Also Served: Kingsley Cooper - Kingsley COOPER
1 Eaton Street, Prescot Sgt 81992, Royal Engineers 
Sgt Cooper, pictured in the Prescot Reporter
Kingsley Cooper was born in 1874 in Ardwick, Manchester. He originally attested as private 3683 to the South Lancashire Regiment at Warrington on 14th March 1892, aged 18. He signed on for 7 years full service, with an additional 5 years in the Reserve.
Private Cooper married Priscilla O'Dowd in Pendleton in January 1893, and then served in Egypt from March 1893 to February 1895. He was then posted to India, where he remained until January 1905, when he returned to the UK. During this time in India, he worked as a telegraphist with the Indian Telegraph Department.
Although appointed to the rank of Sergeant in 1905, he was reverted to Corporal in 1909 after a Court Martial found him guilty of drunkenness.
At the time of the 1911 census, he was listed as a serving Corporal in the South Lancashire Regiment and was based at Orford Barracks in Warrington. He was discharged in March 1913 after 21 years service with the colours. During his time in the army, he and Priscilla had four daughters; Priscilla (1893), Ivy (1903), Charlotte Maria (1905) and Edith (1907).
An entry in the 1913 'British Postal Service Appointment Book' which shows Kingsley Cooper starting work as a Postman in February of that year
At the age of 40, Kingsley Cooper rejoined the army in March 1915, giving his occupation as an Office Telegraphist and recording the same address as previously given. He joined the Royal Engineers, presumably using his extensive telegraphy experience.
Sergeant Cooper was listed in the Prescot Reporter List of May 1915 showing men who were serving with the forces. On 7th November of that year, he sailed for France. On 21st July 1916, he was pictured in the Reporter (above) with a caption reporting that he had been wounded.
He was demobilized in February 1919. Sgt Cooper was entitled to the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. In his earlier service, he had been awarded the Indian Medal (1895) with Clasp (1899).
He died in Prescot in 1937, aged 64.Ref. No.:
|
