Coming Soon.
COOPER, Cecil Leonidas
Personal Details
| Service Number: | 2135 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 July 1915, Enlisted at Liverpool, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 20th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Petersburg, South Australia, 3 June 1894 |
| Home Town: | Longwood, Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Station Contractor |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 9 October 1917, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient), North Adelaide Christ Church School Honour Board |
Service History
World War 1 Service
| 8 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2135, 20th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Liverpool, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2135, 20th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 30 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2135, 20th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney | |
| 3 May 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2135, 20th Infantry Battalion, Bomb wound to the thigh. | |
| 26 Jul 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2135, 20th Infantry Battalion, Second occasion. Wounds to the leg and face | |
| 19 Dec 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 20th Infantry Battalion | |
| 2 May 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2135, 20th Infantry Battalion, Third occasion. Wound to the left leg. Invalided to England on 5 May 1917 aboard HS St. Andrew | |
| 11 May 1917: | Honoured Military Medal and bar, Military Medal citation reads: 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. London Gazette on 11 May 1917, page 4601, position 10Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 27 August 1917, page 1828, position 39 Bar to the Military Medal citation reads: 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 splendid example to all those with whom he came in contact London Gazette on 12 December 1917, page 13005, position 6. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 2 May 1918, page 1032, position 15 | |
| 25 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant, 20th Infantry Battalion, Originally promoted to Corporal but upgraded to Lance Sergeant the same day | |
| 30 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 20th Infantry Battalion | |
| 9 Oct 1917: | Involvement Sergeant, 2135, 20th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2135 awm_unit: 20 Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1917-10-09 |
Personal Stories
Help us honour Cecil Leonidas 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 Alfred John Johnson and Julia Ann Johnson but known as Cooper of Longwood, SA
Medals: Military Medal & Bar, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Showing 1 of 1 image.
Click images to start slideshow.
Click images to start slideshow.