Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday March 29th, 1918
LOCAL CHIT CHAT
A second-lieutenancy has been given to Horace Burnaby Cooper, son of the Rev. H. Rowsell Cooper, vicar of Thornton. The officer is to be attached to the Wilts. Regiment (Territorial).
(Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 1/2/2018)

Coalville Times article - Friday March 12th, 1920
THORNTON
DEMOBILISED SOLDIERS’ WELCOME
On Saturday, the demobilised soldiers of Thornton were entertained to tea in the schoolroom by the Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Committee. The Thornton Brass Band had previously marched to the Church Lane, and at the beautiful Lych gate (recently erected at the entrance to the churchyard by the late Vicar and Mrs Cooper, in memory of their son, Second-Lieut. H. B. Cooper, and the other Thornton men who fell in the war), played appropriate music. Returning to the school, the Band played other selections. During the evening a capital entertainment, consisting of songs, glee and recitation, was contributed by the Markfield United Choir, and Miss Darby, of Barrow-on-Soar. Mr C. H. Massey was chairman, and Miss Bott accompanied.
(Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 24/3/2019)

Coalville Times article - Friday October 22nd, 1920
THORNTON
WAR MEMORIAL
A memorial tablet in honour of the Thornton men who served during the war has been erected in Thornton Council School, and was unveiled on Saturday last. It is composed of grey granite, with a bronze border on the top and at the sides, measures 5ft by 2ft, and contains the names of
T. H. Brown, J. Clarke, H. B. Cooper, A. H. de Ville, J. W. Farmer, B. Garfield, F. Mee, W. A. Poole and A. Unwin, who died in action.
The service was conducted by the Rev. J. Horn (Wesleyan minister), who read the lesson, the Rev. E. G. Garnham (Baptist minister) who gave an appropriate address, and the Rev. R. Pratt (the Vicar), who read the prayers. After the memorial had been unveiled by the schoolmaster, the Thornton Brass Band played the Dead March (“Saul”) and at the close the bandmaster (Mr H. Bennett) sounded the “Last Post”, and the audience joined in singing the National Anthem. The cost of the memorial (£100) was raised by the Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Committee.
(Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 24/3/2019)

Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Horace Rowsell Cooper a Church of England Priest, born 1868 in Marlborough, Wilts., and his wife Alice Fairlie Cooper, born 1863 in Wonston, Hants., and the daughter of the late Lieutenant General Dyott, Royal Engineers, formerly of Burnaby, Freeford, Staffordshire . Horace Burnaby Cooper was born in 1899 in Weldon, Northants., he had one sibling, a brother, Richard Burnaby Cooper, born 1901 in Weldon, Northants., in March 1901 the family home was at Great Weldon, Northants. In April 1911 Horace was a student and was residing in the family home at Thornton, Leics., together with his parents and brother Richard, also a student. Horace was educated at Bigshotte Rayles, Wokingham and Marlborough College (Foundation Scholarship). He was gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment on the 20th March 1918, and served in Ireland and subsequently with the Expeditionary Force in France from the 11th September 1918 until he was killed in action during the advance upon Orvillers, near Le Cateau on the 23rd October 1918. His Officer Commanding wrote, “He was killed…on the morning of the 23rd, while leading his platoon into action. He was a ripping lad, and I loved him. He was so fresh and young and so willing to do all he could. I am sorrier about his death than almost any that has occurred since I have been in the Regiment.” A brother officer wrote, “They were very grieved to hear the sad news at the Battalion in Dublin. He was thought so much of, and a great favourite with his company.” Horace was unmarried.