sgt. Major, besides the Quartermaster. He was asleep when I arrived.’ Later he added ‘G was quite played out’ and ‘I slept with G in his dug-out, and tried to cheer him up.’ After being relieved they made their way to Y Beach on 7 June. While there they were refitted and reinforced with 6 officers including a temporary commanding officer. On 9 June they received more officers and other ranks bringing the strength to 11 officers and 409 other ranks. At 3.45am on 12 June they moved into reserve trench and spent the next few days in trenches before being relieved on 17 June. At 3am on 23 June they moved back into the trenches. Herbert finished his stint of writing the diary on 24 June with a report of some enemy moving close but being observed. On 25 June an acting adjutant took over writing with a bombing party being sent out at night. On 27 June they were relieved and attack orders were issued for an attack on Turkish trenches ‘J12 & J13 and a hill just in front of J13 & to consolidate position gained’. The next day a heavy bombardment commenced the attack with the attack being successful and the position was consolidated. They were relieved the next day. On the 29th the war diary stated ‘The men were for the most part in a terribly exhausted condition having had 24 hours fighting under the most trying conditions with very little water. The heat was very trying.’ Their effective strength was then 3 officers and 412 other ranks.
In early July they were on the beach north of Gully Beach, ‘resting, refitting & reorganising,’ On 4 July they moved into the trenches. The next day the Turks bombarded the area but was way behind the trenches. They also had men moving in front of their lines in the afternoon and ‘afforded great amusement to our snipers who claim to have knocked over twenty or thirty during the afternoon.’ They only had three machine guns in the line. The next days were quiet. On 12 July another battalion near them was involved in an attack which failed due to heavy machine gun fire. Mid July they marched to the beach and embarked on mine sweepers and a destroyer to Lemnos. Arriving there the next day they went into bivouacs and it was the first days they had not been under fire so they all had a good night’s rest. They built up their strength and had classes of instruction. On 21 July they were ordered back to Gallipoli and went to bivouacs near Gully Beach. A general attack by ‘the enemy was expected any time after 4am on the 23rd ‘. During the next few days, they worked on terraces along the beach. Late in the month they moved back into the trenches. As the trenches had been run down, a great deal of work was put into them. On 30 July they heard a great victory had been made against the Turks and the road to Baghdad was now open.
In early August an attack by the 88th Brigade caused them to suffer heavy casualties for not much ground gained. The Royal Fusiliers occupied the trenches they left but it was bombarded heavily and they suffered considerable casualties. On 10 August a demonstration was made all along the line as a deterrent to prevent the Turks withdrawing troops to send to the new landings at ANZAC. They took over a stretch of trenches near the sea on 16 August and as the Turks seemed to have the upper hand there, they took steps ‘to deal with them & to make the Turks understand that we will not allow it to continue.’ On 20 August they embarked on a sweeper for Suvla Bay. A general attack was ordered for the next day. Again, troops ahead of them came under heavy fire and suffered very heavily for little ground gained. The rest of the month was spent digging and expanding new trenches.
In early September they mainly worked on the trenches. A message from General de Lisle reached them on 7 September and ‘expressed his appreciation of the good work done by the brigade (86th) and their landing at SUVLA BAY. He was particularly pleased with the 2nd Bn Royal Fusiliers’. On 8 September they marched down to the beach and embarked on the Osmania for Imbros. They arrived there the next day and pitched camp near where they landed. This was their first rest in six weeks during which time they had spent mainly in the trenches under fire. On 11 September, General Sir Ian Hamilton visited them. They did some training and noted in the diary that they had a lot of diarrhoea cases over the week. A calculation of killed, missing, wounded and sick from the period of their landing until 17 September showed they had a total of 1736 men. Of all those who landed on 25 April, no officers survived and only 66 other ranks who had been present ever since and 2 officers and ‘about 100 men returned recovered from wounds’. On 21 September they boarded SS Princess Aless and ‘arrived off West Beach Suvla Bay at midnight & disembarked’. They moved up to the firing line the next day. For the rest of the month they improved the trenches.
