The sons of George Edwin Cooper and Catherine Maria Morris who had married in 1896.
George worked as a Shoe Pressman as did his father before him. The couple were to live their
married life in Sheridan Street in Knighton Fields and go on to have eight children, although one died in infancy. The 1911 census shows that they had six boys, but Catherine was to give birth to a girl, Catherine later that year.
In 1901 the family were living at no. 191 Sheridan Street, by 1911 they had moved to no. 116 and finally were living at no.195 Sheridan Street at the outbreak of the war, which was still the family home in 1939.
Edwin was the second son, he was born Richard Charles Edwin Cooper, but was known as Edwin. He was working as a Shoe Hand when he enlisted in October 1915. His Attestation paperwork dated 12/10/1915 states his age as 19 years 10 months, in fact he was only 17 as he was born in 1898. Sadly, he was to die two months later. He was admitted to the 5th Northern General Hospital in Leicester where he was to die on Christmas Eve 1915 of Double Pneumonia, aged of 17. The hospital building now part of Leicester University, had originally been the County Asylum, it was used as a Military Hospital during the war. He was buried close to the hospital at Welford Road Cemetery and is listed on the Wall of Remembrance.
On the 1st June 1916 Edwin’s personal effects were sent to his father. They included 1 pair of braces, 1 cord, I pull-through, a cigarette case (metal)with 2 cigarette holders, 1 notebook, 4 photographs and 2 letters. A month later the family received more bad news.
Levitt was the oldest brother, born in 1897, he was at the Battle of the Somme and was Killed in Action on 15/7/1916 at the age of 19. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial in France.
On the 18th August 1916 the Leicester Daily Post published photo’s of both brothers in their Leicester Roll Of Honour section.
