Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born 17 March 1895 in Thebarton, South Australia.
(SA Birth Record 1842 - 1906 Book: 560 Page: 26 District: Hin.)

Father Mr Benjamin COOPER and Mother Mrs Sarah Jane Cooper (nee SINGER)
they had "14" children, living at 40 Aveland Avenue, North Norwood, South Australia.

The COOPER family probably had very few equals, if any at all in the Commonwealth
and it may have been doubted whether there were many throughout the world who made
such a contribution to active service.

Next of kin in service:
Brothers:-
530    Private William James Cooper   - (b. 13/5/1879 Thebarton, SA - d. 3/7/1953, Morgan, SA)
37      Private Thomas Henry Cooper  -  (b. 13/6/1881 Greens Plains, SA - 3/7/1953 Morgan, SA)
2315  Private Albert George Cooper    - (b. 13/6/1883 Parkside, SA - d. 4/7/1960 Adelaide, SA)
5071  Private Ernest Walter Cooper     - (b. 17/4/1885 Bowden, SA - d. 16/2/1959 Morgan, SA)
3407  Private Arthur Edmond Cooper  - (b. 12/5/1887 Hindmarsh, SA - d. 4/8/1963 Nailsworth, SA)
1425  Private Francis Cooper              - (b. 21/2/1890 Hindmarsh, SA
4095  Private Roy John Cooper           - (b. 20/6/1898 Hindmarsh, SA

Brother-in-law
2336  Private Frank Cocks  - (b. 15/5/1889 Bugle Ranges, SA - d. 10/1/1930 Mitcham, SA)
         Father James Cocks and Mother Jane Tippet
         (SA Birth Record 1842 - 1906 Book: 438 Page: 482 District: Str.)

Siblings:
Brother         William James COOPER               (b 13/5/1879 Thebarton, SA
Brother         Thomas Henry COOPER                (b. 13/6/1881 Green Plains, SA
Brother         Albert George COOPER                (b 13/6/1883 Parkside, SA
Brother         Ernest Walter COOPER                 (b 17/4/1885 Bowden, SA
Brother         Arthur Edwin COOPER                  (b 12/5/1887 Hindmarsh, SA
Sister            Ada Lawrence Ethel May COOPER (b 8/6/1888 Hindmarsh, SA
Twin Sister    Florence May COOPER                 (b 21/2/1890 Hindmarsh, SA
Twin Brother  Francis COOPER                          (b 21/2/1890 Hindmarsh, SA
Sister            Sarah Elizabeth COOPER              (b 24/6/1892 Thebarton, SA
Himself          Harold Frederick COOPER       (b 17/3/1895 Thebarton, SA
Sister             Hilda Myrtle COOPER                   (b 2/2/1897 Thebarton, SA
Brother          Roy John COOPER                       (b 20/6/1898 Hindmarsh, SA
Sister            Alice Pretoria COOPER                  (b 20/5/1900 Bowden, SA
Sister            Ruby Violet COOPER                    (b 10/12/1902 Adelaide, SA

Prior to embarking Harold lived at 9 Tantham Terrace, off of Waymouth Street,
Adelaide, South Australia.

Previous service:   3 years - 71st Battalion Senior Cadets

Described on enlisting as 20 years 2 months old; single; 5' 3" tall; 121 lbs; fair complexion;
blue eyes; fair hair; Church of England.

22/7/1915       enlisted in AIF at Keswick, South Australia

22/7/1915      Commanding Officer appointed Harold to O Group Base Infantry Depot
                      Exhibition Camp

16/8/1915       A Company, 3rd D Battalion

1/9/1915         11th reinforcements, 9th Light Horse

27/10/1915     embarked from Outer Harbour, Port Adelaide on board HMAT Benalla A24
                      as a Private in the 11th reinforcements, 10th Infantry Battalion

29/2/1916       transferred to 50th Battalion, Serapeum, from 3rd Training Battalion
                      taken on strength into 50th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir

14/5/1916       transferred to 13th Training Battalion, from 50th Battalion

7/6/1916         proceeded to join British Expeditionary Forces, with 4th Division Base Depot,
                       ex Alexandria, on board Huntspill
14/6/1916       disembarked into Marseilles, France

18/6/1916      sick with dysentry - Etaples, France
                      admitted to 24th General Hospital, Etaples, France
14/7/1916      discharged from hospital to Base

3/9/1916        joined Battalion with reinforcements, 4th Division Base, Etaples

21/3/1917       sick to hospital, ex 50th Battalion, France
30/4/1917       rejoined Battalion

10/6/1917       wounded in action, in the field,  France
15/6/1917       11th General Hospital, Camiera

30/7/1917       proceeded to join Australian Vet Hospital
31/7/1917       taken on strength into  Australian Vet Hospital, Calais, from 50th Battalion, France

5/10/1917       sick, admitted to 30th General Hospital
13/11/1917      rejoined unit

22/1/1918        sick with Bronchitis, to hospital, France
26/2/1918        embarked on board hospital ship  HS Ville de Leige, for England
26/2/1918        admitted into Essex County Hospital, Bronchitis, slight Pneumonia
25/3/1918        discharged to No.4 C D Hurdcott, England

26/6/1918       Proceeded overseas to France, ex No.3 Camp, Parkhome, from Dover

27/6/1918       rejoined unit - Australian Vet Hospital, France

4/10/1918       posted to 1st Australian Mobile Veterinary Sectioin, France

12/5/1919       Harold returned to Australia on board HT Soudan, ex England
27/6/1919       disembarked into Australia

19/8/1919        dishcarged from service in AIF 

Medals:
1914/15 Star (688); British War medal (6080) and Victory medal (6017)

#217428

Next of kin:    Father Benjamin Cooper, living at 34 Fisher Street, Norwood, SA

Described as 35 years old; labourer; single; 5' 4 1/2" tall; 137 lbs;

26/3/1930       Joined Citizen Forces at Kensington, SA
                      as a Private in 10th Batalion Corps

27/3/1930       Commanding Officer appointed Harold to HQ Wing, Kensington

1/4/1935         Lance Corporal

25/2/1937       Corporal

Married           Adelaide Rose Cooper (nee _____)

26/7/1971       Wife  Adelaide Rose Cooper passed away
                      buried in Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, SA

19/2/1974       Harold passed away
buried in:        Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, South Australia
                      General AE, Path 3, Grave 178

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan.   16/6/2015.  Lest we forget.