In early October they continued the same with the weather continuing ‘to be perfect, warm sunny days & cool nights’. On 6 October the navy and artillery fired over 100 shells at the Turkish trenches, an ‘excellent view of this was obtained from our fire line’. They had two large catapults which sent ‘a cricket ball bomb for distances for up to 150’ yards. Turkish snipers were active during the month. In the middle of the month a couple of attacks pushed their front line ahead. The diary recorded on 20 October ‘We now have two rifles fitted with telescopic rifles. The two snipers in charge of them claim to have shot several Turks with them during the last few days.’ On 24 October they received a message of congratulations for minor operations they had done. A comment in the diary seems to lament that they only knew of drafts arriving when they turned up. They worked on shelter trenches and a diagram of what they looked like was included in the diary.
Sketch of trench positions at end of October 1915
There is a gap in the diary between the end of October and 26 November 1915. A heavy downpour on that day filled the trenches with 2 feet of water. Then a cascade of water from the Turkish positions converted some of their area into a river, drowning some men. Eventually they communicated with the battalion headquarters who told them to hold their position. A cold wind came up the next day which caused the death of some men due to exposure and exhaustion. Snipers also killed a few, including officers. The next day the wind got colder and it snowed. It was decided to pull the battalion back to a drier area and one more sheltered, which they did with some losses and difficulty. The weather for the rest of the month was not better.
On 1 December 1915 an inspection showed the strength of the battalion was 84 men but only 42 were effective. In early December they worked with engineers in improving and draining trenches. Drafts of officers and men began arriving and for the first two weeks of the month they held the position called ‘Dublin Castle’ and continued working with the engineers. The weather was improving. On 14 December at 8pm they embarked on SS Barry arriving at Mudros the next morning and then boarding SS Southland. They were then ordered to Helles, boarding SS Brighton at noon and arriving there at 11pm. They took over positions and started doing work with engineers, including drainage and trenches, which they continued doing until the end of the month.
On 31 December 1915 they were ‘First told of evacuation’. The next couple of days they worked on defences. On 2 January 1916 they were ordered to the beach at 6pm, which was being shelled. They embarked with 2 companies on each trawler which took them to the Caledonian. On 3 January they arrived at Mudros. On 5 January they sailed for Alexandria, arriving on 8 January and disembarking at 9am where they entrained for Suez. Arriving at Suez at 6am, they camped in the desert about 2 miles from town. On 10 January they ‘Found that the Implacable was in the harbour. This ship had covered our landing at Helles on the 25th April 1915.’ The next couple of days they settled into camp life and started training. It was hot during the days and cold at nights. January was spent with work as usual and inspections, including one on the 17th by C-in-C Sir Archibald Murray.
February was much of the same and included a boxing tournament. On 14 February they moved across the Suez Canal to El Kubri and pitched their camp there. Marches and training continued. The diary finished on 24 February with ‘No difference in programme. Very hot day.’ After that the War Diary for the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers continues from France. They landed in Marseilles in March 1916 for service on the Western Front.
Herbert is not mentioned in the war diaries again. The battalion was involved in the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916. ‘Very few of our men reached as far as the enemy barbed wire’. The Germans resisted all on their front line and at midday ‘the few remaining men in “no mans land” were forced to retire.”
A cover sheet of the Battalions’ War Diary
Major engagements involving the battalion including the Battle of the Somme in autumn 1916 and the Battle of Arras in spring 1917.
A full list of actions the Division was engaged in various actions on the Western Front include;
During 1916 – The Battle of Albert and The Battle of the Transloy Ridges. During 1917 – The First, Second and Third Battles of the Scarpe, The Battle of Langemarck, The Battle of Broodseinde, The Battle of Poelcapelle, The Battle of Cambrai. During 1918 – The Battle of Estaires, The Battle of Messines, The Battle of Hazebrouck, the defence on Nieppe Forest, The Battle of Bailleul, The Action of Outtersteene Ridge, The capture of Ploegsteert and Hill 63, The Battle of Ypres, The Battle of Courtrai. By the end of the war, they were in Belgium, at St. Genois south east of Courtrai.
