Major Edward CooperVC (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.
Group portrait of VC winners. Left to right: Edward Cooper (left), awarded the VC: Belgium, 16 August 1917; Robert Bye, awarded the VC, Belgium, 31 July 1917; William Ratcliffe, awarded the VC, Belgium, 14 June 1917; Wilfred Edwards, awarded the VC, Belgium, 16 August 1917.
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 yearsedit
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.
Referencesedit
^. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
edward, cooper, major, edward, cooper, 1896, august, 1985, english, recipient, victoria, cross, highest, most, prestigious, award, gallantry, face, enemy, that, awarded, british, commonwealth, forces, edward, cooperborn, 1896, 1896stockton, teesdied19, august,. 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 CooperBorn 1896 05 04 4 May 1896Stockton on TeesDied19 August 1985 1985 08 19 aged 89 Stockton on TeesBuriedTeesside Crematorium MiddlesbroughAllegiance United KingdomService wbr branch British ArmyYears of service1914 1919RankMajorService number2794UnitKing s Royal Rifle CorpsBattles warsWorld War IAwardsVictoria CrossMedaille militaire France Contents 1 Details 2 Later years 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksDetails edit nbsp Group portrait of VC winners Left to right Edward Cooper left awarded the VC Belgium 16 August 1917 Robert Bye awarded the VC Belgium 31 July 1917 William Ratcliffe awarded the VC Belgium 14 June 1917 Wilfred Edwards awarded the VC Belgium 16 August 1917 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 editHe later achieved the rank of Major His medal is on display at Preston Park Museum amp Grounds in Stockton Major Cooper was cremated at Teesside Crematorium References edit The Kings Royal Rifles Association Archived from the original on 23 February 2014 Retrieved 11 January 2013 No 30284 The London Gazette Supplement 14 September 1917 p 9532 Bibliography editSnelling Stephen 2012 1998 Passchendaele 1917 VCs of the First World War The History Press ISBN 978 0752476667 Whitworth Alan 2015 VCs of the North Cumbria Durham amp Northumberland Pen and Sword Books ISBN 978 1473848221 External links editLocation of grave and VC medal Cleveland Sergeant Edward Cooper KRRC Association Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward Cooper VC amp oldid 1198551969, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
