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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Walter David Dick Cooper

In memory of:

Flying Officer Walter David Dick Cooper

September 29, 1944

Military Service


Service Number:

J/39012

Age:

29

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Additional Information


Son of Walter and Agnes A. Cooper, of Burlington, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 279 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY
Surrey, United Kingdom

Grave Reference:

55. E. 2.

Location:

Brookwood is 30 miles from London (M3 to Bagshot and then A322). The main entrance to Brookwood Military Cemetery is on the A324 from the village of Pirbright. Brookwood Military Cemetery is owned by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and is the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the United Kingdom, covering approximately 37 acres. In 1917, an area of land in Brookwood Cemetery (originally The London Necropolis) was set aside for the burial of men and women of the forces of the Commonwealth and Americans, who had died, many of battle wounds, in the London district. This site was further extended to accommodate the Commonwealth casualties of the Second World War, and American, Belgian, Czech, Dutch, French and Polish plots containing the graves of Allied casualties. There are also German and Italian plots where prisoners of war lie buried.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Photo of Walter Cooper
  • Photo of Walter Cooper
  • Photo of Walter Cooper
  • Photo of Walter Cooper
  • Photo of Walter Cooper
  • Photo of Walter Cooper
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Hamilton Spectator c.1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Source: Hamilton Spectator November 11, 1944.
  • Grave marker
  • Grave Marker– On September 29 each year, as well as Remembrance Day,Christmas and David's birthday, James (Jim) Cooper and Josie Ventura attend to David's grave with flowers. Jim and Josie reside in nearby Old Coulsdon, Surrey and Jim is a cousin to David and David's brother Floyd.
  • Grave– Christmas 2007
  • In memory of the crew– David, along with the rest of the crew, was killed in an air accident over England near Dean Lane, Merstham, Surrey. In September 2002, James (Jim) Cooper, who Floyd had come across that same year through family history research, memorialized the tragic event by attaching flowers to a nearby tree. Jim has continued to affix flowers and crosses on each anniversay.  This picture was taken on 29 September 2007.  The sign on the bottom was an inquiry from an interested passerby.
  • Photo of W. D. (David) D. Cooper
  • Group Photo– "Somewhere in England" - David (sitting) and RCAF crew mates - 1944
  • Photo of Walter David Dick Cooper– "Somewhere in England" - Opening a parcel from home - 1944
  • Telegram– The telegram with its' devastating news.
  • Group Photo– Trafalgar Square - David with Pilot Officer Wm Bartlet (deceased) - 1944.
  • Letter– Last letter home dated September 24 1944, five days before his death.
  • Letter– Last letter home Page 2.
  • Letter (part 1)– Letter to kid brother Floyd, 15 years his junior, 17 July 1944.
  • Letter (part 2)– Letter to kid brother Floyd.
  • Photo of Walter Cooper– Home on leave prior to embarkation - December 1943-January 1944.
  • David with his parents– Home on leave with parents prior to embarkation. David's father, a veteran of the Boer War, (attestted at age 17)immigrated to Canada in 1913, and married in 1914.  David was born on 10 April 1915. In June 1914 David's father joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force and was wounded in September 1918 at the Battle of Canal du Nord.
  • Group photo– Graduated from No. 2 Air Observer School Edmonton Alberta in November 1943.  David is standing in the second row, very left end.
  • Attestation Paper (page 1)
  • Attestation Paper (page 2)
  • Attestation Paper (page 3)
  • Photo of David– He loved to fish and hunt.  Here he is shown with his father and sister Jessie.  Standing next to David is his best mate's wife Alberta Haley.
  • Photo of David– He loved to fish and hunt.  The gentleman on the right is unidentified
  • Membership card– Fish and game membership card.
  • School photo– Burlington High School Girl's and Boy's Athletic Society executive 1932.  David, age 17, standing at right end.
  • Member of hockey team– Member of the Burlington High School hockey team.
  • School photo– Central Public School Burlington Ontario 1925.  David, age 10, is standing in the top row 4th from the left with his head facing left.
  • Photo of David– Age two.  This picture was carried by his father while overseas during World War One.
  • Photo of Medals– At bottom left to right are David's War (World War II) Medals:

Defense Medal
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Bar
The War Medal

At top is his Father's Queen's South Africa (Boer War) Medal with Five Bars

Middle Left to Right are his Father's World War I  Medals:

Victory Medal
War Service Badge (Army Class "A")
British War Medal
  • Letter– Letter from David to Anne, his youngest sister. Anne turned 11 years old shortly before David died.
  • Letter– Letter from David to Anne, his youngest sister. July 17, 1944. Page 2. Anne turned 11 years old shortly before David died.

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