Group of 6, Lt Herbert Cooper third from left
In the Supplement to the London Gazette of 1 April 1916 on page 3521, under Infantry, The Royal Fusiliers, it reads the ‘promotion to the rank of Lieutenant of the undermentioned Second Lieutenants is antedated as follows: – H. Cooper to the 21st June, 1915.’ Also in the Gazette of 2 May 1916 on page 4428 was an entry from the War Office on that date stating ‘His Majesty The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the undermentioned rewards for Distinguished Service in the Field, with effect from the 1st January, 1916’ and included under ‘Awarded the Military Cross’, ‘Lt. Herbert Cooper, R. Fus.’
The Birmingham Daily Post of 3 May 1916 had on page 4 under the headings ‘DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE FIELD’, Officers honoured by The King and The Military Cross an entry for ‘Lieut. Herbert Cooper. R. Fus.’
The London Gazette of Friday 5 May 1916 had a list of names ‘added to the list of officers and men mentioned in General Sir Ian Hamilton’s despatch of 11th December, 1915’ and included 2nd Lieutenant H Cooper of the Royal Fusiliers.
In the Graduation List of Officers of the British Army, under Lieutenants on page 1326 is a listing for ‘Cooper, Herbert, MC … 9 Jan 74 In Ranks – 15 yrs. 198 days, Wt. Off.- 6 yrs. 227 dys. 2nd Lt. R. Fus. 7 Nov 14’ and Lieutenant ’21 Jun 15’. War Service of Officers of the Army etc. listed ‘Cooper, H. (Lt. R. Fus.)- The War of 1914-7. – Despatches. Lond. Gaz., 5 May16, MC.’
An arrival report filled out by Herbert on 26 February 1917 stated he was a Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers attached as Adjutant Cyclist Base Depot BEF, his address in the UK was c/o Mr Luff, 25 Upper Station Road Rainham Kent, he left his unit abroad on 30 January 1917, embarked for England on 15 February 1917 from Rouen to Southampton, arriving on the next day on St George and his cause of return was ‘Debility- Neurasthenia’.
The admission and discharge book for 10 Palace Green Hospital in Kensington shows that Lieutenant H Cooper was patient number 12333 and was with 2nd Royal Fusiliers attached to Base Depot on sick leave. He was 44 years, had 25 years in the service and had completed 2 years ‘Service in the Command’. He was admitted there with neurasthenia on 16 February 1917 and was discharged from there on 9 March 1917 after 21 days of treatment. His religion was listed as Church of England. His case sheet was sent to 11 Palace Green. His pay was stopped for 12 days in February and 9 days in March. Herbert seems to have been in and out of hospitals from February 1917 to January 1918. He was unfit for general duties, then fit for light duties and he applied for leave.
In the Supplement to the London Gazette of 5 April 1917 in page 3307 is an entry ‘The undermentioned to be temp. Lts.’ For another officer who was employed ‘as Adjt., Cyclist Corps, vice Lt. H. Cooper, M.C., R. Fus. 15th Feb. 1917.’
