An Artillery Sergeant in Dunsterforce.

1914 - 15 Trio.

1604 S. Sjt. H. H. Cooper, Royal Artillery.

Hubert Hopton Cooper was born on 11th January 1896 and was the second child of Hubert Edward Cooper, a cabinet maker, and his wife, Rose Louisa. The family were resident at 14 Eridge Road, Thornton Heath,Croydon, but by the time of the 1901 Census they had moved to 45 Westbourne Villas, Aldington, Hove. Ten years later, the 1911 Census records the family as having moved again and they were now living at "Carisbrook", Portland Road, Hove, and 15-year-old Hubert was working as a motor body maker for a local carriage and motor body builder.

On 14th September 1914, following the outbreak of the Great War, young Hubert attested for the Territorial Force at Brighton, agreeing to serve for four years in the United Kingdom with the 1st Home Counties Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. His apparent age was 18 years and 7 months, his vision fair and his physical development normal. He gave his address as 70 Fonthill Road, Hove. Soon afterwards, he signed Army Form E.642 by which he agreed "to serve in any place outside the United Kingdom in the event of National emergency." This probably happened much sooner than Hubert or his family expected as on 29th October 1914, he sailed for India.

Hubert stayed some months in India, during which time he was attached to the 2nd Wireless Signal Squadron, Royal Engineers, which was later sent to join the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force. He must have been a capable soldier as promotion through the ranks soon followed with him being appointed Acting Lance Corporal (1/8/16), Acting 2nd Corporal (1/9/16) and Acting Mechanist Staff Sergeant (27/3/18). In early April 1918, Hubert was posted for special service with the Wireless Troop. His last letter to his parents was dated 4th April and gave his address as: "Pack Wireless Unit, Dunsterville Force" and added that they were shortly "moving to an unknown destination."

Under the command of General Lionel Charles Dunsterville, who was the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's "Stalky", Dunsterforce had a peak strength of about 1,000 men, including about 350 Australian, New Zealand, British and Canadian officers and NCOs, who were drawn from the Western and Mesopotamian fronts. The emphasis was on men of "strong character, and adventurous spirit, especially good stamina, capable of organising, training and eventually leading, irregular troops." They were tasked with organising local units in northern Iran (Persia) and southern Caucasus, to replace the Tsarist armies that had fought the Ottoman armies in Armenia. They were also to occupy the Baku oil fields, to deny oil and the local cotton crop to the Germans and Ottomans. Dunsterforce fought in the Battle of Baku from 26 August to 14 September 1918 and was disbanded a few days later, the troops, including the 2nd Wireless Signal Squadron, coming under the command of Noperforce (North Persia Force) in northern Iran. The picture below shows a British NCO of Dunsterforce drilling Persian soldiers.

Not having heard from their son for about six months, in October 1918 Hubert's parents wrote a letter to the army in an attempt to get some news of him. "Dear Sir", it ran, "I would be glad if you would give me any information concerning my son. We have not heard from him since April last 1918." The army made subsequent enquiries but it was not until the middle of May 1919 that Hubert Hopton Cooper was on his way back to England. He was finally discharged from the army on 4th August 1919. After the war, Hubert became the manager of a motor garage in his hometown of Hove.