COOPER, Albert Henry

Albert was the son of George and Sophia Cooper of Howell, near Inverell NSW. He had attended Howell Public School and was working as a Labourer when at the age of nineteen, he enlisted at West Maitland NSW in November 1915.  His Mother gave her permission for him to serve overseas. 

Albert joined the 35th Battalion, A Company which left Australia on HMAT A24 Benalla in May 1916. After arriving in England in July, Albert became ill and was admitted to hospital for some weeks. Eventually, after further training he was sent to France in mid January 1917.

Private Albert Cooper was one of many Inverell district men Killed in Action on 7 June 1917 during the Battle of Messines. He has no known grave and his name is among those recorded on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. His few personal possessions were returned to his Mother.

At Inverell Private Cooper’s name is inscribed on the town’s Honor Roll and Cenotaph.  During 1919 he was one of the men for whom a memorial tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade, Inverell.