Edward Cooper (VC)

Major Edward Cooper VC (4 May 1896 – 19 August 1985) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Edward Cooper
Born(1896-05-04)4 May 1896
Stockton-on-Tees
Died19 August 1985(1985-08-19) (aged 89)
Stockton-on-Tees
Buried
Teesside Crematorium, Middlesbrough
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1914–1919
RankMajor
UnitKing's Royal Rifle Corps
Battles/warsWorld War I
Awards Victoria Cross
Médaille militaire (France)

Details

Cooper was 21 years old, and a Sergeant in the 12th Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps,[1] British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place on 16 August 1917 at Langemarck, during the Battle of Passchendaele for which he was awarded the VC.

The citation was published in the London Gazette on 14 September 1917, and reads:

"No. R.2794 Sjt. Edward Cooper, K.R.R.C. (Stockton).

For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack. Enemy machine guns from a concrete blockhouse, 250 yards away, were holding up the advance of the battalion on his left, and were also causing heavy casualties to his own battalion. Sjt. Cooper, with four men, immediately rushed towards the blockhouse, though heavily fired on. About 100 yards distant he ordered his men to lie down and fire at the blockhouse. Finding this did not silence the machine guns, he immediately rushed forward straight at them and fired his revolver into an opening in the blockhouse. The machine guns ceased firing and the garrison surrendered. Seven machine guns and forty-five prisoners were captured in this blockhouse.

By this magnificent act of courage he undoubtedly saved what might have been a serious check to the whole advance, at the same time saving a great number of lives."[2]

Later Years

He later achieved the rank of Major. His medal is on display at Preston Park Museum & Grounds in Stockton. Major Cooper was cremated at Teesside Crematorium.

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References
  1. "The Kings Royal Rifles Association". Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  2. "No. 30284". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 September 1917. p. 9532.
  • Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
  • The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
  • VCs of the First World War - Passchendaele 1917 (Stephen Snelling, 1998)
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