Acting Corporal Arthur S Cooper

Arthur Sidney Cooper was born in Kent. One of fourteen he enlisted into the Royal East Kents (BUFFS). When the battalion converted to the 9th Parachute Battalion, Arthur volunteered. He completed basic parachute course No 75. Which ran between 26 July and 6 August 1943 His course report stated 'Keen, good performer, irresponsible'!

Arthur Cooper took part in the D-Day attack on the MERVILLE Battery. One of the few to make the objective and survive. He took part in Operation Varsity crossing the Rhine in March 1945. In July 1945 he transferred back to the BUFFS and was sent to Palestine where he served for two years. He was shot in the arm and on a separate occasion, he was on a train which was blown up. Arthur was sure that Palestine was more dangerous than Normandy and the Rhine crossing!

After the war. Arthur moved to Manchester in search of work and became a turbine fitter for National Gas Engineering Company. He met and married Maurine in Manchester and went on to have a son and daughter. His son followed him into the Parachute Regiment when he joined 4 PARA at Oldham. Arthur passed away in 2012.