1/5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
William Henry Cooper was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Cooper of 3 Fairhaven Street, Cheltenham. He was born in Cheltenham and was a Reservist who was recalled to the colours on 10 August 1914. He enlisted as No 2183 in the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment being drafted to France on 11 November 1914 and served over two years in France.
He was discharged from the Army due to illness on 4 January 1917, when assigned to 1/5th (Territorial) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment and died at home on 2 April 1917, age 29. According to a recently released Pension Record Card, death was due to carcinoma of the rectum and exhaustion from active service.
He is buried in Cheltenham Borough Cemetery, where his grave is marked by a CWGC headstone. He is commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial. He left a widow, Elizabeth and three children at 35 Swindon Passage, Cheltenham and later at 5 Devonshire Street.
Researched by Graham Adams 20 February 2012 (revised 26 July 2021)
(Acknowledgement to ‘Leaving all that was dear – Cheltenham in the Great War’ by Graham Sacker and Joe Devereux)