Born in the parish of St. Nicholas, Rochester, Kent.
Enlisted into the 3rd Light Dragoons at Maidstone on the 13th of September 1845. Regimental No. 1771.
Age: 20 years 6 months.
Height: 5' 6"
Trade: Labourer.
Sallow complexion. Hazel eyes. Brown hair.
Embarked for India on the 30th of June 1846.
Transferred to the 13th Light Dragoons on the 13th of July 1853.
Severely wounded in action at Balaclava and taken prisoner by the Russians. Honourably acquitted by a Court-martial on his returning to the Regiment, on the 5th of October 1855 - no further court of enquiry held.
He was shown on a nominal roll of men of the Regiment made out at the Cavalry Depot, Scutari on the 9th of November 1855 as being On Duty there from the 4th of November. (This contrasts with other men known to have been prisoners of war, who are still shown as being such.)
From Private to Corporal, 6th of February 1856.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 20th of May 1856 and returned to Private.
Sent to the Invalid Depot at Netley from Canada on the 17th of October 1868.
Discharged from the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, on the 1st of November 1868, as
"Unfit for further service. Has Asthma Angina and general physical unfitness - the results of long and arduous service. - cannot contribute but in a partial manner towards earning his livelihood. He received eighteen wounds at Balaclava. "
Served 23 years 6 days. East Indies, 6 years 10 months.
In Turkey and the Crimea, 2 years. Canada, 2 years 6 months.
Fourteen times entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Twice tried by Court-martial.
Awarded a pension of 11d. per day.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Sebastopol and the Turkish medal.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with three clasps, the Turkish Medal and the Punjab medal with clasps for Chilianwala and Goojerat.
Also the Punjab medal with clasps for Chilianwala and Goojerat. Served throughout the whole of the campaign in the Punjab up to the occupation of Peshwar.
A request was sent by the War Office to the East India Company's medallists on the 12th of March 1856, that "he be issued with a replacement Punjab medal (at public expense) with clasps for Chilianwala and Goojerat." This medal was sent to the Treasury on the 17th of April 1856.
Attended the Annual Dinner in 1890 and is shown in a photograph taken at that time, (See copy in the 17th Lancer file.)
He is not known to have ever been a member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society, or to have ever attended any other of the veterans' functions.
To live in Chelsea after discharge, but he was living at Greenwich in 1875.
A man of this name is shown on the 1881 Census Returns as living at No 44 Maidstone Street, Shoreditch, London, a Boot-last Maker, aged 56, born at Chatham, Kent, with his wife, Rebecca, aged 53, born in Spitalfields, London, and one son, aged 20, also a Boot-last Maker.
Is mentioned in the "Memoirs" of 117 James Wightman of the 17th Lancers (see copy in the "Memoirs" file) and also in the record of 1209 William Bird of the 8th Hussars.
Applied to become an In-Pensioner at Chelsea Royal Hospital. Told he was eligible, 1st of November 1887. Application withdrawn, 20th of January 1888.
1891 Census
Maidstone Road, London.
George Cooper, 66, Bootmaker, born Chatham.
Rebecca Cooper, 66.
1901 Census
Maidstone Road, Shoreditch.
George Cooper, 76, General Shop Keeper, born Chatham.
Rebecca Cooper, 72, born Spitalfields.
Death registered
Rebecca Cooper, 79, December Quarter 1907 in Shoreditch.
Registration of death, and Census information for 1891 & 1901, kindly provided by Chris Poole.