Herbert wrote a letter on 29 April 1917 asking, ‘Dear Sirs – Pardon my writing direct to you if its wrong- I have returned the enclosed for correction if incorrect my leave by board from 11 Palace Green Hosp was for three weeks counting from 8th March 17 to 29th March 17 – I am only claiming 3 weeks allowance and have attached to duplicate to allowance form – I wonder if it would be asking too much to ask you ?? (hard to read) this authority for 3 weeks sick leave which I was granted from No 2 Red Cross Rouen B.E.F. (from 3rd Dec to 23 Dec 16 for which I should like to claim the allowance for fuel and light etc – as without authority I cannot do so – Thanking you in anticipation’. Their reply on 4 May 1917 stated ‘ In reply to your letter of the 29th April, 1917, I am directed to return the annexed Leave Certificate, and to inform you that the same is correct, as your sick leave recons from the date of your Embarkation to England, to the date on which you were found fit for duty by a Medical Board. With reference to your request for Certificate covering period of sick leave granted you at Rouen in December last, you should apply for this to the Authorities at that Station.’ The address they sent it to was ‘Lieutenant H. Cooper, 5th Reserve Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, North Fall Meadow, Dover.’ There are a few pages in his service record that seem to relate to a Medical Board on 28 April 1917 but they are faded and unable to be read. A letter from the Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel T F Legge of 5th Battalion Royal Fusiliers to the War Secretary stated that Herbert appeared before a Medical Board on 21 May and was found fit for ‘Temporary Home Service’. Another letter on 23 August 1917 stated the same finding from a Medical Board on 17 August. A letter to his commanding officer on 8 November 1917 stated that Herbert ‘should have been re-examined by a Medical Board on the 19th October 1917’. The letter from the War Secretary was forwarded to No 1 (Southern) Aircraft Repair Depot RFC at South Farnborough, who advised him that ‘Lieut.H.Cooper is now serving in the Unit under my command’ and a request was sent to have a Medical Board examine him. A letter to his commanding officer from the War Office directed him that a Medical Board would be assembled ‘on or before 3.2.18.’ It was held at Aldershot on 4 February.
The Supplement to the London Gazette of 24 November 1917 on page 12278 listed under the undermentioned to be Acting Captains, ‘Temp. Lt. H. Cooper. 20th Aug. 1917.’
His RFC record shows he was posted to 71 Wing on 7 November 1917, SARDS at Farnboro’ on 10 November 1917, to SARD on 20 November and 1 ARD on 15 December. His address was stated as 25 Station Road Rainham Kent. Under Special Qualifications it listed his military experience as ‘(a) 5 yrs 5 mths Commissioned regular officer (1) Adjutant to Batt at Front (11) Adjutant to Batt Depot (b) 7 yrs (Formerly) Regular Serg Major. Total Service 26 yrs nearly all abroad. Since joining R.F.C. – Assistant Adjutant for nearly 5 months to A.R.S. Farnborough.’
He was posted to No 1 (South) Aircraft Repair Depot at South Farnborough on appointment as EO3 (Equipment Officer aero repairs) on 15 December 1917. A records query sheet from the Air Ministry on 24 June (year not stated) asked three questions: 1. Where posted please – No. 3 (W.) A.R.D. (Aircraft Repair Depot), 2. Date of posting – 22.4.18 and 3. In what capacity – Acting Adjutant. In January 1918 the War Office requested the proceedings of a Medical Board held on 13th November 1917 ‘for Second Lieutenant H. C. Cooper, 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers’. It was sent to them on 26 January from RAMCT. It showed he had been examined at Eaton Hall, Chester.
A medical board on 4 February 1918 stated he was permanently unfit for general service but was fit for home service with ground duties only. A letter from the War Office to officer commanding 5th Reserve Battalion Royal Fusiliers at Dover referred to a Medical Board he had in November 1917 and how he was presently situated and that he should have been re-examined on 18th December 1917. The reply stated that ‘I have no trace of the Officer referred to on the strength of this battalion.’
An entry in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 11 January 1918 under Equipment Officers 3rd Class on 15 December 1917 was an entry for ‘Lt. H. Cooper, M.C., R. Fus., and to be secd.’ In the Gazette of 26 April 1919 in page 5274, under Infantry and Royal Fusiliers was an entry for’ Lt. H. Cooper, M.C., to be temp Capt. 1st Oct. 1918.’
On 16 January 1919 he was sent to a military hospital at Hyde Park Plymouth, transferred to a military hospital at Devonport on 11 February 1919 and discharged for duty on 17 February 1919.
