Sydney Alan Cooper
Educated at a Nottingham preparatory school, then at Osborne and Dartmouth Naval Colleges. Joined Royal Navy on 15 January 1916
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Sydney Alan was the son of William Frederick and Kate Alice Cooper (née Lindley).
William and Kate were married at Parliament Street Chapel, Nottingham, on 9 August 1883. They had five children: Leonard Lindley b. 1884 bap. 8 November 1884 at the Methodist New Connexion Chapel, Dorothy May b. 1887 bap. 17 April, Frederick William b. 1897, Winifred Kathrine-sic b. Dec. 1889 (reg. 1900) and Sydney Alan who was born in Carrington, Nottingham, on 17 July 1902.
Their mother Kate died aged 43 on 9 November 1905 at the family home, 'South Bank', Magdala Road, Nottingham. She was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery on 11 November. Probate was awarded to Edwin James Cooper and her son Leonard, manufacturers.
The family was still living at 'South Bank', in 1911. Head of household Frederick William Cooper (53), a hosiery manufacturer, Leonard (26), hosiery manufacturer, and Frederick (13), Winifred (11) and Sydney (8) who were school age. Also in the household were three servants; a cook and two general domestic servants, and also a companion/housekeeper. The eldest daughter, Dorothy, was recorded on the census as a visitor in the home of Arthur and Kathleen Lowe in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
William Frederick Cooper snr. died at his home, 'South Bank', on 9 May 1929 aged 71, and was buried in the family grave in Nottingham General Cemetery. Probate was awarded to his sons Leonard and Frederick, both hosiery manufacturers, and his brother Hetherington Cooper, lace manufacturer.
Dorothy married Laurence (or Lawrence) Henry Barber of Sheffield at Redcliffe Road United Methodist Church, Nottingham, in April 1913. They were living in Worksop in 1921; Laurence was employed as an iron and steel manufacturer's traveller. They employed a married couple as houseman and general domestic servant. Dorothy died in Wellington, Shropshire, in 1963 aged 76, but the probate record, which described her as a 'married woman', gave her home address as 5 Westbourne Road, Sheffield. Probate was awarded to her married sister, Winifred Kathrine Lloyd, and Cedric Cooper, solicitor. However, there are obituaries in Somerset newspapers in December 1966 for a Laurence Henry Barber of High Street, Street, Taunton, who had moved to the area 'about 18 years ago' to write a history of C&J Clark and was responsible for the opening of a shoe museum in Street. The obituaries record that he was survived by a widow and two children, Michael and Jill (m. 1954, Bright).
The eldest son, Leonard, married Emily Oldershaw at Kimberley Holy Trinity on 7 January 1914. They had four children, Kate Elizabeth Barbara b. 1914 (OND), Margaret Hope b. 1916, Anthea Emily Victoria birth reg. 1919 (JFM) and William Edward Burnham birth reg. 1922 (JFM)
Sydney was a Midshipman (HMS Valkyrie) when he was recorded on the 1921 Census at 'East Dane', Seacroft, Skegness, Lincolnshire, in the home of his brother Leonard, and his wife and their three daughters. Sydney was presumably on leave from his ship. Also in the household was a general domestic servant, Nellie Stirland, and two visitors, Annie Margaret James and Mary Elizabeth Stirland. Leonard and his family later returned to Nottinghamshire and Leonard died at his home, Morton's Farm, Papplewick, on 1 May 1959; the funeral was held at Papplewick parish church. He was survived by his wife Emily who, with their only son William ('no occupation') and Arthur Frederick Roberts (company director), was awarded Probate.
Frederick, a lieutenant in the 7th Sherwood Foresters, was recorded on the 1921 Census at Colwick Park Camp, Nottingham, with a contingent of the 7th Sherwood Foresters Defence Force. He was living at 11 The Ropewalk, Nottingham, when he married Kathleen Florence Wright, the daughter of a local solicitor, at Nottingham St Matthew on 2 January 1924. They had four children: Angela birth reg. 1925 (JFM), Bernard Anthony birth reg. 1928 (JFM), Madge birth reg. 1929 (JFM) and Frederick W. b. 1931. Frederick was an executor of his brother Sydney's Will in 1940 and the probate record gave his occupation as 'captain HM Army'. He died in June 1960; he was then living at The Hall, East Bridgford and he was buried in East Bridgford St Peter's churchyard.
