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Messages - Ellen

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1
Armed Forces / Re: Private Henry Coopey - 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
« on: Sunday 08 November 09 14:29 GMT (UK)  »
Hi Chris

Lovely to hear from you. My mother just remarked that she's always sad on Remembrance Sunday. She vividly recalls all the lost soldiers she used to serve pints to in the pub. Such a waste of young lives. 18 is far too young to die, but poor Henry was just one of thousands. He won't be forgotten though.

That is a moving poem. Always thought so.

Take care

Ellen

2
Armed Forces / Re: William Farwell - 46th Regiment of Foot
« on: Thursday 07 December 06 09:32 GMT (UK)  »
Many thanks, Neil.
Ellen

3
Armed Forces / Re: William Farwell - 46th Regiment of Foot
« on: Tuesday 05 December 06 16:37 GMT (UK)  »
Thanks, Ellen but I already did that.  They said that they didn't have any photographs of William Farwell and put me onto the book but that wasn't much help.

Thanks for taking an interest though.

Ellen

4
Armed Forces / William Farwell - 46th Regiment of Foot
« on: Tuesday 05 December 06 15:50 GMT (UK)  »
I am still trying to get hold of a decent photograph of William Farwell.  Born 1846, joined 46th Regiment of Foot in 1865 and achieved rank of captain in 1875 (Duke of Cornwall's light infantry by then).

Later became a magistrate in Burnham Bucks and lived in the Priory.

I've obtained a copy of 'Images of Englad, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry' by Hugo White but this doesn't seem to help.


5
Armed Forces / Re: Private Henry Coopey - 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
« on: Wednesday 08 November 06 20:01 GMT (UK)  »
Should anyone be interested, there is a little more to this story.  The Citizen newspaper intends to print an article about my great uncle for remembrance Sunday.  They have been to see my parents and have all the details.  However they contacted the Gloucestershire Regimental Museum today and gained more information.  Henry Coopey actually had one of his feet blown off but he didn't die of his injuries.  He died of typhus.  Very sad.

6
Armed Forces / Re: Private Henry Coopey - 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
« on: Monday 30 October 06 19:42 GMT (UK)  »
Just following on for anyone who might be interested.
Henry Coopey was captured in November 1914.  My late great aunt (one of his sisters) told my father that  Henry was injured in both legs and likely had them amputated.  He wrote from hospital in November and died of his wounds on 28 January 1915.  Clearly he suffered for quite some time and he was only 18!
His writing is hard to make out, not surprisingly, but it reads as follows -

"I got wounded on 6th of Nov and went into hospital on 15 Nov and I am still in here now but I hope I shall soon be leaving."

Sadly he didn't leave there alive.

7
Armed Forces / Re: Private Henry Coopey - 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
« on: Monday 30 October 06 19:31 GMT (UK)  »
Many thanks, Steve.  I believe that my father does have that photo but thank you for sending posting it.  For anyone interested I am attempting to post a letter that Henry Coopey wrote before he was taken prisoner.  It is very hard to read in places so I have written it out as follows -

Dear Mother and Father
Just these few lines hoping this will find you all in the best of health as it leaves me in the pink at present.  Dear Mother I do not know whether you have wrote but I have not received one yet.  I have wrote 4 or 5 letters and PC.  Would you mind sending me some Woodbines as we cannot get any here.  We have been having some fine weather up until now.  I hope all have got plenty of work at home.
Well I think I have said all for the present.
I remain your loving son Harry. xxxxxxxxxxxx

8
Armed Forces / Re: Private Henry Coopey - 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
« on: Friday 27 October 06 09:49 BST (UK)  »
Thanks Mack and Valda, this all makes much more sense to me now.  My father got a little confused, he seemed to think that Henry Coopey was a prisoner of war in Germany and that being the case I couldn't understand why he was commemorated in a Belgium cemetary.  It makes sense now knowing that Belgium was in German hands.  He has a couple of letters from Henry Coopey, written to his mother whilst he was in POW hospital.  It tells of how he lay on the battle field for many days in agony - it is very moving and had my daughter in tears.  I feel that this poor lad, who died at 18, should have his story told.  Maybe his photo, which we have, and his letters should be posed on some website for the world to see.
Thanks again.

9
Armed Forces / Re: Private Henry Coopey - 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
« on: Thursday 26 October 06 19:46 BST (UK)  »
Many thanks Valda.  I believe that my father did contact the CWGC, which is where he got the above information from.  Still, thanks for your reply.

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