Pte 57504 Harry MacPherson Cooper

• Age: 23
• From: Dundee
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Neuville-vitasse Rd Cem
  Panel Ref: A.23

Harry MacPherson Cooper was the son of David and Jane Bethune Cooper (nee Burns) Cooper, of 323 Clepington Road, Dundee. They had married on the 27th Oct 1876 in St Andrew.

On the 1901 census the family are living at 47 North Wellington St, Dundee.

Father David is aged 44 a commercial traveller  b.Ceres, Fife, mother Jane B. is 45 b.Kemback, Fife, children John J. 24 a clerk(jute), Agnes C. 21 a flax winder, David F. 16 a tobacconist assistant, Mary S. 11 a scholar, and Harry M. aged 7 a scholar.

The father died on the 16th Feb 1903 aged 46

He enlisted in Dundee as 833 Highland Divisional Cyclist Company. He transferred to the 18th Battalion of The Kings Liverpool Regiment as Private 57504. 

Harry was killed in action on the 09/04/1917, aged 23, during an attack on the German defences on the Hindenburg line.

Arras 09^th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the 18^th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19^th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up”  for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56^th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16^th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10^th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded. 

Harry now rests at Neuville Vitasse Road  cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE"