Arthur was the sixth child of Samuel and Ann Sophia Cooper, of No. 4, Lawley St., Dudley.
He had originally served with the 4th Worcesters.
He was killed in action on 2nd June 1918 aged 21 and is buried in Tannay British Cemetery in the village of Thiennes which is to the North-West of Bethune. “Oh, how his thoughts they must have flown to his dear mother and all at home.”
On the day of his death the 1st Devonshires were engaged in routine trench-holding duty near the Forest of Nieppe; he was a victim of the steady attrition of men that occurred even during quiet times. “Battalion remained in same position. Nothing of note occurred.” according to the battalion’s War Diary.
Another soldier lost his life on that day, and another was wounded; a further four men reported sick and were sent to hospital.
A bachelor, his name is carved on the walls of Dudley's civic war memorial in Priory St, and on the war memorial plaque in the Park Congregational Church.
(This story is based on his entry in the book “Dudley’s 1914-1918 War Memorial and the Men commemorated – 2nd Revised & Expanded Edition” by J. B. E. Hale. The book is published by Amazon, and there is also a Kindle version.)
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