Private Cooper was born in Avon Dassett in 1892, the son of George Cooper. Prior to enlisting he was a groom.

He enlisted at Scarborough, aged 22, on 27th August 1914 in the Royal Warwickshire regiment and posted to the First Cavalry (G.S) on that date. He was with the British Expeditionary Force in France, based in Rouen. On 13th September 1917 he was transferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and posted to 16th Battalion on 24th September 1917.

He was admitted to a field hospital on 8th August 1918 suffering from ‘shellgas’. He was transferred to England on the “Cumbria”.