John Henry Cooper
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Henry Cooper was born at Ilkeston, Derbyshire in 1888 the first son of Robert and Elizabeth, nee Grose. They had married in Nottingham and moved to 16 Springfield Terrace, Ilkeston, Derbyshire. About 1890, the family moved to Barlborough in Derbyshire where Children Bernard, Ethel, Albert William and Edward were born. The family moved to Worksop by 1901, living at 130 Sandy Lane, Worksop where John Henry was now employed as an office boy and his father was manager of a brick yard. Ten years later he was a brick burner at a brick kiln whilst John Henry was now a brick layer, all still at 130 Sandy Lane.
Although there are no immediate records to hand, it is known that John Henry Cooper moved to Canada prior to the war with his friend, Dennis Leo Naylor of Overend Road, Worksop. A brief record of his attestation for the Canadian Expeditionary Force, declaring his mother of 130 Sandy Lane, as his next of kin, dated 20th April 1915, the day after Naylor signed. He was also declared fit for service on the same day. No more information is to hand, but it is known that he died 24 days after friend Dennis Naylor and was commemorated on the Vimy Ridge Memorial.
The four sons of Robert and Elizabeth Cooper all served in the army during the 'Great war ' Pte Bernard Cooper Scottish Rifles (later Royal defence Corps ) - Pte Edward Cooper Lincolnshire Regiment - both survived , however tragically Pte John Henry Cooper Canadian army died 3rd May 1917, and Albert William Cooper Sherwood Foresters who died 7th October 1918 made the ultimate sacrifice and which must have devastated their remaining family. Research by Colin Dannatt
