Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

2nd Lieut Thomas Gill Cooper

Age: 31
From: Wallasey
Regiment: MGC (49 COY)
Died on Monday 25th March 1918
Commemorated at: St Sever Cem Ext Rouen
Panel Ref: Officer's B.2.21

Thomas Gill Cooper was born in Liverpool in June 1886 the son of Thomas Gill Cooper and his wife Sarah Alice (nee Bond). Thomas was baptised on 29th August 1886 in St. Chrysostom, Everton, his parents’ residence 99 Cresswell Street, and his father’s occupation listed as clerk. His parents, both born in Liverpool, married on the 14th Feb 1878 also at St. Chrysostom. Thomas was a book keeper of Cavan St, father John, whilst Sarah was aged 19, also of Cavan St, father James. They had seven children, their first child, Ann, born in 1879, died in infancy. Thomas had older sisters Elizabeth Ann, 1880, Amy Alice, 1882, and Ellen, 1884, and younger brothers Ernest, 1890, and Arthur, 1900/01.

On the 1881 census the family are living at 6 Guilford Street, Everton. His father, also Thomas Gill, is aged 27, and a book keeper (American), his mother Sarah A. is aged 22, and daughter Elizabeth A. is aged 10 months.

The family has not been found on the 1891 census, although his father appears on electoral rolls in adjacent years at 44 Edinburgh Road, Kensington, Liverpool, and Ernest’s baptism in August 1890 gives the same address. Unfortunately a stretch of houses, including no.44, is missing from the census.

At the time of the 1901 census the family is living at 98 Queens Road, Everton, with six children. His father is a shipping clerk, sister Elizabeth, 20, is a music teacher, Amy, 18, is a dressmaker, Ellen, 16, is a typist. Thomas, 14, and Ernest, 10, are at school. Arthur is 3 months old.

By 1911 they have moved across the River Mersey to 20 Warwick Drive, Liscard. His father is now aged 57, and a railway company agent, his mother is 52, Elizabeth, 30, has no occupation, and Ellen, 26, is a steamship company typist. Thomas, 24, and Ernest, 20, also work for a steamship company, as clerks, Arthur is 10, at school.

(His father started as chief clerk in the Liverpool offices of Southern Pacific (steamships and railways) in about 1890, became an agent in 1892, and general agent for Great Britain in 1920. It is not known whether any of his children worked for the same company.)

Thomas was educated at Liverpool College and prior to enlistment he was in the employ of Percy Bates & Co. Ship owners. He was a keen swimmer and had been Secretary of both the Everton men's and women's swimming club.

He was initiated into the Freemasons Broadsmith Lodge in January 1913.

Thomas enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 31st August 1914 joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15508. He gave his age as 28 years and 60 days, and his occupation as clerk. He is described as having good physical development: 5’ 8 and a quarter inches tall, weighing 150 lbs, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes, and light brown hair. He gives as next of kin his parents at 20 Warwick Drive.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham.

Whilst training at Knowsley he was appointed paid Lance Corporal on 29th December 1914. Whilst at Belton Camp, he earned promotion to Corporal on 11th May 1915, and on 14th August 1915 he was reprimanded for leaving parade before being dismissed.

On 31st August 1915 he was discharged for the purpose of enlisting in the Inns Of Court O.T.C. at Berkhampstead (regimental number 5926, rank Lance Corporal).

Thomas was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Machine Gun Corps, and arrived in France with the 49th Company on 6th June 1917 (the reason for the long period since discharge not known). 49th Company was part of the 49th Infantry Brigade, 16th (Irish) Division.

In 1917 in the Ypres Salient Thomas’ brigade saw action at the Battle of Messines, 7th-9th June, then during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) at Pilckem Ridge on 31st July to 2nd August, and at Langemarck, 16th-18th August.

In March 1918, 49th Company became part of the 16th Bn M.G.C.

Thomas was wounded at Epehy (between Péronne and Cambrai) on 15th March 1918 according to family information, and died of wounds on 25th March 1918 and now rests at St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France.

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

During the Second World War, Rouen was again a hospital centre and the extension was used once more for the burial of Commonwealth servicemen, many of whom died as prisoners of war during the German occupation.

The cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here. The adjoining St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.

The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

His parents placed a notice in the Liverpool Daily Post on 27th March 1918:

“March 25, of wounds, Second-lieutenant Thomas Gill Cooper, Machine Gun Corps, the dearly-loved eldest son of Thomas and Sarah Cooper, 20, Warwick Drive, Liscard.”

A newspaper report at the time of his death gives background detail to Thomas's life:

"The news of the death of Lieut. T.G. Cooper, of the Machine Gun Corps, as a result of wounds, will occasion widespread regret amongst his friends in Liverpool and Wallasey. Prior to the war Lieut. Cooper was on the staff of Sir Percy Bates and Co., ship-owners, and joined up with the Liverpool Pals on their formation. He was a well-known swimmer, being late hon.secretary of Everton S.C., and held the position oF chairman of Everton Ladies S.C. Lieut. Cooper, who was educated at the Liverpool College, formerly resided with his parents at 20, Warwick Drive."

Also in the Liverpool Evening Express on the 25th March 1919:

Cooper - In loving memory of Thomas Gill Cooper, Second Lieut. Machine Gun Corps (late 17th Pals), who died from wounds in hospital at Rouen, March 25, 1918. (Deeply regretted and always remembered by those at home and away.) - 20 Warwick Drive, Egremont.

Another notice reports that his father was with Thomas at the last, courtesy of the War Office.

Soldiers’ Effects appears to show his death was accidental (“accdt”); the war diary has not been found to confirm this, as the 16th Bn M.G.C. War Diary exists only from June 1918.

Probate, giving his address as 20 Warwick Drive, was granted to his father in the amount of £291-14s-2d.

Thomas is commemorated on the following memorials

Liverpool College

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 11 Right

And on the family gravestone in Rake Lane Cemetery, Wallasey:

In Loving Memory of

THOMAS GILL COOPER

2ND LIEUT. MACHINE GUN CORPS

(49TH COMPANY)

LATE 17TH L’POOL “PALS”

WOUNDED AT EPEHY FRANCE 15TH MARCH 1918

DIED AT ROUEN 25TH MARCH 1918

AGED 31 YEARS

AND WAS INTERRED IN ST. SEVER CEMETERY, ROUEN

“HIS END WAS PEACE”

His father retired in 1925, and his parents celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1928. His father died the following year on the 17th May, aged 75. His mother suffered more grief when Thomas' brother Arthur died in 1930 at the age of 29. She died on the 15th April 1931, aged 72.

We currently have no further information on Thomas Gill Cooper, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Killed On This Day.

(110 Years this day)
Wednesday 19th April 1916.
Pte 15260 William Porter
27 years old

(109 Years this day)
Thursday 19th April 1917.
Pte 57857 James Carter
19 years old

(109 Years this day)
Thursday 19th April 1917.
Pte 57792 Albany Howarth
19 years old

(109 Years this day)
Thursday 19th April 1917.
Pte 48091 William King
38 years old

(108 Years this day)
Friday 19th April 1918.
2nd Lieut Rowland Gill (MC) (MM)
33 years old