Sydney (26) married Ethel Clara Stonier (27) on 25 July 1928 at Christ Church, Lancaster Gate, Westminster, London. Ethel was the daughter of William John Stonier, a pottery manufacturer. The couple had two children, James Alan Stonier birth registered 1933 (JFM) and Rosaline E. (Sally) b. 1939 (AMJ); both births were registered in Portsmouth. The probate record gave Sydney's address as 30 South Parade, Southsea, Portsmouth.
His widow Ethel and her children later moved to Bolney, Sussex, where her son James was killed in a road traffic accident on 1 May 1944; he was eleven years old. The CWGC record gives Ethel Cooper's address as Hayward's Heath, Sussex.
Winifred of Berkeley Avenue, Nottingham, married Norman Eric Travell, a junior director of Messrs Wrights & Dobsons, at Nottingham St Andrew on 17 December 1930. Her husband had served with BEF France as a second lieutenant in the Northumberland Fusiliers from 22 April 1917; he qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Norman died at their home, 5 Pelham Crescent, Nottingham, in December 1931. Winifred married secondly Arthur F Lloyd (b. 1892) in 1938 (reg. OND Westminster) and in 1939 they were living at Earlswood, Ellesmere, Shrewsbury. Arthur was a special constable and Winifred was a member of the Women's Voluntary Service. Winifred died in 1968 (reg. Shrewsbury).
Entered the Royal Navy 15 January 1916.
Acting Sub Lieutenant : 15 January 1922.
Sub Lieutenant : 15 October 1922.
Lieutenant : 15 September 1924.
January 1925 : HMS Valorious, Destroyer, Royal Navy, Atlantic Fleet.
3 December 1926 - July 1927 : HMS Comus, Cruiser, Royal Navy, Atlantic Fleet.
25 May 1929 - August 1929 : HMS Vernon Torpedo School, Portsmouth.
April 1930 - February 1931 : Torpedo Officer, Flotilla Staff, First Destroyer Flotilla, HMS Mackay, Royal Navy, Flotilla Leader, Mediterranean.
1 January 1932 : No appointment listed.
2 March 1932 - September 1932 : HMS Vernon Torpedo School, Portsmouth.
Lieutenant Commander : 15 September 1932.
30 October 1933 - February 1936 : Torpedo Officer, HMS Neptune, Cruiser, Royal Navy, Home Fleet.
11 November 1936 - June 1938 : Torpedo Officer, HMS Rodney, Battleship, Royal Navy, Home Fleet.
Commander : 30 June 1938.
16 Augaust 1938 - July 1939 : Commanding Officer, HMS Winchelsea. Destroyer, Royal Navy and for duty with Submarines.
7 July 1938 - 18 February 1940 : Commanding Officer, HMS Daring, Destroyer, Royal Navy, torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea.
Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial (Panel Reference: Panel 36: Column 3): Commander, SA Cooper.
HMS Daring, Pennant Number H16. D. Class Destroyer, built for the Royal Navy:
Ordered 2 February 1931. Built by Thornycroft, Southampton. Laid down 18 June 1931. Launched 7 April 1932. Commissioned 25 November 1932. Motto: 'Splendide Audax' (Finely Daring).
HMS Daring was the then Lord Louis Mountbatten's first command in 1934. The ship spent most of her career on the China Station then escorted convoys in the Red Sea between October and November 1939 before returning to the UK in January 1940 for the first time in five years.
On Saturday, 17 February 1940, HMS Daring joined Convoy HN.12 heading west from Bergen, Norway, toward Britain as escort, taking up position on the port quarter of the Convoy. As evening approached, she carried out an anti-submarine sweep five miles to the rear of the of the convoy. At that point all seemed well. At around 03.00 hrs the next morning, another escort, HMS Ilex reported a contact and launched a pattern of depth charges. HMS Ilex next reported at 04.03 hrs. that a ship that could not be immediately identified had been torpedoed but proved to be HMS Daring. She had been hit by a torpedo fired by German submarine U-23 at a position reported as 58 degrees, 39 minutes North, 01 degrees, 40 minutes West. The torpedo blew off her stern causing her to quickly capsize and sink with the loss of 157 of her ship's complement. Despite a desperate search by a number of the other escort vessels only five survivors were rescued.
