Messages posted by: Cooperclan29

Thanks Pete

I will post service records once acquired. Thank you for making the amendments.

Best regards
Mark Cooper Great Nephew of Claude Cooper

Hi Guy

Thank you for being so helpful it is so much appreciated, as are all of the contributors to this site. I cannot thank you enough for helping me to drive through a roadblock with identifying who, what, where and when my family contributed along with so many others.

Regards

Hi Guy

Thanks again
I retrieved all of those names too as part of our family tree. Alfred Cooper was my Great Grandfather he also served but not sure where. There is a very unfortunate tale about him which prevents us knowing what happened to him.

PM me if you wish to know the details as I need advising as to whether it's appropriate for the forum.

Hi Guy
Thanks for your input.

A quick amendment to the photographs, as I now have evidence of names from the back of the photos:

- It turns out that the first photo is of my Great Uncle Claude V Cooper born in March 1920 in Pontefract North Yorkshire serving with No2 Commando

- The second photo (sitting on the wall) is of Eric Cooper service No. 5949674 It appears he served originally with the Royal Engineers according to his mobilisation papers. He enlisted on 2nd May 1938. Mobilised on 2nd September 1939. Although it is thought he was a Commando.
He served in:
Far East 28-10-41 to 11-3-42
India 12-3-42 to 3-11-42
Middle East 4-11-42 to 22-4-44
North West Europe 5-10-44 to 6-5-46

So it's without a doubt Claude who is the one I don't know much about or what happened to him.

Hi Nic
Thank you for the information. For so long I have heard stories from my father about the FS knives I have now inherited, along with tales of Eric and Claude daring escapades. Sadly my father has dementia and can no longer remember much. Eric moved to Australia after the war and has a daughter (I am in the process of trying to trace her) but sadly through the grapevine I know that he passed away about 5 years ago. As for Claude that is a totally different story and I'm trying to track him too. My Great Grandfather also served but in what capacity and where I don't know.
My sister has a few more photos, so when I receive them I'll post them. Thank you for the advice on retrieving records.

Hi Pete, thank you for the welcome. What a great site!
Yes, I do know his family history...he is one of 5 brothers, my grandfather being one of them. My Great Grandfather left the North East (Tynemouth/Pontefract) for the coalfields of Kent in 1926. His sons were all born in Pontefract or Scarborough (Eric was born in 1921). Only 2 of the sons were regular army the other three were; ground crew for Spitfires/Hurricanes during Battle of Britain, reserved occupation coalminer and the other looked after the munitions at Dover in Kent. The sons never saw each other from 1944 onwards (long story!) however Eric and his brother Claude would regularly appear from out of the blue and disappear in the blink of an eye according to my father who was a little boy during the war. My father collected edged weapons and was given the FS Knives by Claude and Eric.
As far as I am aware none of the family has any ties with Manchester...that doesn't mean we don't, just I am not aware of it. I have also attached a photo of Claude. I think he must be somewhere in the middle east judging by the photo, but I can't make out his cap badge so don't know who he served with!

I believe that Pte. Cooper 3rd from right on the bottom row of this Photo is my Great Uncle Eric Cooper, his brother Claude V Cooper was also either No. 2Commando or SAS. I am trying to find details of his war record but I am not immediate next of kin and do not have his Service number. It just so happens I have both Eric and Claudes' Fairbairn - Sykes Fighting knives that were given to my Father. I have attached a photo of Eric Cooper. If anyone can enlighten me with further details it would be appreciated.