Able Seaman J/9671, H.M.S. "Dido", Royal Navy. Died at home in the January to March Quarter 1917. Aged 19. Invalided out of the Navy with Tuberculosis Lungs 25 November 1914. Enlisted 29 July 19111 for 12 years. Height 5 feet 8 inches, chest 35 inches, dark brown hair, hazel eyes, fresh complexion; formerly a farm labourer.

Frank Cooper was born in Swaffham Bulbeck on 29th July 1893 (believed to be Newmarket Q3-1893 3b:504), son of Nathan and Fanny COOPER (née HANCOCK). in the 1901 census he was aged 7, residing at Town Street, Bottisham with his father Nathan COOPER [41] shepherd; his mother Fanny [38] and sisters Nellie [11] and Emily [9]. All were born in Swaffham Bulbeck. In the 1911 census he was aged 17, serving in the Royal Navy at Portland. His father had died in 1909. His mother and brother Frederick Albert [4] born Bottisham, were at Cambridge Road, Bottisham.

HMS Dido was the only Eclipse class cruiser not to see active service during the First World War. She had been converted to act as a depot ship before the war, and served as a depot ship for the destroyer flotillas at Harwich through the war. From 1914 to 1915 she supported the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, from 1915 to 1917 the 9th Flotilla and from then until the end of the war the 10th Flotilla. Frank enlisted as a boy entrant on 27th September 1910 at HMS Ganges (shore base at Shotley). He gave his date of birth as 29th July 1897 at Swaffham Bulkbeck, a farm labourer, 5 feet 8 inches tall, chest 35", hazel eyes, dark hair.

His time in the Navy seems to have been mostly confined to training at shore bases. Ganges 27-9-1910 as Boy II until 6-1-1911, then to Hannibal and made Boy 1st on 12-1-1911. Then on 28-2-1911 he was at Mars, until 18-5-1911 when he went to PembrokeI. There he made Ordinary Seaman on 4-9-1911 and moved on to Dido until 9-5-1912 when he returned to Pembroke I. On 28-5-1912 he arrived at Blenheim and was promoted to Able Seaman on 8-6-1913. He then returned to Pembroke I on 6-12-1913 and on 23-3-1914 was with Dido . Here his record is almost illegible but seems to indicate service at sea from March 1914 on HMS "Laforey", one of the destroyers serviced by Dido. In which case he took part in the Battle of the Heligoland Bight in August 1914 Returning to Pembroke I on 28-10-1914 and Dido on 18-11-1914. The last entries are too faint to read, but he was invalided out of the Navy with Tuberculosis on 25th November 1914.

His death is registered Newmarket Q1-1917 3B:754. He is presumably buried in Bottisham and if his death certificate confirms details on his Navy records regarding TB, "In from the Cold" should be able to have him added to the national Debt of Honour and a CWGC headstone erected.

Private 13563, 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment who died of wounds on Friday, 14th July 1916. Age 21. Born Bottisham, enlisted Cambridge, resident Queensland, Bottisham. Buried in BOTTISHAM CEMETERY, Cambridgeshire. In North-East part.

 

Photograph Copyright © Ken Pearce 2011

Corporal 325051 1st/1st Battalion attached 118th Trench Mortar Battery, Cambridgeshire Regiment who died of wounds on Saturday, 14th April 1917. Born Bottisham, enlisted Swaffham Prior. Husband of G. D. Rolph, of Whitehall Farm, Brigstock, Thrapston, Northants. Formerly 773 Cambridgehire Regiment. Military Medal. Buried in HOUTKERQUE CHURCHYARD, Nord, France. North-East part. [Also spelt ROLFE]

Gunner 1549912 110 Battery, 39 Light A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery who died on Friday, 23rd January 1942. Age 25. Son of Arthur and Gladys Mary Bailey, of Bottisham. Buried in BOTTISHAM CEMETERY, Cambridgeshire. Section 4. Grave 391.

Flight Sergeant 1723530 Flt. Engr. 405 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on Friday, 17th December 1943. Age 21. Son of Stanley and Ada Florence Cornwell, of Bottisham; husband of Joan Cornwell, of Swaffham Bulbeck. Buried in BOTTISHAM CEMETERY, Cambridgeshire. Section 4. Grave 404. [CWGC name Herbert]

Extract from Cambridge Independent Press:

CAMBS. AIRMAN
KILLED
After Raid on Berlin

Private 5879209 Northamptonshire Regiment who died on Monday, 26th May 1941. Age 35. Son of Henry William and Eliza Flack; husband of Kate Muriel Flack, of Bottisham. Buried in BOTTISHAM CEMETERY, Cambridgeshire. Section 4 Grave 385.

Captain 49871, 1/6th Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) who died on Thursday, 15th June 1944. Age 33. Son of Roger Buliver Jenyns and Winifred Pike Jenyns, of Bottisham, Cambridgeshire; husband of Joan Mary Moore Jenyns, of Northam, Devon. Buried in BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY, Calvados, France. Plot XI. Row M. Grave 23.

Extract from Saffron Walden Weekly News - Friday 14 July 1944, page 6:

KILLED IN ACTION
Capt. E. T. R. Jenyns,
Bottisham

Extract from Newmarket Journal - Saturday 15 July 1944, page 2:

Private 5830573, 4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, Japanese prisoner of war, who died on Tuesday, 30th November 1943. Age 24. Son of Charles and Alice Maud Marsh, of Bottisham, Cambridgeshire. Buried in CHUNGKAI WAR CEMETERY, Thailand. Plot 6. Row A. Grave 9,

Extract from Cambridge Independent Press 1945:

BOTTISHAM.

Leading Aircraftman 844830 907 Balloon, Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force) who died on Sunday, 12th July 1942. Age 36. Son of Samuel and Jessie Turner; husband of Phyllis Aley Turner, of Lode. Buried in BOTTISHAM CEMETERY, Cambridgeshire. Section 4. Grave 399.