COOPER, William Ernest

William Cooper was the son of John and Rosetta Cooper of 6 Holt Road, Blackheath. He was a volunteer for the Grenadier Guards and served in the 1st Battalion. After heavy involvement in the Battles of the Somme 1916, Arras 1917 and Third Ypres Autumn 1917 the Guards were obliged to face the German Spring offensives of 1918. Once the German attacks had been halted the Guards joined the Advance to Victory. Their particular achievement was the attack on the Canal du Nord near Cambrai. This was a serious obstacle and at the heart of the Hindenburg Line. On the 27-28 September the 1st/Grenadiers were at the focus of the attack and break-through was achieved. After a brief rest they joined the next advance towards the river Selle, the last river obstacle, and the Grenadiers took the village of St. Vaast on the 14th October. Lance Corporal William Cooper was injured and taken to a casualty clearing station where he died of wounds on the 15th October, less than a month from the armistice. He was 21 years of age and is buried in Quiévy Communal Cemetery Extension (D 21) and commemorated on the Blackheath and Halesowen Memorials.