The Soldier's Details

‘The midnight stars are shining upon a silent grave’

The inscription on the grave of Hugh Myles Cooper.

 

Soldier, who was a reinforcement was wounded in action on 11.2.1942. Admitted to Field Ambulance with a shrapnel wound to right thigh. Transferred to 2/13th Australian General Hospital on 16.2.1942. Discharged to unit on 16.2.1942.

Hugh Cooper was selected with the ill-fated ‘D’ Force V Battalion to work on the Thai-Burma Railway.  V Battallion suffered a high death rate and Hugh was one of a large number of 2/4th men to die at Kuii Camp.  He died of dysentery at the age of 38 years and was buried at Kuii Camp Cemetery.  At war’s end his body was moved to rest at Kanchanaburi War Cemetery and is amongst 91 men from the 2/4th.

Below:  Gordon Riches writes in his Affidavit of Hughie Cooper. He had been forced out to work to make up numbers.  Riches asked if Cooper could be rested as he  was obviously seriously unwell with dysentery – The guard began bashing Riches with a metre stick – Riches wrote it was the worst bashing he ever received.  Later during that day another POW became seriously ill and again Riches requested they be rested – this time the guard allowed them to be taken back to Camp.

Hughie Cooper died during he night.

 

Please read about ‘D’ Force, V Battalion, Kuii Camp.

 

Cooper recorded his last address as Broomehill.  His NOK, his father was residing at Mt. Barker. His mother Sarah Cooper died prior to 1930.  His father’s occupation was recorded as Mailman on Hugh’s marriage certificate.

Hugh married Marjorie Isabel Forsythe in September 1930.  The couple had two sons, Allan William was born in 1934 and Harold Hames in about 1938.  Allan Cooper died in SA in 1977 aged 42. It is hoped Hugh’s son Allan and descendants learn of Hugh’s very challenging and at times desperate years as a POW, particularly with ‘D’ Force Battalion which suffered a 50% loss of lives, one of the highest on the Burma-Thai Railway.

According to the electoral roles for 1931 – Hugh was working as Farmhand Mingenew, 1936 & 1937. Hugh also had employment inspecting the properties of the Migrant Farm Schemes which floundered terribly.  Marjorie remained living in Perth while Hugh was working away in the country.  It appears Marjorie moved to Bridgetown about 1938 and was managing a boarding house which was why Hugh was working as a farmhand at Bridgetown before he enlisted.

According to family history, the couple had a huge disagreement and Hugh departed to go into the army.  He was not to survive and would never again see his sons, nor his family.

The 1930’s were challenging times for all.  The depression caused widespread unemployment.  It was extremely difficult to secure stable employment for any length of time.  Which is why so many young married men enlisted.

Men saw the chance of earning a regular income enlisting with the military.    Hugh Cooper took the opportunity and he was one of 100s and 100s who did so.

The marriage between Hugh and Marjorie floundered and divorce occurred.  Marjorie Cooper remarried in 1945.

The conditions at Kuii Camp in Thailand where Hugh died in October 1943 were to say the least,  simply terrible.  He would have died thinking of his sons and we sincerely hope for Hugh

‘The midnight stars are shining upon a silent grave’

.

 

Hugh Cooper’s headstone at Kanchanaburi Cemetery, Thailand.

The above includes William Cooper – we are unsure if this is Hugh’s father or perhaps Grandfather.