1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 16513 Ernest Rogers Cooper
- Age: 26
- From: Wolverhampton
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
- K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
- Commemorated at: Danzig Alley Cem, Mametz
Panel Ref: Sp.Mem.12
16153 Private Ernest Rogers COOPER, 18th Battalion, KLR.
Ernest was born in Oaken, Codsall near Wolverhampton on 18th March 1890, although he spent most of his life in Birkenhead. Ernest was the eldest child of Samuel and his first wife Lizzie (nee Rogers) who were married in Madeley, Shropshire in 1889.
The 1891 Census shows the family are living at Oaken, Codsall. His father, Samuel is aged 25, a Railway Porter born in Madeley, Salop, mother Lizzie is aged 24 born in Daulby, Salop, children Ernest R. aged 1 b.Odsall, and newly born Thomas R. b.Odsall. Also present is Lizzie’s sister Martha Rogers aged 16, a dressmaker.
His mother, Lizzie, died aged 35 in Birkenhead just before the census in 1901.
The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 80 Peel Street, Birkenhead. Ernest is 11 years of age. His father, Samuel, is a 34 year old widower, employed as a railway passenger guard born at Madeley, Salop. Also present in the household are Ernest's siblings; Thomas R. aged 10 born at Oaken and Minnie aged 6 born at Chester.
By 1911 the family are living at 5 Jessamine Road, Birkenhead. Ernest is now 21 years of age and is a commercial clerk. His father, now remarried in 1902 in Pontypool, is aged 44 and still a railway guard, his second wife is recorded as Edith Ann (nee Snook), aged 35 born at Pontypool, Monmouthshire. They had been married for 8 years. Also present in the household are Thomas Reginald aged 20 and an agricultural joiner, Minnie aged 16 and Ernest's step brother Albert Samuel aged 5 born at Birkenhead.
Ernest was educated at Mersey Higher Grade and Well Lane Council Schools and at the time he enlisted he was employed as a book keeper by Swift Beef Company in Market Square, Birkenhead, having been transferred from Smithfield Market in London. He held the post of Deacon in Tranmere Congregational Church and was also an enthusiastic worker at Randle Street Mission Hall in Birkenhead.
Ernest enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 04th September 1914 joining the 18th Battalion as Private 16153, stating his age as 24 years 170 days, his place of birth as Wolverhampton, his occupation as clerk and his next of kin as his father Samuel. He was described as being 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 124lbs with a 35" chest, a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Congregationalist.
From the 23rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7th November 1915.
His service papers show that in February 1916 he was attached to the 30th Divisional Grenade School, returning to his Battalion on 5th March 1916. On 24th May 1916, for Neglecting to Obey an Order, he was confined to barracks for 10 day’s, lost 10 days pay and forfeited his leave.
On 01st July 1916 whilst taking part in a charge with No 2 Company Ernest was reported to have been caught in barbed wire and shot through the head whilst trying to free himself. He was to have returned to the UK later that month to marry his fiancée Margaret Gibson.
18th Battalion Diary
At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.
Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:
As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.
Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:
I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:
“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.
Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257.
His death was reported in the Birkenhead News on 15th July 1916:
BURIED WHERE HE FELL.
Young Deacon Dies a Soldier’s Death.
Particularly sad is the death in action of Private Ernest Rogers Cooper of the “Pals.” The young man was to have been married in a few weeks, all the arrangements having been made when the sad news came. He was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Cooper of 5 Jessamin Road, Tranmere and joined the “Pals” when they were formed. Although only 26 years of age, the young man held the unique position (for one so young) of Deacon in the Tranmere Congregational Church, and was an enthusiastic worker at the Randle Street Mission Hall where he was beloved and respected by all who knew him.
It transpires that in a charge, Private Cooper became caught in the terrible barbed wire and while trying to extricate himself was shot through the head, dying instantaneously. He was buried in the place where he fell. Before the war Private Cooper was employed as book keeper by the Swift Beef Company in the Market Square, having been transferred from Smithfield, London. He was educated at Mersey Higher Grade on the Welldane(?) Council Schools. He had lived in Birkenhead almost all his life and was much respected by a large circle of friends who have shown every sympathy to Mr and Mrs Cooper and the family in the bereavement.
Ernest was originally buried in Vernon Street Cemetery at Carnoy, but the location of his remains was lost probably through enemy shelling. He is now commemorated on the war memorial in Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, France.
The village of Mametz was carried by the 7th Division on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, after very hard fighting at Dantzig Alley (a German trench) and other points. The cemetery was begun later in the same month and was used by field ambulances and fighting units until the following November. The ground was lost during the great German advance in March 1918 but regained in August, and a few graves were added to the cemetery in August and September 1918. At the Armistice, the cemetery consisted of 183 graves, now in Plot I, but it was then very greatly increased by graves (almost all of 1916) brought in from the battlefields north and east of Mametz and from certain smaller burial grounds, including:-
VERNON STREET CEMETERY, CARNOY, in the valley between Carnoy and Maricourt, at a place called "Squeak Forward Position". 110 soldiers who died in July-October 1916 were buried here by the 21st Infantry Brigade and other units.
Dantzig Alley British Cemetery now contains 2,053 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 518 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 17 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of 71 casualties buried in other cemeteries, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.
He was remembered by his family in the Liverpool Daily Post on 02nd July 1917 close to the first anniversary of his death:
LOST AT THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME.
COOPER - in loving memory of Private E. R. Cooper, 5 Jessamine Road, Birkenhead, who fell in action July 1, 1916. (Though lost from sight, to memory ever there.) - Father, Mother, Brothers, Sister and Fiance Margaret Gibson.
Soldiers Effects to father Samuel, Pension to step-mother Edith Ann.
Ernest left effects totalling £47 5s. 3d. to his father (based on todays average this would be worth around £5,041.56).
Probate 1917:-
COOPER Ernest Rogers of 5 Jessamine Road, Birkenhead a private in the 18th service battalion Liverpool regiment died 1 July 1916 in France Administration (with Will) Chester 30 April to Samuel Cooper railway passenger guard. Effects £47 5s. 3d.
As of 1919 in a sworn declaration his siblings were listed as Thomas Reginald Cooper aged 28, Minnie Haynes aged 24 and Albert Samuel aged 13.
In June 1922 his father wrote to the authorities stating he had only received just 1 of Ernest’s 3 medals.
Ernest is commemorated on the following Memorials:
Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 10 Left
Birkenhead War Memorial, Hamilton Square, Birkenhead
Tranmere United Reformed Church, Old Chester Road, Tranmere.
His father died, aged 57, in 1924.
We currently have no further information on Ernest Rogers Cooper, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
Killed On This Day.
(108 Years this day)Sunday 16th June 1918.
Pte 57615 Fred William Preddy
23 years old
(105 Years this day)
Thursday 16th June 1921.
Captain Leonard George Duncan
43 years old