COOPER, Joseph
| Service Numbers: | 29, 63 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 August 1914, Enlisted at Brighton, Tasmania |
| Last Rank: | Regimental Sergeant Major |
| Last Unit: | 12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | St. Marys, Tasmania, Australia, 1877 |
| Home Town: | Deloraine, Meander Valley, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Police Senior Constable |
| Died: | Heart Attack, Tasmania, Australia, 18 May 1950 |
| Cemetery: |
Cornelian Bay Cemetery and Crematorium, Tasmania Section CB, Grave 23. Interred on 22 May 1950 |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Trooper, 29, 1st Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen |
|---|
World War 1 Service
| 31 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 63, 12th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Brighton, Tasmania | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Sergeant, 63, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Sergeant, 63, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Hobart | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 63, 12th Infantry Battalion, Wound to the foot | |
| 11 Jul 1916: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, For distinguished and gallant services London Gazette on 13 July 1916, page 6955, position 29 Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 30 November 1916, page 3234, position 16 | |
| 20 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Regimental Sergeant Major, 12th Infantry Battalion, In France | |
| 7 Nov 1916: | Honoured Military Medal, London Gazette on 27 October 1916, page 10486, position 55 Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 19 April 1917, page 919, position 1 | |
| 7 May 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Regimental Sergeant Major, 63, 12th Infantry Battalion, Wounds to the back and arm. Invalided to England from Boulogne aboard HS St. Patrick on 14 May 1017 | |
| 24 Jan 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Regimental Sergeant Major, 63, 12th Infantry Battalion, Discharged at the 6th Military District |
Help us honour Joseph 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
At the time of enlistment his marital status was given as Widower
Next of kin given as his daughter Edith Cooper C/- Mrs Sims of Hopkins Street, Moonah, Tasmania
On 2 December 1916 he was awarded the Cross of Kargeorge (1st Clas with swords) by the King of Serbia for sevices rendered
Commenced return to Australia on 24 September 1918 aboard Kaiser-a-Hind from Taranto disembarking on 16 October 1918
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography
RETIRED POLICE SERGEANT DIES IN HOBART
Retired police sergeant Joseph Cooper, who was a prominent member of the Tasmanian force from 1904 until 1942, died at the Repatriation Hospital, Hobart, on Thursday. He was 72 years of age. Since his retirement he had been health officer at St. Helens for the Portland Council. He entered the Repatriation Hospital about a month ago, and died after a heart attack. His funeral will take place at Cornelian Bay on Monday. Ex-Sgt. Cooper had distinguished service in the Boer War and World War I.
He was born at St. Marys in 1877, and followed mining at Mathinna and Mt. Lyell until he went to the Boer War with the First Imperial Bushmen's Contingent. After the war he joined the Transvaal Town Police. On his return to Tasmania he joined the State Police Force, and served at Zeehan, Queenstown, Williamsford, Hobart, New Norfolk, Deloraine, and St. Marys. In World War I. he took part in the landing at Gallipoli. He was mentioned in despatches and was later awarded the Military Medal. In France, he received the Serbian Cross of Kara George, first class, with swords. He was selected from the Second Army School as a member of a platoon to parade before the late King George V.
When he returned to Tasmania in 1919 he was stationed in Hobart, where he was coroner's clerk for two years. Promoted to sergeant, he was transferred to Sandy Bay, where he remained for eight years before being transferred to St. Marys. He was a member of the Rechabite Masonic Lodge, Hobart. He leaves his wife, who lives at St, Helens, a daughter (Mrs. J. Read, Lenah Valley, Hobart), and a step-son (Mr. B. Pallett, St. Marys).
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