In the London Gazette of 29 July 1919 on page 9593 is a list of ‘undermentioned 2nd Lts. to be Lts’ and the list included, from 21st May 1919, Herbert Cooper MC. A document from the Air Ministry, dated 25 July 1919, informed the Army Council that Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) H Cooper MC Reg. Bn. Royal Fusiliers attached to RAF is available to return to his unit and was to be informed of where he should report for duty.
A minute sheet noted that as Herbert was 45 ‘years of age we do not wish to further employ.’ It also listed his total service and showed he was employed under Air Ministry from 1 April 1918 and as ‘T. Capt. R.A.F. 1 Oct. 18.’ He exceeded the aged fixed for compulsory retirement and was to be placed on retired pay at £110 a year or a gratuity of £1000. The next page changed the values to £210 and £1500 respectively on 30 September 1919. It also showed he was ‘serving with 3rd Bn. at Borden’ and to ‘Write Aldershot Command as drafted’.
‘The undermentioned relinquish their commns. on ceasing to be empld.: – … 2nd Lt. (Hon. Lt.) H. Cooper, M.C. (Lt., Royal Fus.) 20th Oct. 1919.’ was an entry in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 4 November 1919 on page 13423. Another entry on 19 December 1919 corrected that previous entry with ‘2nd Lt. (Hon. Lt.) H. Cooper, M.C. (Lt. (temp Capt.), R. Fus.). 20th Oct. 1919 (Substituted for notification in the Gazette of 4th Nov. 1919.)’ An entry on 12 November 1919 on page 13766 records under ‘Infantry’ the entry ‘R. Fus. – Lt. H. Cooper, M.C., is restd. To the estabt. 20th Oct. 1919.’ He was restored to the establishment of the Royal Fusiliers. The last entry in his RAF service file showed he returned to 3rd Royal Fusiliers on 20 October 1919.
The Supplement to the London Gazette of 15 January 1920 on page 687 has an entry under Infantry for ‘R. Fus. – The undermentioned Lts., having reached the age fixed for compulsory retirement, are placed on ret. pay:- H Cooper, M.C. 15th Jan. 1920.’ In February 1920 a letter asking him to commute some of his retired pay shows his address was ‘The Thicket, Haslemere, Surrey.’ He was trying to raise £700 to get a home and start his civilian life. He had been unable to get any employment. Herbert stated he was ‘of thrifty and economic habits’ and did not smoke or drink much. His savings had been used up for living costs during the war. He noted his ‘last Commanding Officer before being commissioned was now Brigadier-General H.E.B. Newenham, C.B., now commanding Hounslow District, who would no doubt speak of my steadiness.’ In May 1920 his address was recorded as ‘C.O. R Luff Esq. 25 Upper Station Road, Rainham, Kent.’ A note recording ‘Officer Retired 15/1/20 can you obtain Gazette date please’ was answered ‘2/Lt. H. C. Cooper 2nd att 5th Royal Fus. L.G. 15-1-20’.
Herbert applied for his medals on 3 February 1922. The EF9 form was returned to the Medal Office dated 28 April 1923. His Medal Index Card shows that Herbert Cooper MC of the Royal Fusiliers held the rank of RSM with regimental number 4391, then 2nd Lieutenant and finally Lieutenant. The 1915 Star was recorded in the medal roll ‘Off 38’ on page 26D and the British War and Victory medals in the same roll on page 55. His medals and emblems were issued under Issue Voucher X6716 on 18 June 1923. The card shows the theatre of war he first served in was Alexandria (2B), disembarking on 29 March 1915. Two addresses are listed on the back of the card, firstly 5 Alexandra Gardens, Folkestone, then Cozy Nook Bungalow Century Road Rainham, Kent.
Herbert wrote to the War Office on 10 December 1923 asking for an interview ‘on a matter relating to my retirement’. A minute sheet records Lieutenant H Cooper MC RARO Class 2 Royal Fusiliers was born on 9.1.74 and his age now was 49 11/12 years. He ‘will attain the age limit of liability to recall on 9.1.24, in accordance with Article 519 R.W. for Pay & Promotion 1922. Remove from R.A.R.O. from 9.1.24, and inform officer.’
A memorandum was filled out ‘on the case of:- Lieutenant Herbert COOPER, M.C., Retired Pay, late Royal Fusiliers.’ It showed: – ‘Date of Birth 9.1.1874. Enlisted 9.9.1892, Age 18 years 8 months. In ranks 9.9.92 to 24.3.08 – 15 yrs 198 dys. (recons half) Warrant Officer (Sgt.Maj.) 25.3.08 to 6.11.14 – 6 yrs 227 dys. Commissioned – 2nd Lt. Royal Fusiliers 7.11.14 Lieut. .. .. 21.6.15 empld with R.F.C. 15.12.17 to 31.3.18. empld with R.A.F. 1.4.18 to – Temp. Capt. R.A.F. 1.10.18 – Compulsorily retired (Age) 15.1.20. Total Service. Yrs. days. Ranks (half time) 7. 281 W.O. 6. 227 Commissioned 5. 79
19 222
Was compulsorily retired for age 15th January 1920. He was then over the age of 45. He was eligible for a gratuity of £1500 or for retired pay at £210 a year. He elected retired pay and commuted £50 for which he was awarded the sum of £642.3.0. On mobilisation in 1921 he joined at Hounslow on 9.4.21 but as he was not required, he was released 11.4.21 and sent home. He is due to leave the Regular Army Reserve of Officers on 9.1.24 on attaining the age of 50. There are no medical documents in the War Office papers and if he has been awarded any disability grant or if he is receiving medical treatment on account of a War disability the matter would be in the hands of the Ministry of Pensions. The War Office papers do not disclose any case and it is not clear what matter he wishes to speak about at the interview he seeks.’ Lieutenant Herbert Cooper Royal Fusiliers was awarded retired pay for disability on 29 April 1920. A Duty Certificate shows H Cooper ‘served continuously in the emergency from 9-4-21 to 11-4-21 with unit Depot Royal Fusiliers in the rank of’ Lieutenant and was sent home on 11.4.21. His home address was 173 Folkestone Rd Dover.
Another sheet stated he called in at the War Office for an interview on 19 December 1923 and asked if he could be granted the rank of Captain but was informed he could not as he never held the rank and there was no promotion in Class II RARO. They went on to state it was ‘noted that he held the rank of Captain in the RAF from 1.10.18 – Oct-19 so might have been granted that rank by RAF when he retired on 15.1.20. He states that when he was retired he was unfit – neurasthenia contracted in Gallipoli.’ The army sent a letter to Air Ministry on 22 December 1923 asking about Herbert being granted the rank of Captain on retirement as he held ‘the Temporary rank of Captain’ while serving with the RAF. They gave his address and asked to notify him of what Gazette it would appear in. Their reply stated he only held the rank of Lieutenant in the RAF and the temporary rank was that of Captain in The Royal Fusiliers and it would be for the army to deal with. The London Gazette of 15 January 1924 on page 470 has an entry under Regular Army Reserve of Officers for ‘R. Fus. – Capt. H. Cooper, M.C., ret. pay, having attained the age limit of liability to recall, ceases to belong to the Res. of Off. 9th Jan. 1924.’ A letter was sent to Herbert saying he was granted the rank of Captain on retirement and was sent to his Cozy Nook address.
On 27 July 1924 Herbert wrote to the War Office from ‘Cozy Nook’ Century Road Rainham Kent asking ‘I am respectfully writing to ask assistance in obtaining some kind of light employment to assist my pension. Through ill health contracted in military service I have been unable to follow any employment since January 1920 (4½ years). My disablement has now been assessed at 40%. I was commissioned Roy Fus 7-11-14 before which I was No 4391 Sergeant Major H Cooper 2 R Fus, Calcutta. Perhaps an interview may be granted me as to suitability.’ An internal note asked if there was any suitable employment for him, to which a reply said ‘We much regret that we have nothing to offer.’ A reply sent to him on 13 August 1924 advised him that there was no employment available for him and no useful purpose to have an interview. A copy of ‘Army Council Instruction 406 of 1922’ was enclosed for his reference.
