Born at Chatham, Kent.
Enlisted at London on the 27th of November 1854.
Age: 23.
Height: 5' 5".
Trade: Hatter.
Appearance: Fair complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 25th of May 1855.
Transferred to the 17th Lancers at Hounslow on the 1st of September 1857. Regimental No. 139.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1877.
The muster rolls for July-September 1858 show him as being "Sick at Punundleur" during the whole of this period.
Invalided to England on the 4th of February 1861.
Transferred to the 21st Hussars at Canterbury on the 2nd of November 1865 Regimental No. 798.
Re-engaged for 12 years further service at Canterbury on the 2nd of November 1866.
Transferred back to the 11th Hussars at Canterbury on the 2nd of November 1866. Regimental No. 940.
Discharged at Canterbury on the 23rd of June 1873 as:
"Unfit for further service from chronic rheumatism. Contracted the disease in India in 1871 and was sent home to be discharged from the service as unfit. It is regarded as being of gouty origin and hereditary. Not the result of exposure in the service and not in the performance of any military duty. Is in a crippled condition from affection of the feet and ankles. Not however, likely to be permanent, and after a while will be able to contribute to his own support — if provided with a suitable occupation."
Served 18 years 202 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year
In India: 6 years 57 days.
Aged 42 years 8 months on discharge.
Conduct: "very good". In possession of four Good Conduct badges.
Four times entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Never tried by Court-martial.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean and Turkish medals.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Can find no trace on the Mutiny medal roll.
Next of kin (in 1867): wife Rosey Cooper.
To live at Loose, near Maidstone, Kent.
The 1881 Census shows him as being an Attendant upon Lunatics in Asylum Hospital, at the Kent County Lunatic Asylum, Barming Heath, Maidstone, aged 49, Married, and born at Chatham, Kent. Is shown as "Edward" Cooper on some rolls.
[RM: The 1891 Census shows him as "Edwin Olive Cooper" still at the Asylum in Barming, as an "attendant on patients".]
[RM: He is shown as dying in the Maidstone registration district aged 63, in the December quarter of 1894. Name given as "Edwin Oliff Cooper".]