Passenger killed in the Handley Page V/1500 air-crash.
Bertram George Cooper was born circa 1883, the younger child of John Debnam Cooper (1843-1920 and Kate Maud Cooper née Willett (1862-1911). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1883 in the Kingston Registration District, Surrey (now Greater London).
When the 1891 census was undertaken he was listed as aged 8 years, living at 36 Clarence Street, Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey (now Greater London), with his parents and elder brother John Debnam Cooper (1882-1902), His father was described as a photographer
In the 1901 census he was shown as aged 18 years and a Civil Service clerk, still residing at 36 Clarence Street, Kingston-on-Thames, with his parents. His father continued to be described as a photographer.
On 5 October 1910 he married Margaret Louise Cordis (1881-1916) in St Nicolas Church, Guildford, Surrey, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 27 years, a bachelor and a clerk living at 133 Brighton Road, Surbiton, Surrey (now Greater London), and his father was described as an artist, whilst his wife was recorded as aged 28 years, a spinster living at 4 Denzil Road, Guildford, the daughter of John George Nicolas Cordis, a clerk.
When he completed his 1911 census return form he described himself as aged 28 years and a Civil Service clerk in the Colonial Audit Department, living in a five roomed property at 78 Church Lane, Tooting, SW London, with his wife. Electoral registers in 1913 and 1914 confirm he was still listed at this address.
They had two children: Joan Barbara Cooper (1913-1988) and John Patrick Cooper (b.1915). When their son was baptised on 15 August 1915 at All Saints Church, All Saints Road, Sutton, Surrey (now Greater London) the baptismal registers shows the family residing at 5 Woodend, Sutton, and that his father was described as a secretary.
He died, aged 35 years, on 8 June 1918 whilst as a passenger aboard a Handley Page V/1500 aeroplane, Serial Number B9462, that crashed shortly after taking off from Cricklewood Aerodrome. His death was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1918 in the Hendon Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London). Probate records confirm that his address had been 5 Woodend, Sutton, and that when administration of his estate was granted on 12 March 1919 to his father, his effects totalled £234-9s-10d.
He is shown as BERTRAM COOPER on the tablet that is recessed into the pavement outside 21 Garrick Avenue, London, NW11.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.