German submarine U-23. Kptit Otto Kretschmer (1912-1998) in command 11 October 1937-1 April 1940. He then commissioned and commanded U-99, 18 April 1940-17 March 1941, and was captured after scuttling U-99 south-east of Iceland on 17 March 1941 after depth charge damage by destroyer HMS Walker. Kptitt Kretschmer was a POW in Canada for more than four years, returning to Germany in December 1947. He joined the Bundesmarine (Federal German Navy) in 1955 and in May 1965 was appointed Chief of Staff at NATO COMNAVBALTAP (Commander, Allied Naval Forces, Baltic Approaches). Retired in September 1970 in the rank of Flotillenadmiral (Admiral of the Fleet). (www.uboat.net/men/kretschmer)
CWGC Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Cooper; husband of Ethel Clara Cooper, of Haywards Heath, Sussex.
General Cemetery, headstone inscription:
Face 1. In loving memory of Kate Alice, the beloved wife of Frederick William Cooper who departed this life Nov. 9th 1905. Also of Frederick William Cooper, who died May 9th 1929 aged 71 years.
Face 2. In Memoriam Comdr. S.A. Cooper, R.N., aged 37. Youngest son of F.W. and K.A. Cooper, who went down with his ship HMS Daring in the North Sea on Feb. 17. 1940.
Nottingham Evening Post, 31 March 1906 (extract): ‘Robin Hood Rifles … 11. Posting. The undermentioned officers will be posted to companies as under … Second-Lieutenant LL Cooper, Letter B company, 1st Battalion. By order GN Colvile, Captain and Adjutant Robin Hood Rifles.’(www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottinghamshire Weekly Express, 4 April 1913, printed a detailed account of the wedding at Redcliffe Road United Methodist Church on 2 April between Dorothy May Cooper of Magdala Road and Mr Lawrence Henry Barber, eldest son of Mr Jonathan Barber of Sheffield. Two of the three bridesmaids were her sister Winifred and ‘Miss Oldershaw’, presumably Emily Oldershaw who married Leonard Cooper the following year.
Nottingham Evening Post, 13 May 1929 (extract): ‘Late Mr F.W. Cooper. Representative Gathering at the Funeral ... Mr Cooper , who was managing-director of Messrs. Cooper Bros., hosiery manufacturers, Haydn-road, died on Thursday last, and despite his 71 years, had taken an active interest in the concern almost up to the time of his passing. The interment in the General Cemetery was preceded by a service at the Redcliffe-road Chapel … The chief mourners were Mr LL Cooper. Mr FW Cooper, Lieut. Sydney A Cooper RN (sons), Mrs LH Barber [Dorothy May], Miss Winifred Cooper (daughters), Mr EJ Cooper, Mr Heatherington Cooper, Mr HW Cooper (brothers), Miss Cooper, Mrs Cropper, Mrs AG Davis (sisters), Mrs LL Cooper [Emily] (daughter-in-law), Mr LH Barber (son-in-law).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 5 December 1931 (extract): ‘Passing of Nottm. Lace Manufacturer. Mr Norman Eric Travell. Married Only Twelve Months Ago. The many friends in the Nottingham lace industry, and in local sports circles, of Mr Norman Eric Travell, will regret to hear of his death at his home, 5, Pelham-crescent, the Park, following a short illness. Mr Travell was a junior director of Messrs Wrights and Dobson, Ltd. Nottingham, lace manufacturer and was in charge of the plain net laces and fabrics section of the business in Great Freeman-street … A distressing feature of his passing is the fact that Mr Travell was married in December last year to Miss Winifred Cooper, with whom much sympathy will be expressed in her sad bereavement. The funeral is to take place on Monday, at St Andrew’s church, followed by the interment at Rempstone.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 19 February 1940: ‘The Lost Destroyer. Commander A Nottm. Man. Commander Sydney Alan Cooper of HM destroyer Daring, which, as reported on page five, has been torpedoed and sunk, was a Nottingham man, being a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Cooper, who lined in Magdala-road. He was a brother of Mr L.L. Cooper, chairman of Messrs.Cooper Bros., of Haydn-road, and of Mr F.W. Cooper. After attending a preparatory school in Nottingham, Commander Cooper completed his education at Osborne and Dartmouth Naval Colleges and entered the Navy in 1914. He was a cadet during the Great War and later was a torpedo officer with the Mediterranean Fleet. He was promoted commander last July and went to China. It was only recently that he returned for duty in other waters. Commander Cooper, who was 37 years of age, had made his home at Southsea. He leaves a widow and two children, a boy and a girl.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 19 February 1940 (p. 5), extract: ‘British Destroyer Lost. Torpedoed and Sunk Says Admiralty. German Claim Said To Be ‘Fantastic’’.The tempo of naval warfare is mounting. To-day the Admiralty annouced that the destroyer Daring has been torpedoed and sunk, and that nine officers and 148 ratings are missing, feared lost. Only one officer and four ratings have been picked up. Among the missing is the commander of the destroyer, Commander S.A. Cooper. The official announcement says: 'The Secretary of the Admiralty regrets to annouce that HMS destroyer Daring, Commander S.A. Cooper, has been torpedoed and sunk. One officer and four ratings have been picked up. Nine officers and 148 ratings are missing and it is feared have been lost. The next of kin have been informed.’ This is the first time that it has been officially stated that a British destroyer has been sunk by being torpedoed. [Followed by details of HMS Daring and claims by the German High Command of British shipping losses.] (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Probate. Cooper Sydney Alan of 30 South Parade Southsea Portsmouth died 18 February 1940 at sea on war service Probate London 4 June to Westminster Bank Limited and Frederick William Cooper [brother] captain HM Army. Effects £8828 7s. 5d.
