Category Archives: Commemorated name/s

Thomas Henry Cooper and Harold Walter Cooper

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Passchendaele, Somme

Thomas Henry Cooper
Private 55509 Devonshire Regiment
Labour Corps.

 Division 29

 CIMG2104  CIMG2099

Thomas Henry Cooper was the son of Thomas Henry and Jane Cooper, of 26, Milman Road, Reading.   He died on 23rd September 1917.  With his brother he is commemorated upon his parents grave in Reading Cemetery. Sadly the commemoration to Harold is now very unclear.

 Thomas Henry Cooper is buried at Rocquigny – Equancourt Road, British Cemetery, Manancourt, Somme.  Location Plot I. Row B. 23.  The area was occupied in April, 1917, as the Germans withdrew to the Hindenburg Line.  The cemetery was begun in 1917, and used mainly by the 21st and 48th Casualty Clearing Stations, posted at Ytres.  The location of the grave would indicate that Thomas Cooper was one of the earliest casualties to be buried there.  The cemetery was lost at the beginning of the German Spring offensive in March 1918 but regained in September 1918.

 Harold Walter Cooper
Private 28160
1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry

Cooper HW photo  CIMG2100

Harold Walter Cooper was the younger brother of Thomas Henry Cooper.  He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, location Panel 41 -42 and 163A.  He died on 4th October 1917, aged 19.

 On this day the British surprised the Germans who had also planned an attack.  An advance was made along an eight mile front.  The Germans lost many man to the British artillery and many prisoners were taken.  However, in spite of the allied gains many men were lost, some in the mud that became increasingly deeper as the rains came down.  Harold Cooper was probably killed and his body lost during this action.  The rain continued to fall for days and days.  Haig was reluctant to withdraw and loose the precious gains, he urged his men to push ever onwards, Passchendaele was in sight.

The brothers are commemorated on the grave of their parents in the Reading cemetery.

Walter Albert Burton

Army, Commemorated name/s, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Somme, St. Laurence's Church

Walter Albert Burton
Private 28427
2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment 

 Division 75
Extension

Burton WA Rcem com

From the CWGC site it is known that Walter Albert Burton is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing Pier and Face 11D. He was a member of the Royal Berkshire Regiment. There were no family details given.

In March 1917 the Germans began their strategic retreat to the Hindenberg Line. The long, long trail gives the dates for this as the 14 March – 5 April. The allies detected a withdrawal from the Somme in mid-February and  a cautious pursuit was begun. It is possible that Walter Burton lost his life during such an action.

Victor Edward Burgess

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments

Victor Edward Burgess
Rifleman 5824
2nd/17th London Regiment (London Rifles)

 Division 24

Burgess VE photo

Victor Edward Burgess was the youngest son of Mr Alfred Henry Burgess, of 15, Dorothy Street,  Reading.  He is commemorated on the family grave. Victor Burgess was killed on sentry duty on the 3rd  July 1916, aged 29.

 A report in the Reading Chronicle 14th July 1916 outlines the incident and gives details of his life before the war.  He had enlisted in October 1915 in the Royal Army Medical Corps.   Twice he had been rejected for service before being transferred to the London Rifles.  At the time he was killed Victor Burgess was on sentry duty and was struck by a grenade, dying instantly.  An officer writing to his father stated,” He died on duty and no man can do more for his King and country.  As one of his officers I feel his loss keenly.  He was one of the most conscientious men we had, and was very much liked by his comrades.  He was the first of his company to lay down his life for his country”.  Victor Burgess had been at the front only a couple of weeks.

 Victor Burgess had been born in London and came to Reading as a lad.  He had been educated at the Central and British Schools and then took up gardening for a livelihood. He had worked for the Rev. W.H. Mahony; Mr Martin H. F. Sutton; the Marquess of Ormonde (Kilkenny Castle); Mr Larnach (Lanwadie Hall, Suffolk); Mrs Adair (Engfield Green, Surrey; Rev. H.S. Musgrave, East Chitlington, Lewes.  Whilst at Lewes he had joined the Local Volunteer Force.  Victor Burgess was an active  member of the Y.M.C.A. and the C.E.M.S.

 Victor Burgess is buried at Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont-Saint-Eloi.  Location III.A.28.  Here successive Divisions used the French Military tramway to bring their dead in from the front trenches.

*February 22nd 2000