| Birth | 1893, Alton, Hants | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parents | Son of Thomas & Sarah M Cooper | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Bury Court, Bentley, Hants | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Cowman | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enlisted | Winchester, Hants | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regiment | 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regimental No: | 9202 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Private | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service Record | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Death | 6th August 1915, killed in action, aged 22. Final resting place unknown. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Theatre of War | Balkans, Gallipoli | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commemoration | Helles Memorial, Canakkale, Turkey | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Medals | 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal, British War Medal | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reginald Thomas Cooper was born in Alton in 1893. He was the son of Thomas and Sarah Cooper and, in the 1911 Census, the family was living at Bury Court, Bentley, where Reginald was a cowman. However, by the time of his death, the family had moved to 3 Park Lane, Lower Froyle. He enlisted at Winchester on 28th March 1914, joining the 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment as 9202 Private Reginald Cooper. The 2nd Battalion went to Gallipoli as a part of the 88th Brigade, 29th Division; they took part in the famous ‘Landing at Helles’, some of the battalion disembarking from the SS River Clyde. This is commemorated yearly on April 25th (Gallipoli Day). Reginald’s death is recorded as 6th August 1915 at Gallipoli. He was killed in action, aged 22 years, during a diversionary attack to coincide with the landings at Sulva Bay further North. The attack was a failure with great loss of life as you will see from the war diary extract below: |
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Marched up mule track and took over trenches from the ROYAL FUSILIERS, heavy gun fire up to 1pm, bombardment from 2.15pm until 3.50pm. Attack launched, first line advanced at proper time, attack did not get home, majority of first line killed or wounded. Captain B S Parker led attack of second line, killed soon after leaving trenches. Attack failed. Failure of attack attributed to the number of machine guns in front and flanks of position, these guns had not been knocked out in the bombardment, and as soon as attack was launched opened very heavy fire. Strength of Battalion on going into action, officers 27, other ranks 846. |
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Private Reginald Cooper was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His final resting place is unknown, but he is commemorated on the Helles Memorial at Canakkale in Turkey, Panel 125-134 or 223-226, 228-229 & 328. |
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