Cooper Walter Lance Corporal T/84683
Personnel Entry
Name Cooper Walter
Army number T/84683
Rank Lance Corporal
Decorations Awarded Defence Medal 1946. Awarded France and Germany Star 1939/45 in 1946. Awarded Legion d'Honneur by French Government in 2017.
Date of birth Research identified several possible birth registrations - definite answer yet to be confirmed. The most likely was probably Q3 1919 at Mansfield.
Age Not known
Unit Joined the Territorial Army but then called up in 1939, aged 18, but classed as "immature" - too young for overseas service - discharged back to civilian employment in 1940. Enlisted in the Royal Navy 1940. Discharged from RN after about 4 months as he was required as a fitter/vehicle mechanic in the Royal Army Service Corps. Posted to "W" Royal Army Reserve. Posted to No 1 Holding Battalion RASC - C Company 3/2/1941, Weybridge under Part II Order 20 dated 1/2/1941. Medically examined in accordance with Army Council Instruction 373 of 1940 and placed in Category A 1. Posted to Holding Company No 1 RASC Mobilisation Centre, Weybridge, under Part II Order 24 dated 13/2/1941. Posted to RASC Section, 87 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Morley, with effect from 15/2/1941 under Part II Order 21 dated 16/2/1941. Posted to 14 M.A.C. RASC Colchester 18/4/1941 under Part II Order 21 dated 22/4/1941, pending posting to 65 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment. Posted to RASC Section 65 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment - date not known - may not have taken place. Posted to RASC Section 6 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Cullingworth, 15/2/1941 under Part II Order No 1 dated 19/2/1941. Granted Embarkation Leave from 25/2/1941 to 3/3/1941 under Part II Order 4 dated 28/2/1941. Granted Compassionate Leave from 10/5/1941 to 14/4/1941 under Part II Order 17 dated 26/7/1941. Granted Privilege Leave from 21/8/1941 to 27/8/1941 under Part II Order 20 dated 21/8/1941. Relegated to Class W(T) Reserve on 10/10/1941 under Part II Order dated 16/10/1941 and authority 19/Gen/9516 (A.G.1.d) dated 3/10/1941. Posted to Holding Company No. 1 RASC Mobilisation Centre. Posted to "H" lines of Communication Infantry Brigade Company RASC with effect from 11/12/1941, Morley, under Part II Order 169 dated 12/12/1941. Posted to 353 General Transport Company, RASC, Dewsbury, with effect from 12/12/1941 under Part II Order No. 4 dated 12/12/1941. Posted to 135 M Company RASC, Apex garage, Lichfield with effect from 9/3/1942 under Part II Order 24 dated 9/3/1942. Appeared to have had a spell in hospital 28/6/1942 to 16/7/1942. Posted to 22 S.T. Company RASC with effect from 30 October 1942 under authority CRWC No 5/41013 dated 24 October 1942 under Part II Order 81 dated 30/10/1942. Struck off strength 13 S.M. Company and posted to No. 4 C (M) T Company RASC at Risca, under RASC authority W.O.L. 57/Vehs(A)/724 (S.D.1) dated 1/9/1942. Part II Order No. 1 dated 31/10/1942. Entry dated 4/11/1942. Under Part II Order 9 dated 1/2/1943 from 585 C M (T) Company RASC Private Cooper is shown as remaining posted on Redesignation. Under Part II Order 21 dated 11/3/1943 he was Posted to 482 Brigade Company, RASC (and their Part II Order 13/4/dated 14/3/1943) and struck off the strength of 585 Company - under the authority of Records RASC 3/3/1/1942 dated 3/3/1943. Embarked for France with 482 Brigade Company RASC 13/6/1944. Posted to and taken on strength of 501 Company Occupation Division Transport 8/3/1946. Medically examined 2/7/1946. Embarked and struck off strength BAOR as Class A Release 24/9/1946.
Company/Battery Not yet confirmed.
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role Section Leader.
Joined Brigade March 1943.
Promotions Passes Standard Trade tests and uprated as Vehicle Mechanic Group A Class 1 11/10/1944. Under authority 2821/6483/44 Private Cooper was remustered as Fitter Class II on re-mustering as Vehicle Mechanic Class II Group A - entry dated 2/11/1944. Passes Trade Tests as Electrician Class 3 Group A 12/1/1946. Promoted Unpaid Lance Corporal 13/1/1946. Authorised Pay of Appointment 13/1/1946.
Wounded Not as far as is known.
Prisoner of War Not as far as is known.
Died/Killed in action Surviving Veteran as at November 2017.
Home address Lived in Nottingham. Under 482 Brigade Company Part II Order 105/2 dated 2/10/1943 it was reported that Private Cooper married, on 6/6/1942, Norma Doreen Glover (17/6/1920 - March 1999), of 28 Bone Street, Lichfield, Warwickshire, at St Andrew's Church, Nottingham. Next of Kin address was subsequently amended under Part II Order 106/5 dated 4/11/1943 to 30, Colwick Road, Nottingham.
Source table
Researcher spoke to Mr Cooper on the morning of 9th November 2017 and made him aware of the research.
