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Bmbdr. Joseph Cooper MiD,
British Army 42nd Battery, 2nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery
from:Hr Ince, Wigan, Lancs.
(d.21st Mar 1918)
Joseph Cooper was born in 1895. His parents Elijah and Sara Cooper died when he was young and he and his elder sister Martha were brought up by his aunt Margaret Burrell (my great grandmother). His next of kin was recorded as his only sibling Martha. Before the war, Joseph was employed at Alexandra Colliery, Whelley, Wigan, Lancs.
He enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery in 1915 and arrived in France on 21st of July 1915. He was a trained signaller who served for over three years in France. He was Mentioned in Dispatches on 14th of December 1917 and attained the rank of Bombardier. Joseph was killed by shellfire on the first day of the Kaiser's Offensive 21st of March 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
His Major wrote of Bombardier Cooper, "He was doing most splendid work at the time (of his death) and was one of the bravest and best men I had. He was most popular with officers and men and was always doing good work. I had recommended him for a decoration and you already know he had been mentioned in dispatches."
