William Ernest Cooper

A Sergeant with the 11th Battalion, William died on 9th of April 1918 at the age of 32. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 22 October 1885, a son of William and Phyllis Emma Cooper. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 27 December 1885. By 1891 his family were living at 36 Edgeware Street, West Derby, Liverpool, and in 1901 they lived at 59 Edgeware Street, and William was an office boy. By 1911 the family had moved back to Lowestoft, living at 20 Kirkley Street, and William was a clerk. Later his mother lived at 6 Kirkley Street.  

William volunteered and enlisted in the Army, at Saxmundham, in October 1914. He joined the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion Suffolk Regiment, service number 1561. Subsequently he was posted to the 1/4th Battalion in France with service number 43376 and afterwards posted to the 11th Battalion.

On 5 April 1918 the 11th Battalion occupied billets at Erquinghem, France. The Germans began bombing Erquignhem on 9 April and the battalion immediately moved into front line trenches in anticipation of an attack which came from the direction of Fleurbaux, but was driven back. A second attack from the Feurbaix area took place on 10 April and later that day the battalion were ordered to withdraw to north of the River Lys. A further withdrawal on the 11th was hampered by sniper and machine-gun fire but the battalion reached the Armentieres-Bailleul railway. On the 12th the battalion moved into attack formation about one mile south-east of Bailleul and late in the morning became involved in the fighting. The next day there was a heavy artillery bombardment and the enemy attacked in force from Outerstern and the battalion had to fall back. During the 14th the battalion took up positions near Bailleul railway station and late in the day they were relieved and marched to Meulehook. On the 15th due to enemy advances they were again in the front line. The next day they were patrolling and digging in. During the 17th there was heavy shelling and attempts by the enemy to advance. The battalion were relieved at 2 a.m. on April 18. 

What precisely happened to William is not known. He was reported missing at some point between 9 April and 19 April 1918 and in October 1918 was presumed to have been killed in action between those dates. However, both Soldiers Died in the Great War gives his date of death as 18 April. 

The battalion’s casualties between 9 and 19 April were:
Officers: four killed; four died of wounds; five missing, ten wounded
Other ranks: 39 killed; three died of wounds; 272 missing; 157 wounded