Main CPGW Record
Surname: COOPER
Forename(s): Alfred Percy
Place of Birth: Wigan, Lancashire
Service No: WR/290232
Rank: Sapper
Regiment / Corps / Service: Royal Engineers
Battalion / Unit: 96th Light Railway Coy
Division: ---
Age: 26
Date of Death: 1918-11-06
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: A. 37.
CWGC Cemetery: DAMASCUS COMMONWEALTH WAR CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: LONG PRESTON, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Alfred Percy Cooper was the son of Henry Clarkson and Ann Cooper, née Greenbank. Henry was born at Burringham, Lincolnshire and Ann at Stainforth near Settle, Yorkshire.
1901 Wigan, Lancashire Census: 10, Vine Street - Alfred Cooper, aged 9 years, born Wigan, son of Henry and Ann Cooper.
1911 Armathwaite, Cumberland Census: Station Cottages - Alfred Percy Cooper, aged 19 years, born Wigan, Lancashire. [Alfred was boarding with John and Jane Irving.]
The British Army Service Record for Alfred Percy Cooper exists but may be incomplete.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Spr Alfred P. Cooper, 289292, WR/290232, R.E.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Spr Alfred P. Cooper, 289292, WR/290232, Royal Engineers. Railways.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Spr Alfred Percy Cooper, 96 Lt Rly Op. Co., R.E. Date and Place of Death: 6.11.18. French Hos. Damascus, Syria. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Mother and Sole Legatee - Ann. £14 19s. 6d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: Sapper Alfred Percy Cooper, 290323, R. E. Name of Dependant: Ann Cooper. Relationship to Man: Mother. Address: Church Street, Long Preston. Yorks.
Alfred survived the sinking of H.T. 'Aragon' that claimed the life of a Long Preston soldier, L/Corporal John Hitchin M.M. (303162) (q.v.) and also of L/Corporal Henry Turner Wilkinson (S4/036171) (q.v.) and Private Lionel Montague Hindle (534381) (q.v.).
Alfred is commemorated on the Langwathby War Memorial and the Midland Railway War Memorial at Derby.
See also: 'Long Preston and the Great War' by Long Preston Heritage Group (2015).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
COOPER, Sapper A. Percy, R.E., son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Cooper, Long Preston, died from dysentery in Egypt Nov. 6, 1918.
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Sapper Alfred Percy COOPER
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Royal Engineers
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St Peter's Churchyard, Stainforth
Family gravestone
St Peter's Churchyard, Stainforth
Family gravestone - detail of memorial inscription
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
16 November 1917
LONG PRESTON – Military Notes
Lieutenant Jackman, recently at home, has transferred from the infantry to the Flying Corps and has gone into training for his new duties at Reading. – Lieutenant Beecroft, of the Tanks, has had a month’s leave on account of his brother’s illness. – Corporal Hitchin, M.M., who was severely wounded last summer and since been in a convalescent camp in Ireland, has had a short leave before returning to France. – Private Percy Cooper has been home on draft leave. – Before these lines are printed those who are well enough will be on their way to active service again, and it is certain that all their friends wish them even better luck in the future.
15 November 1918
COOPER – November 6th, in Egypt, from dysentery, Alfred Percy (Royal Engineers), dearly loved and only son of Henry and Annie Cooper, Church Street, Long Preston, aged 26 years.
15 November 1918
LONG PRESTON – Sapper A. P. Cooper
Still another local soldier has passed away. Mr. H. Cooper has received a telegram to the effect that the Adjutant-General of Alexandria has reported that Sapper A. Percy Cooper, R.E., died from dysentery on 6th November. He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Cooper, Church Street, and joined up in July 1917. When going out to Egypt in December he was on the S.S. Aragon when she was torpedoed. After being three hours in the water he was rescued, but since then had had double pneumonia. Whilst in the water he had his left thumb badly split and for a time after being rescued his life hung by a thread.
22 November 1918
LONGPRESTON
Thanksgiving Services were held in the Parish Church on Sunday morning and evening. Sermons were preached by the Vicar, Rev. R. Shipman, C.F. In the morning he made sympathetic reference to Sapper Percy Cooper, the intimation of whose death came to hand about the same time as the news of the signing of the armistice, and whose home was close by the church gates. At the close of the evening service the Te Deum and God Save the King were sung.
20 December 1918
LONG PRESTON – THE LATE SAPPER A. P. COOPER
In reference to the death of their only son, Sapper A. Percy Cooper, R. E. (recorded in our issue of November 15th), Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, of Church Street, have received a letter from deceased’s captain as follows:– “It is with great regret that I have heard of the death of your son, Sapper Cooper, A. P., who was taken ill while serving with my company and died of dysentery. Your son was an able soldier and carried out his duties in an exemplary manner, and I assure you that his sad death has touched us all deeply and I hasten to express on behalf of myself, officers, N.C.O.s and men of my Company the deepest sympathy of all.
07 February 1919
COOPER – February 2nd, 1919, at Church Street, Longpreston, Henry Clarkson Cooper, aged 57 years. Interred at St. Peter’s, Stainforth, on February 5th.
[The above obituary refers to the father of Sapper Alfred Percy Cooper]
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
16 November 1917
LONG PRESTON
MILITARY NOTES – Pte. Wilfred Butt of the West Yorkshires, was in October wounded while in France. A bullet pierced his leg from front to calf and damaged the bone in passing. He was brought first to Exeter, but is now in a V.A.D. hospital at Torrington in Devonshire. Sergt. George Delves, of the Canadian Remounts, invalided to England with trench fever, has had four days leave. He is expecting to be sent back to Canada to train conscripts. Lieut. Jackman, recently at home, has transferred from the infantry to the Flying Corps, and has gone into training for his new duties at Reading. Lieut. Beecroft, of the Tanks, has had a month’s leave on account of his brother’s illness. Corpl. Hitchin, M.M., who was severely wounded last summer, and since been in a convalescent camp in Ireland, has had a short leave before returning to France. Pre. Percy Cooper has been home on draft leave. All who are well enough will soon be on their way to active service again, and it is certain that all their friends wish them even better luck in the future.
15 November 1918
Long Preston Soldier Dead
Mr. H. Cooper has received a telegram to the effect that the Adjutant General of Alexandria has reported that Sapper A. Percy Cooper, R.E., died from dysentery on Nov. 6th. He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Cooper, and joined up in July, 1917. When going out to Egypt in December he was on the S.S. Aragon when she was torpedoed. After being three hours in the water he was rescued, but since then had had double pneumonia. Whilst in the water he had his left thumb badly split, and for a time after being rescued his life hung by a thread.
22 November 1918
PEACE THANKSGIVING
Long Preston – Rev. R. Shipman, C.F., conducted thanksgiving services in the Parish Church on Sunday, and in the morning made sympathetic reference to the death of Sapper Percy Cooper.
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Alfred Percy Cooper is also commemorated on the war memorial at Langwathby.
Would be very interested to know if there are any other ancestors of this family in the Long Preston area?