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.