COOPER, Randall
| Service Number: | 5068 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 February 1916, Enlisted at Claremont, Tasmania |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 4th Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 15 December 1897 |
| Home Town: | Hobart, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Pneumonia, 4th Scottish General Hospital, Stobhill, Glasgow, Scotland , 27 November 1918, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Glasgow Western Necropolis, Scotland Row N, Grave 11. Chaplain Rev. D.A. Bolhill officiated. Undertakers were J. Henderson Ltd. of Cambridge Street, Glasgow, Scotland. Commemorated in the Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart, Tasmania |
| Memorials: | Hobart Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5068, 12th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Claremont, Tasmania | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 5068, 12th Infantry Battalion, RMS Orontes, Melbourne | |
| 29 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 5068, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: RMS Orontes embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 20 May 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 52nd Infantry Battalion, From 12th Battalion | |
| 2 Sep 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 4th Machine Gun Company, From 52nd Battalion | |
| 12 Sep 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 13th Machine Gun Company, From 4th Machine Gun Battalion | |
| 13 Jul 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5068, 13th Machine Gun Company | |
| 5 Aug 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Driver, 13th Machine Gun Company | |
| 1 Apr 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 4th Machine Gun Battalion, France | |
| 8 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 5068, 4th Machine Gun Battalion, The Battle of Amiens | |
| 18 Sep 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 5068, 4th Machine Gun Battalion, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, Outpost Line |
Help us honour Randall Cooper's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Robert Cooper and Rebecca Cooper nee Burgess of Hobart, Tasmania
Husband of Irene Cooper nee Wise of Harrington Street, Hobart, Tasmania. Father of Sheila Cooper and Winston Rex Cooper
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Randall Cooper was born at Hobart, Tasmania on 15th December, 1887 to parents Robert & Rebecca Cooper (nee Burgess).
Rebecca Cooper, mother of Randall Cooper, died on 1899 in Hobart, Tasmania.
Randall Cooper married Irene Wise on 3rd April, 1909 in Hobart, Tasmania.
A daughter – Sheelah (Sheila) Rebecca Cooper was born on 30th August, 1909 at Raneleagh, Tasmania & a son – Winston Rex Cooper was born on 27th January, 1911 at Raneleagh, Tasmania.
On 8th February, 1916 Randall Cooper enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) as a 28 year old, married, Labourer from Hobart, Tasmania.
Private Randall Cooper, Service number 5068, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on RMS Orontes on 29th March, 1916 with the 12th Infantry Battalion, 16th Reinforcements & disembarked at Suez on 25th April, 1916.
He was reallotted as Reinforcements for 52nd Battalion on 20th May, 1916.
On 7th June, 1916 Private Cooper embarked from Alexandria on Huntspill & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 14th June, 1916.
Private Cooper was marched in to Machine Gun Base Depot at Etaples, France for training on 7th August, 1916. He was marched in to 4th A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples on 1st September, 1916. Pte Cooper was transferred to 4th Divisional Machine Gun Company on 2nd September, 1916 & was taken on strength of 13th Machine Gun Company in the field on 14th September, 1916.
He reported sick on 17th October, 1916 & was admitted to 13th Australian Field Ambulance with Influenza. Private Cooper was transferred to 4th Australian Field Ambulance the same day then transferred to Divisional Rest Station & discharged to duty on 23rd October, 1916. He rejoined his Unit on 24th October, 1916.
A General Court Martial was held in the Field on 29th March, 1917. The charges against Private Randall Cooper were (1) Whilst on Active Service – absent without leave from 7 pm on 15th March, 1917 to 8 am on 17th March, 1917 (2) Conduct to prejudice of good order & military discipline – alteration of leave pass. Finding – Guilty. He was sentenced to 60 days Field Punishment No. 1. Time in confinement awaiting trial from 17th March, to 23rd March, 1917. Total forfeiture of 69 days’ pay.
On 13th June, 1917 Private Cooper was appointed Temporary Driver vice Driver E. G. Scott wounded in action on 12th June, 1917.
He was appointed Driver on 5th August, 1917 under A.I.F. Order 785.
Driver Cooper was on Leave to England from 6th February, 1918.
On 12th February, 1918 Driver Cooper was written up for an Offence in London– refusing to show his pass to Military Police. He was awarded a forfeiture of 4 days’ pay.
He returned from Leave in the field on 23rd February, 1918.
Driver Cooper was transferred to 4th Machine Gun Battalion on 1st April, 1918 – A.I.F. Order 1151.
From 20th November, 1918 to 4th December, 1918 Driver Cooper was on Leave.
He was admitted to 4th Scottish General Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland on 26th November, 1918, while on Leave, seriously ill with Pneumonia.
Driver Randall Cooper died at 04.50 hrs on 27th November, 1918 at 4th Scottish General Hospital, Stobhill, Glasgow, Scotland from Pneumonia.
He was buried in Western Necropolis Cemetery, Glasgow, Scotland where 10 other WW1 Australian Soldiers are buried.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/-western-necropolis.html
Click images to start slideshow.