No.36514, Private, George Frederick WEBB (COOPER)
Aged 30
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George Frederick Cooper was born in 1887 in Dullingham (Newmarket Q2-1887 3B:530) , son of John William and Elizabeth Ann COOPER (née WILSON).
1891 census...Aged 4, he was at Three Ashes, Rede, with his father John William COOPER [25] an agricultural labourer, born Ipswich and his mother Elizabeth Ann [24] born Dullingham. 1901 census...Aged 14, a farm labourer, he was at High Street, Stetchworth with his parents, and brothers John W.[16] a blacksmiths apprentice born Swaffham, Arthur H.[6] born Rede and Albert E [3] born West Wratting. His own place of birth is now recorded as Swaffham. 1911 census...Aged 24 he has not been found in this census, possibly he has enlisted in the Army (where he served as WEBB).However a George WEBB aged 22, a farm labourer, was lodging at Bygrave, near Baldock with the Clark family, but he gave his place of birth as Stetchworth. His parents were at 9 London Road, Newmarket, with his brothers John William, Arthur Henry and Albert Edward. It would be most interesting to know why he changed his named for the Army, presumably a difference of opinion within the family? He has not been positively identified in the 1911 census either as COOPER or as WEBB. One anomaly is that had he served that early in the Army, he ought to have been amongst the first to be mobilised in the war, yet his medal card indicates no overseas service prior to 1 January 1916 His elder brother John William COOPER was killed in France in August 1917 see here |
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He enlisted in Hertford (giving Newmarket as his residence). His "Soldier's Personal Effects" record gives his mother as Mrs Elizabeth A. Cooper and is annotated "alias George Frederick Cooper" The 7th Royal Berkshires moved from France to Salonika at the end of 1915. On the 24th April 1917 they were one of the assaulting battalions when a major attack was launched near Doiran. At the end of these operations the casualty figures were 16 killed, 225 Wounded and 36 missing. On the 9th May they took part in another major attack, this time one that failed. They had 21 killed and 131 wounded. 13 have unidentified graves. |
photo; Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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