Thomas William COOPER

Geddington Roll of Honour 1914-18

Rank: Private
Service No: 15064
Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment – 11th Battalion
Died: 15/10/1916 – Killed in action, probably in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette on the Somme, aged 36
Cemetery: Bancourt British Cemetery – Grave: VIII. D. 1.
Memorial Inscription: ‘In ever loving memory of a dear husband and father, from his wife and children.’
War Office Information: Son of John and Rebecca Cooper; husband of Mary Elizabeth Cooper, of Geddington, Kettering. Native of Geddington.

Personal Information

Thomas’ parents were John & Rebecca Cooper (nee Butler). John had been born in Geddington, grew up there and raised his family there. Thomas, born in 1880, was his first  son. Thomas was baptised in St Mary Magdalene on 26th September 1880. Thomas’ sisters went into service at Boughton House and then on to service at Sandringham for Queen Alexandra . Four of his sisters then went on to Oslo to serve the Queen of Norway.

Thomas married Mary Elizabeth Browning in 1905 and set up home for his new family on Grafton Road. He was employed at the ironstone works and was an Officer of the local Court of Forresters.  He joined the regiment on 13th September 1915 and had been on active service since February 1916. A report reached his family in June 1916  that he had been hit in the back by an aerial torpedo on 21st May and injured. His death later that year left his widow and four young children at home in Geddington.

1881 Census: ‘near Cross’, Geddington
John Cooper (father), Aged 26; sawyer; b. Geddington
Rebecca Cooper (mother); Aged 22; b. Harrowden Parva
Bertha E Cooper (sister); Aged 2; b. Geddington
Thomas W Cooper; Aged 8 months; b. Geddington

1891 Census: Bridge Street, Geddington
John Cooper (father); Aged 36; stationery engine driver
Rebecca Cooper (mother); Aged 32
Thomas W Cooper; Aged 10
Ada A Cooper (sister); Aged 8; b. Geddington
Maria Elizabeth Cooper (sister); Aged 5; b. Geddington
Agnes M Cooper (sister); Aged 1; b. Geddington

1901 Census: Bridge Street, Geddington
John Cooper (father); Aged 46; portable engine driver
Rebekah Cooper; Aged 42
Thomas W Cooper, Aged 20; waggon repair, Midland Railway
Agnes M Cooper (sister); Aged 11
Hilda R Cooper (sister); Aged 1; b. Geddington
James Mapley (lodger); Aged 28; shoe riveter; b. Newport Pagnall
.

1911 Census: Grafton Road, Geddington
Thomas Cooper; Aged 30; ironstone labourer – married 5 years
Mary Cooper (wife); Aged 25; 3 living children; b. Weldon
John Cooper (son); Aged 4; b. Kettering
Olive Cooper (daughter); Aged 3; b. Kettering
Elsie Cooper (daughter); Aged 4 months; b. Geddington