James William Cooper (1896-1917)
Sunderland man served with 15 DLI commemorated on Arras Memorial
James William Cooper was born in Sunderland and baptised on 17 January 1897 in Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in the city. Census research shows James living with his grandmother, Catherine Martin, and mother, Mary A Cooper. Mary is described as married but it has not been possible to find father any information about his father.
As a young man, James was convicted of breaking and entering in 1909 for which he was sentenced to undergo 12 strokes of the birch [cane]. Then in 1914 he was in trouble with law again as he was sentenced to three months’ hard labour.
In November 1915 he attested to the army and was attached to 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Reserve. He was eventually called up in July 1916 and shipped to France in November 1916 to join 15 DLI. He was killed in action on 10 April 1917 at the Battle of Arras.
Civil Parish: Sunderland
Birth date: 28-Dec-1896
Death date: 10-Apr-1917
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 34 Charles Street, Sunderland (1901 census)
34 Dunning Street, Sunderland (1915, army service record)
Religion: Roman Catholic
Employment: Platers helper, Scotia works
Family: Grandmother: Catherine Martin, born Manchester
Father: William Martin described as deceased in 1919
Mother: Mary Ann Cooper nee Martin
Sisters: Mary Ann Cooper b 1905
Eve Jane Cooper b 1910
Military service:
Attested 29 November 1915 Sunderland
private 43487
8th Reserve Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Mobilised: 26 July 1916
Arrived France: November 1916
Posted to 15th Battalion DLI and joined them in field: 8 December 1916
Killed in action: 10 April 1917
Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal
Memorial(s): Saint Mary Magdalene Roman Catholic Church, Sunderland
Arras Memorial
Gender: Male
Contributed by Harold P, Durham
