The AIF Project

Cecil Leonidas COOPER

Regimental number2135
Place of birthPetersburgh, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationStation contractor
AddressLongwood, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Next of kinMother, Mrs J A Cooper, Longwood, South Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date8 July 1915
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name20th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/37/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A8 Argyllshire on 30 September 1915
Rank from Nominal RollSergeant
Unit from Nominal Roll20th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


For conspicuous gallantry in action when he organised a bombing squad and attacked a machine-gun position at junction Bapaume, Warlencourt Roads, and later carrying messages.
Recommendation date: 14 March 1917

Bar to Military Medal


Work at Hanebeke Wood on 20 September 1917.
Recommendation date: 25 September 1917

FateKilled in Action 9 October 1917
Age at death from cemetery records23
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 23), Belgium

The Menin Gate Memorial (so named because the road led to the town of Menin) was constructed on the site of a gateway in the eastern walls of the old Flemish town of Ypres, Belgium, where hundreds of thousands of allied troops passed on their way to the front, the Ypres salient, the site from April 1915 to the end of the war of some of the fiercest fighting of the war.

The Memorial was conceived as a monument to the 350,000 men of the British Empire who fought in the campaign. Inside the arch, on tablets of Portland stone, are inscribed the names of 56,000 men, including 6,178 Australians, who served in the Ypres campaign and who have no known grave.

The opening of the Menin Gate Memorial on 24 July 1927 so moved the Australian artist Will Longstaff that he painted 'The Menin Gate at Midnight', which portrays a ghostly army of the dead marching past the Menin Gate. The painting now hangs in the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, at the entrance of which are two medieval stone lions presented to the Memorial by the City of Ypres in 1936.

Since the 1930s, with the brief interval of the German occupation in the Second World War, the City of Ypres has conducted a ceremony at the Memorial at dusk each evening to commemorate those who died in the Ypres campaign.

Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Son of Mrs Julia COOPER, Bigg's Flat, South Australia. Native of Peterborough, South Australia
Medals

Military Medal

'For conspicuous gallantry in action on the 26th February, 1917, near WARLENCOURT. He organised a bombing squad and attacked a machine gun position in a house at junction BAPAUME, WARLENCOURT Roads, later the same afternooon with the same bombing squad he went through COUPE TRENCH. On night of 24th/25th February, 1917, he carried messages under fire and over ground absolutely unknown to him. His conduct throughout the operations of the past few days have been most conspicuous and information gained by him has been most important.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 140
Date: 27 August 1917

Bar to Military Medal

'At HANEBEKE WOOD on 20th September 1917 throughout the attack he proved himself not only a fearless soldier, but a tower of strength in the Company. He was at all times the first to volunteer for any work of a specially dangerous nature. During operations he acted as stretcher bearer, runner, and was on several fatigues as a guide, and 36 hours after zero when the enemy put up an intense barrage, he again volunteered as a runner. His coolness and courage were of the highest order and he set a spendid example to all those with whom he came in contact.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 66
Date: 7 May 1918

Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength, 20th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 19 January 1916.

Proceeded from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, 25 March 1916.

Wounded in action, 3 May 1916 (bomb wounds, thigh and toes); admitted to 2nd Australian Division Rest Station, 4 May 1916; rejoined unit, 15 May 1916.

Wounded in action, 26 July 1916 (gun shot wound, right leg and face); admitted to 10th General Hospital, Rouen, 28 July 1916; transferred to England, 29 July 1916, and admitted to 3rd Western General Hospital, Newport, 30 July 1916. Granted furlough, 27 September 1916; marched into No. 1 Command Depot, 13 October 1916. Proceeded overseas to France, 11 November 1916; rejoined unit, 27 November 1916.

Appointed Lance Corporal, 19 December 1916; Corporal, 4 March 1917; Lance Sergeant, 4 March 1917.

Awarded Military Medal.

Wounded in action, 2 May 1917 (gun shot wound, left leg); admitted to 8th Stationary Hospital, Wimereux, 4 May 1917; transferred to England, 5 May 1917, and admitted to Kitchener Military Hospital, Brighton. Discharged on furlough, 11 June 1917, to report to No. 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 25 June 1917. Proceeded overseas to France, 23 July 1917; rejoined 20th Bn, 9 August 1917.

Tried by Field General Court Martial, 29 August 1917, (1) when on Active Service without reasonable excuse allowing to escape two persons committed to his charge; (2) when on Active Service neglect to the prejudice of good order and Military discipline. Pleaded Not Guilty; verdict: Guilty. Reduced to the ranks.

Promoted Corporal, 25 September 1917; Lance Sergeant, 25 September 1917; Sergeant, 30 September 1917.

Awarded Bar to Military Medal.

Killed in action, Belgium, 9 October 1917.

Medals: Military Medal & Bar, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Mother wrote to Base Records, 11 October 1920, regarding the whereabouts of FRANKLIN's father: 'I have not seen or heard of him or had any support whatever from him since March 1905. [As first salesman for a leading boot firm in Adelaide, he was appointed as manager of acountry branch] 'but [I] am sorry to say he took to gambling and drink & finally lost his position.'

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