Cooper, Robert Frank

Cpl, Robert Frank Cooper, RGA

BORN ST HELIER, JERSEY, CHANNEL ISLES, 1872. SON OF JOHN COOPER AND SUSANNAH CHAMBERS.

A FORMER SOLDIER AND SHOP KEEPER AT 88 NEWLAND AVENUE, HULL. WIDELY KNOWN IN THE DISTRICT FOR HIS GOOD BUSINESS QUALITIES AND PLEASANT DISPOSITION. HE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HULL BREWERY COMPANY FOR 18 YEARS AND CARRIED ON THE BEER BUSINESS AT THE CORNER OF TRINITY STREET, HULL. HE THEN TRANSFERRED TO 85 NEWLAND AVENUE, THE SHOP ON THE CORNER OF SHARP STREET, WHERE HE HAD BEEN TEN YEARS.

AT THE AGE OF 18, HE JOINED THE REGULAR FORCES, SERVING WITH THE GARRISON ARTILLERY, LEAVING THE ARMY TWELVE MONTHS BEFORE THE BOER WAR. HE THEN RE-ENLISTED AND SERVED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BOER WAR CAMPAIGN.

HE MARRIED ELLEN PARKER COOPER. THEY LIVED AT 85 NEWLAND AVENUE, HULL AND 2  SHARP STREET, HULL. THEY HAD CHILDREN, ARNOLD, BERNARD AND HILDA.

HE VOLUNTEERED FOR SERVED IN AUGUST 1914 WHEN WAR BEGAN. WAS CALLED UP IN MARCH 1916 AND  STATIONED WITH THE EAST RIDING GARRISON ARTILLERY, AT SPURN POINT. HE WAS POSTED TO FRANCE AND SERVED AS A GUNNER. DUE TO HIS EXPERIENCE, HE WAS PROMOTED TO ACTING CORPORAL, IN THE 2ND EAST RIDING GARRISON ARTILLERY. HE WAS KILLED BY SHELL FIRE, ON 26/09/1917, AGED 44.

HIS BODY WAS NEVER FOUND AND HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE YPRES, MENIN GATE MEMORIAL, TO THE MISSING IN BELGIUM.

HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL, ON 26/10/1917 AND ON 24/11/1917. *
HE OWNED A SHOP AT 85 NEWLAND AVENUE, AND LEFT £3,182 IN HIS WILL TO THE EXECUTOR, PERCY JAMES TODD.


First name:
ROBERT FRANK
Military Number:
382552
Rank:
Acting Corporal
Date Died
26/09/1917
Place died:
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Age:
44
2 , SHARP STREET, NEWLAND AVENUE, HULL, EAST YORKSHIRE, UK