Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From: In Remembrance: Hungerford and Associated Families in the Great War 1914-1918

Sapper Arthur Leslie COOPER
Regimental Number: 9851
Unit Name: 9th Field Company Engineers

Religion: Church of England
Occupation: Carpenter
Address: 'Wailna', Barraba, NSW
Age at Enlistment: 22 years and 5 months
Enlistment Date and Place: 8 March 1916, Sydney, NSW
Next of Kin: Father, Philip Cooper, 24 Wolseley Road, Mosman, NSW
Rank on Enlistment: Sapper
Embarkation Details: Unit embarked from Sydney, NSW,
on board HMAT A31 Ajana, on 5 July 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll: Sapper
Unit from Nominal Roll: 9th Field Company Engineers
Campaigns Served: Etaples and Arques, France
War Service/Promotions: Arrived in Plymouth, Devon, England, 5 July 1916. Hospitalised at Military Hospital, Devonport, Devon, England, 1 September 1916. In England until proceeding to France per SS Princess Victoria, 25 January 1917. In Etaples until 30 March 1917, then to the Field. Hospitalised again 19 June 1917, then rejoined unit on 23 June 1917. Admitted to 4th Stationary Hospital, Arques, France, 24 September 1917. Back to his unit 29 September 1917. In hospital 19 March 1918, with defective vision. Rejoined 9th Field Company unit 18 May 1918. Proceeded on leave to England
11 July 1918. Left England 29 July 1918 to return home.

Fate: He was invalided due to defective vision (aggravated by gas exposure during active service in France) and returned to Australia per HT Sardinia, 19 October 1918. He married (1) Marjorie Doreen Wilshire, 21 April 1920, Shore School Chapel, North Sydney, NSW. They divorced. He married (2) Kathleen Molly Hayes, 10 April 1929, Chatswood, NSW.
Place of Death: 18 October 1961, Chatswood, NSW
Place Cremation: Northern Suburbs Crematorium, North Ryde, NSW
Medals/Citations: British War Medal; Victory Medal; Silver War Badge (Issued to members of the Forces who were discharged medically unfit)
War Memorial/Honour Roll: South face, Mosman War Memorial, Mosman, NSW; World War I Roll of Honour, St Clement's Church, Mosman, NSW.

The following is quoted from: Facing the Foe - War Service of Shore Old Boys in the First 50 Years by Robert Peterson

AL Cooper [Motor Despatch Rider, 9 Fld Coy Engineers] wrote from 'Somewhere', on 5/12/17, with an account of medical services.

'I have often received letters with information about the school from boys who are there, and it is interesting to hear what is going on. Also I periodically receive The Torch Bearer. My Division has been out in France now just over a year, and so far I have had the good fortune to come through it all unscathed. I shall not attempt to describe battlefield experiences, but think perhaps you would like to hear a few details about a casualty clearing station, where, at present, I am. After the Messines stunt, where I got rather shaken up with gas especially in the eyes, I was sent away for a few days to an opthalmic station, where I was fixed up, and I was marked for duty; I was surprised when I was told that I could not leave, but was to be attached here to carry on with the electric light installation. This was on October 7th, and I am still here! I am engaged on wiring and fitting in the lights principally and have to take a turn in the engine house occasionally. So perhaps a rough idea of the place may interest you. About three months ago the station was shelled and bombed so severely by old Fritz that it had to be moved from its site to the present position about nine kilometres further away. The tents and huts crown a hill and so a rather nice view is afforded. All wounded and sick cases from the line and back areas within certain distances eventually come through the CCS, after leaving the Advanced Dressing stations, etc. The minor cases are very often kept here till a cure results, unless, of course, there is a great rush of wounded, as occurs when big advances are made. Then very often the slight cases get away very often before the more serious ones, as they are more easily moved. From here the patients are evacuated to a Base Hospital or 'Blighty'. The hospital consisted two months ago, entirely of tents and large marquees, save that there were two Nissen huts (a patent portable iron structure) which were used for the receiving and dressing rooms. Large marquees with double walls and roofs, and having wooden or tarpaulin floors, were the wards. These are fitted out very nicely with bedsteads and all necessaries, and are very cosy and comfortable. The electric lighting is of course a great advantage, for the lamp oil which is supplied is of extremely low quality, and does not burn at all well in the lamps. Since I have been here more Nissen huts have been erected, and these have thus added extra wards for bad cases. The operating theatre is in a large marquee still - eventually, of course, it will occupy a hut, but labourers are scarce, so the building of the huts is not accomplished rapidly.

A recreation hut has just been completed for the use of the patients, who are able to be about and this is well supplied with magazines and books by the Red Cross and there are good heating stoves going all day now that the weather is so cold. Concerts are very frequently given by the concert party, and often a Division which is lying resting near at hand, sends its troupe along to give us a turn. A few weeks back we had an excellent concert party belonging to the--Division, who being suddenly called away to Italy, had to leave their troupe behind them. Thus we gained by having a grand turn nearly every night. We do not get away from the duck walk even here, for nearly all the tracks between the marquees and huts are formed of the duck walk. There are very economical and good hot water showers here in a properly fitted up bath house. The water is heated by several coal fires in heaters of very much the same style as we use in Australia for wood or coal, only there is a small tank about twelve feet above it, through which the water circulates as it becomes heated. The showersprays are only about the size of a half-penny, but are quite effective when water or heating material are scarce.
When a wounded or sick man comes into the station, all his gear, except his small, more or less private stuff is taken away from him and labelled and, after his khaki has been fumigated, it is stored in the pack store. If he is not evacuated [by] the CCS he regains possession of his kit when he is well, but if evacuated he never sees his kit again. That is how some fellows lose all their comforts that have been sent from home, and other personal gear, and of course the RAMC men, who have charge of the sorting out of these kits, reap the benefit. A bore for a water supply has just been finished by a section of our Australian Electrical and Mechanical Coy. There is a seven horse-power engine pumping the water thus tapped and supplying it to a large raised reservoir.

I think this about finishes up all the general details, except the Staff Officers and
Sisters. They are very well looked after; have a fine wooden mess room with an anteroom and lounge. There are seven Sisters here, who live in separate quarters, and they are equally as comfortable as the officers.'