Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William James Cooper, a shoe trade riveter, born in the January quarter of 1868 in Coventry, Warwickshire and his wife Alice Cooper (nee Chilton, formerly Corbett, married in the January quarter of 1898), born on the 20th August 1872 in Stone, Staffordshire and baptised on the 1st September 1872 in the Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception & St. Dominic, Stone (daughter of John Charles Chilton, 1836-1900 and Harriett Hickman, 1836-1908). William John, was born in the July quarter of 1898 in St. Peter’s, Leicester and baptised on the 5th March 1899 in St. Hilda’s Church, Leicester, his siblings were, Albert Cooper, born on the 14th September 1899 in Leicester and his half-blood sibling, Herbert Richard Corbett, born in the October quarter of 1892 in Stone, in March 1901 the family home was at 30, Osborne Road, Leicester. In April 1911 William was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 9, Holland Road, Leicester, together with his father, a boot trade rivetter, his mother and siblings, Herbert, a boot trade clicker, Albert, a schoolboy and Doris Sarah, a schoolgirl, born in the January quarter of 1902 in Leicester. William also had the following younger siblings, Arthur, born on the 17th September 1911 and baptised on the 15th October 1911 in St. Hilda’s Church, Leicester and Frederick, born in the October quarter of 1916 and baptised on the 3rd December in St. Peter’s Church, Leicester, both siblings were born in Leicester. William’s mother had previously married Herbert Corbett in the January quarter of 1892 in the Salford, Lancashire district.
William enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 23rd February 1915 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 3979. He gave his place of birth as St. Peter’s, Leicester and his trade or calling as shoe hand, currently employed by Messrs. Hill Cunningham, Occupation Road, Leicester. He gave his present address as 9, Holland Road, Leicester.
His medical examination took place in The Magazine, Leicester on the 23rd February 1915 and recorded his apparent age as 19 years 18 days, that he was 5 feet 5 inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34 inches, and his physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Wm. J. Cooper, mother, Mrs A. Cooper, 9, Holland Road, Leicester.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Posted. 4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 23/2/15.
Embodied service commenced. Pte. 23/2/15.
Transferred. To 2/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 15/8/15.
Embarked. Southampton. 19/8/15.
Disembarked. Rouen. 20/8/15.
Wounded in action. Shotgun wound to head. In the Field. 13/10/15.
Admitted. To No.37 Field Ambulance. In the Field. 13/10/15.
Admitted. To No.1 General Hospital, Etretat. 15/10/15.
Transferred to England. Per Hospital Ship St. David. 18/10/15
Died of wounds at Birmingham War Hospital. 22/10/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 23/2/15 – 19/8/15. 178 days.
France. 20/8/15 – 18/10/15. 60 days.
Home Service. 19/10/15 – 22/10/15. 4 days
Total Service. 242 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William’s surviving service record is in poor condition, the hand written information in some cases is barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of service.
On the 21st August 1916 William’s mother was awarded a weekly Army Pension of five shillings, to commence on the 22nd August 1916.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At noon our artillery started to bombard. At 1.00 pm our smoke and gas started. At 1.50 pm smoke and gas stopped. At 2.00 pm artillery lifted and Battalion assaulted the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. Lieutenant Colonel R. E. MARTIN was wounded early but remained in the fire trench directing operations for nearly 24 hours and until -?- to the dressing station by Brigadier General KEMP. All officers of the Battalion either killed or wounded.
The War Diary records: 14 Oct-15 - In the evening the Battalion was relieved by part of the 139th Brigade and went back to the LANCASHIRE TRENCH. Roll call revealed that 188 NCO’s and men returned.
The Official History of the War – Military Operations (France and Belgium 1915 Volume II) provided the following statistics for the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, officers killed 20, other ranks killed 453. Total losses for the day were 138th Brigade 64 officers and 1,476 other ranks. 137th Brigade 68 officers and 1,478 other ranks.
On Friday, October 29th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTER’S WHO HAVE FALLEN.” – (A photograph accompanied the article). – Pte. W. J. COOPER, 2nd/4th Leicester’s, died of wounds received on Oct. 13th. His parents reside at 9, Holland-road.