Private (Sapper) Thomas Cooper remembered 100 years after his death

Sapper Thomas Cooper

Private (Sapper) Thomas Cooper, who died at the age of 28, has been remembered 100 years after his death.

Born in Luddendenfoot in late 1889, Private Cooper was living on Halifax Road by 1891 with his parents Harry and Ann and his brother Ellis.

By 1901, the family had moved to 16 Gatehouse with Harry and Ann having a further two children, Albert and William.

In 1911, Private Thomas was a woollen Weaver and lived at Plains Marsden near Huddersfield. When he enlisted at Huddersfield, he was working on the railway.

He attended the Littleborough Church Day School and also their Sunday school.

Thomas Cooper, Private 12999, 9th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment) died on Saturday 11 September 1915, aged 28. He was with the Tunnelling Co at Hill 60. Private Cooper was killed by gas due to an enemy explosion in the mines. He was buried behind the trenches in which he worked and lost his life whilst doing the duty of Briton.

His parents, of Shepherd’s Rest, Blackstone Edge Road, Littleborough, received information that their son was killed in Belgium in a letter from Lieutenant Robert Murray of the 175th Company, Royal Engineers.

It is unclear why his parents were advised by a letter from Lieutenant Robert when the official databases, including his Medal Index card show him as being with the West Riding Regiment.

He is inscribed on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, as well as on Littleborough Cenotaph and the Holy Trinity Church War Memorial.