The Somme Remembered – 15th July 1916

Charles Baldwin Cooper was born around 1875 in north Leeds.  He was the son of Charles and Harriet Cooper who in 1881 were living at 42 Nippet Terr (sic), Leeds.

Charles died of wounds on this day 100 years ago.

Charles served in the South African Infantry as Corporal 1341.  The South African Infantry Corps was the largest combat corps within the South African Army, originating as the Infantry Branch of the Union Defence Forces in 1913.  In 1915 the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force was established, being made up of 12 battalions and the Cape Corps, comprising of Coloured Volunteers – these units were disbanded in 1919.

He had previously served in the Jameson Raid, South African Campaign and in German South West Africa.

He married Janet and her address according to the CWGC was Newlands, Cape Province.

The Register of Soldiers’ Effects has two entries – cross reference to each other, that tell the

Thiepval Memorial

monies owed to Charles were paid to the High Commission Union of South Africa fr dispersal in South Africa.  There are other entries for South African soldiers on the same page and all have the same entry – ‘for dispersal in South Africa’.

Charles is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial with over 72000 other casualties whose final resting place is known only unto their god.