William Cooper was born on 15 January 1888, a son of Charles Cooper (1855-1905) and Mary Ann Cooper née Davis (1850-1917). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1888 in the Bethnal Green Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London). On 5 February 1888 he was baptised at St James the Great Church, Bethnal Green Road, Bethnal Green, where the baptismal register confirms his date of birth, that his family were living at 66 Bacon Street, Bethnal Green and that his father was a cabinet maker.
In the census that was taken on 5 April 1891 he was shown as aged 3 years and living in one room at 48 Edward Street (later renamed as Edwin Street), Bethnal Green, London, with his parents and four of his surviving siblings: Charles Alfred Cooper (1875-1953) - a polisher; George Cooper (b.1878); Joseph Cooper (1883-1930) and Mary Ann (Polly) Cooper (1890-1936). His father was described as cabinet maker.
The census that was compiled on 31 March 1901 shows him as aged 13 years and residing in three rooms at 24 Tagg Street, Bethnal Green, with his parents, two of his siblings: Joseph Cooper - a cabinet maker and Mary Ann Cooper, together with a cousin, Henry Cooper, aged 23 years and a french polisher. His father was listed as a general labourer.
On 27 February 1910 he married Emily Lilian Ross (1888-1970) in St Peter's Church, Bethnal Green, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 22 years, a bachelor and a traveller living at 115 Teasdale Street, Bethnal Green, the son of Charles Cooper, a labourer, whilst his wife was described as aged 22 years, a spinster who also resided at 115 Teasdale Road, the daughter of Thomas Ross, a wood dealer.
When he completed his census return form on 2 April 1911 he described himself as aged 23 years and a commercial traveller selling overmantles, living in two rooms at 55 Wellington Row, Bethnal Green Road, Bethnal Green, with his wife and their son, William Edward Cooper (1910-1995).
The census return form that he completed on 19 June 1921 shows him as aged 33 years, 5 months and a cabinet maker, living in three rooms at 38 Barnet Grove, Bethnal Green, with his wife and their three children: William Edward Cooper; Elsie Lilian Cooper (1913-1987) and Leonard George Cooper (1917-1995).
The England and Wales Register that was compiled on 29 September 1939 confirms his date of birth and lists him as a furniture salesman, still residing at 38 Barnet Grove, Bethnal Green, with his two sons: Leonard George Cooper - a furniture fitter; William Edward Cooper - a works manager at a furniture factory and his daughter-in-law Rosemary Cooper née Baxter (1915-1987).
He died when a bomb was dropped on the Columbia Market air raid shelter on the night of 7th/8th September 1940 and his death was registered as aged 52 years in the 3rd quarter of 1940 in the Bethnal Green Registration District, London.
His body was on 16 September 1940 in Grave No 500,Square 102, in , Sebert Road, London, E7 0NP.
He is shown as William Cooper, aged 52 years' on the Columbia Market air raid shelter memorial in the Rose Garden, Old Market Square, Ravenscroft Park, London, E2.
He is also commemorated on the , on the and in that is kept just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the west end of Westminster Abbey.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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