John Cooper was born in Patricroft, near Manchester, in 1883. He was the son of John Cooper (born Preston on the Hill) and his wife Martha (nee Furmston) who was born at Daresbury. The father was a clerk in the India trade, living at 11, Delphi Grove, Chorlton- upon- Medlock.
Sadly, Martha died in 1889 at Barton-upon-Irwell, having had three children in ten years of marriage. She was 30 years old.
The 1891 census recorded the family as living at Lindow Common in Wilmslow. John senior was still a clerk and his sister Charlotte looked after the children, Edith (10), Victor (9) and John (8).
Ten years later they were all residing at Moss Farm, Strawberry Lane in Wilmslow. Edith was now a dressmaker and Victor Herbert and John were apprentice joiners. Charlotte was the housekeeper.
During the first decade of the 20th century John moved to Liverpool to work as a joiner and on 11th November 1906 he married Emily Vernon Young at St Silas church in Toxteth. At the time he was living at 11, Fernhill Street and Emily was living at 14, Foxhill Street, both in Toxteth. Emily had been born at Acton Grange and was 25 years of age according to the marriage certificate. John was 23 years of age.
The 1911 census recorded John and his family residing at 25, Hayfield Street in the Everton district of Liverpool. He was a journeyman joiner. They had two sons: Vernon aged three years and Edward aged two years, both born in Liverpool. In December of that year a daughter Charlotte May was born, followed by a son Douglas in September 1916. In 1906 an Olive Cooper was born in Stockton Heath, who may also be their daughter, as she was described in 1911 as a granddaughter to Edward Vernon, Emily’s stepfather in Stockton Heath.
By 1916 John and Emily have moved to Dairy Farm Cottage in Newton-by-Daresbury. His RAF airmen’s service records recorded his year of birth as 1879, but this does not match all other records. He attested in June 1916, for the Royal Flying Corps, being 37 years old at that time. He was given the service number 29927. He stated that he had previously been in the Liverpool Rifle Brigade and that in civilian life he was a carpenter. He was 5’8’’ tall. John was sent to Egypt in July 1916, where he served until September 1918. He had the rank of Corporal. In July 1918 he had transferred to the newly-formed RAF and taken the rank of Corporal Mechanic. When the Great War ended he was transferred to the RAF Reserve in March 1919 and was discharged in April 1920. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
The 1939 register showed Emily Cooper as living at 141, St Mary’s Street in the Latchford area of Warrington, with her unmarried sons Douglas and Edward. Douglas was a motor tyre salesman and his brother was a driver and salesman. Emily stated that she was married, but John Cooper was not on the register. His whereabouts are unknown and it is not known when he nor Emily died.