Mid Sussex Times, 10 May 1944 (extract): ‘Funeral of Master John A Cooper. Much sympathy has been extended to Mrs Sydney Alan Cooper of Quince Tree, Bolney, on the death on May 1, of her 11-year-old son, Master John-sic Alan Cooper. It appears that at noon on the Monday he was cycling in the main road when he collided with a motor-vehicle. While he was on the ground a heavy petrol van passed over him. Death ensuing. The deceased was due to return to Stubbington Boarding School, evacuated to Cornwall, last Wednesday. An inquest wil be held at the Haywards Heath Police Court to-day (Wednesday), and a report will appear in our next issue. In addition to his mother, the deceased leaves Sally [Rosaline E], a five-year old sister. His father, Commander Sydney Allan-sic Cooper RN, lost his life in an early stage of the present war. Funeral Service was held at Bolney Parish Church on Thursday afternoon … The principal mourners were Mrs Cooper (mother), Mrs Stonier (grandmother), Mrs Lackworthy and Miss Stonier (aunts), Mr and Mrs Hicks and Mrs Block … The interment took place in the adjoining churchyard.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
West Sussex Gazette, 18 May 1944: ‘Bolney. Boy Cyclist’s Death: Inquest. From the evidence given at an inquest held by the East Sussex Coroner at Haywards Heath concerning the death of James Alan Stonier Cooper (11) son of the late Cdr. S.A. Cooper, RN,and of Mrs Cooper of Bolney, it appearted that Frank Turrell, Rushams-rd,, Horsham, was driving a petrol tanker when the boy, riding a bicycle, approached from the opposite direction, with an Army despatch rider overtaking him. The boy looked to his right, apparently at some armoured vehciles, and the cycle swerved in the same direction. Trying to avoid him. The despatch rider swerved to his off-side, right across the front of the tanker, but the machines touched, and the boy wobbled and then fell, the tanker passing over him. Recording a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’, the Coroner took the view that the despatch rider and the driver of the petrol tanker were not to blame for the accident.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Guardian Journal 4 May 1959 (extract): ‘City hosiery figure dies. Mr Leonard Lindley Cooper, of Mortons Farm, Papplewick, a well-known member of the hosiery industry, died at his home on Friday. He was 74. He joined the Robin Hoods in 1906 and served with them for 20 years attaining the rank of captain. He was awarded the Territorial Decoration. In 1902 he entered the family business of Cooper Bros. Haydn-road, Nottingham, and evenually became chairman and managing director … He leaves a widow, three daughters, and a son. The funeral takes place tomorrow at Papplewick Parish Church.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Research Gary Crosby. Additional research/record updated, RF (May 2026)
Sydney Alan Cooper RN
Photograph added by Gary Crosby, 7 February 2026 (www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officer)s
Cdr. Sydney Alan Cooper RN
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/memorial commemorating Cdr. SA Cooper RN. Photograph Gary Crosby (30 Jan. 2026)
Cdr. Sydney Alan Cooper RN
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstone commemorating Cdr. SA Cooper RN. Photograph Gary Crosby (30 Jan. 2026).
HMS Daring, Royal Navy, Ship's Crest.
HMS Daring, Royal Navy, Ship's Crest added by Gary Crosby.
Cdr. Sydney Alan Cooper RN.
Commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Photograph of panel added by Gary Crosby.
Photo of Sydney Alan Cooper
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstone. Photograph Rachel Farrand (April 2026)
Photo of Sydney Alan Cooper
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstone. Photograph Rachel Farrand (April 2026)