In the 1939 register, Herbert and Rose H Cooper were living at 182 Marina (Basement) in Hastings. Rose was listed as a female, born 14 February 1879, married and was doing unpaid domestic duties. Herbert was recorded as a male, born 9 June 1874, married and ‘Soldier Capt MC retired’. On the part of the other page that is showing it also recorded ‘Royal Fusiliers regular Captain – retired’.
Captain Herbert Cooper MC (Retd) wrote a letter to the Secretary of State of War in London on 10 January 1957 stating ‘I have the honour to enclose paper just received from ‘Minister of Pensions’ asking me to fill up a form of many questions which I put of my age 83 and condition I find it impossible to do. So am asking The ‘War Office’ to answer them to prove I am genuine and honest. I spent nearly 30 years in the regular army from the age of 18, and before being commissioned had nearly 7 years Regimental Sergeant Major of the 2nd Batn Roy Fus, my number was 4391. At the time of commission I was recommended for QWMR which The War Office holds. This I gave up when asked by my CO to take commission in Calcutta owing to shortage of officers. My disability was not due to my 2 separate wounds at Gallipoli but due to long and very active work as a soldier interested in his work. I never had employment since yet!’ His address was ‘Mudros’ 8 Marshall Road Rainham Gillingham Kent. Their reply on 25 January 1957 stated his date of birth as on his service documents and they told him to take the form to the manager of the local office for assistance. On 26 February 1957, Herbert signed a form which stated he had never been employed in a Government occupation and was not receiving any pension through that employment. A form from Ministry of Pensions at Tunbridge Wells shows that Herbert was given a pension rise to £248/12/10 on 1 August 1959 as his whole award.
Herbert passed away on 24 March 1961. It was also recorded in his service record. Probate for ‘COOPER Herbert M.C. of Mudros 8 Marshall Road, Rainham Mark, Gilligham Kent’ at ‘London 4 May to Rose Hannah Cooper widow. Effects £726 17s.’ In his service records his cause of death is listed as (a) acute cardiac failure, (b) myocardial degeneration and (c) chronic bronchitis.
Mrs Rose Cooper of 8 Marshall Road Rainham, Kent wrote a letter on 14 July 1962 asking ‘if you could give me any information of my late husband’s place of birth and home address, when he joined the Army, he was Capt. Herbert Cooper M.C. 2 Royal Fusiliers City of London Reg: he died March 24, 1961. I am trying to find his relations, and I do not know where to make enquiries’. She enclosed a stamped addressed envelope and thanked them. A reply in August stated they had no details but had forwarded the letter on to the Army Pensions Office. An internal note shows they had ‘no objections to this information being furnished.’ A letter dated 30 August 1962 was sent to Rose stated ‘that according to records held in this Office your late husband’s place of birth is shown as Norwood, Surrey, and his home address on enlistment was given as 86, Stowe Road, Shepherds Bush, London.’
Rose passed away in mid-1968 in Dover, Kent. This death has to be confirmed. A record shows she was cremated on 4 July 1968 at Medway Crematorium, Chatham and her ashes were strewn near tree 34. She was described as retired, age 89 and lived in Dover. An entry in the Probate Register of 1968 shows a Rose Hannah Cooper ‘of Kearnsey Manor Nursing Home Temple Elwell with River Kent died 29 June 1968 Probate London 11 October. £4423.’
His medals are Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. H. Cooper. R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals, MiD Oak Leaf (Lieut. H. Cooper); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued; Army LS & GCM, E.VII.R. (4391 S. Mjr: H. Cooper. R. Fus.)
Medal group is on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.