Biography of Private Leslie Cooper (55355)
B Company 12/13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
Formerly 37910 – 261st Infantry Battery
Died 28th March 1918

• Name: Alice Mary Barnett
• DOB: 1875
• Place Of Birth: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England
• Marriage: 1896 Bourne District

• None found

• No marriage for Leslie has been found and because of his age we can assume that he never had the opportunity to marry.

Newspaper Mentions

• Grantham Journal Saturday 27th April 1918
  NEWS OF BOURNE BOYS – Mr and Mrs Joyce of Bedehouse Bank, have received information that their son, Pte. H.L.Joyce, Lincoln Regt., died in hospital in France, from gunshot wounds in the left thigh. Mr and Mrs J. Cooper of Manning road have had all the letters of their son, Leslie, returned marked “no address know.” They have not yet had official notice that he is missing, although one of the letters was marked to that effect. Private Martin E Barnes, a native of Bourne, attached to the Notts and Derby Regiment has been missing since March 21st. The notification came to Pte. Barnes’ sister Mrs F Hinson of Willoughby road. Pte Wm. Jackson son of Mr and Mrs Wm. Jackson of Eastgate has been taken prisoner. He is unwounded. This is the second son of Mr and Mrs Jackson who is now a prisoner of war, whist a third and younger son was killed in action some few months ago. Mrs Smallman of Elm Terrace has received official notification that her husband, Pte. E. Smallman is missing. Prior to his joining the Forces, Pte. Smallson was in the employ of Messrs. W.H. Smith and Son at their Bourne bookstall.

Military Records

• The British Medal
  The Victory Medal

Memorials

• UK:
• Bourne, Roll of Honour in Bourne Abbey Church
• Bourne War Memorial in the Memorial Gardens

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
• In memory of Private Leslie Cooper, 55355, “B” Coy. 12th/13th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers who died on 28th March 1918 Age 19
• Son of John and Alice Cooper, of 2, Manning Rd., Bourne, Lincs.
• Remembered with honour, Pozieres Memorial

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

Military Service Timeline

• Enlisted in Bourne

• This is ongoing research and will be posted when completed

• Battalion War Diary Extract
  March 25th 1918, Green Line to Bray
  The batallion faught  rear-guard actions continuously from Mar 22 until relieved on March 25th the folowing officers becoming casualties, capt J.R. Short, Capt J.O. Byrne, Capt Seeming, Lt Smart, Lt Harrower F.L., 2/Lts Soman, Richardson H, Buglass, Richardson L., Thompson, Copeland, Pringle, Mustard, Johnston D.L., Capt Vidler, L J.C Williamson a ??, together with 424 other ranks.

  March 26th 1918, Bray
  A composite Battalion under Lt Col R. Howlett D.S.O M.C. was formed and at 5.30pm left for Maricourt where it was attached to the 35th Division. That night a withdrawal was made to the Bray – Albert line and the Battalion Dug in in front of Bray.

  March 27th – 29th 1918, Bray – Ribemont
  Next day a further withdrawl was made to the line of the Ancre where the Battalion defended the village of  Ribemont until relieved on March 29th.

  March 30th 
  battalion was at Rest in Heilly

  March 31st
  Battalion moved to Frechencourt and Poulainville

• WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• British Newspaper Archive.