BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS TO COOPER-ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY-DIED IN A RAILWAY ACCIDENT ON 14TH FEBRUARY 1917

British War and Victory Medals, named to:
38171 DVR D.COOPER.R.A.
Medals about good very fine, on original but tatty full-length silk ribbons
38171 Driver Thomas Cooper 17th., Div. Ammunition Column Royal Field Artillery died of accidental injuries on 14th February 1917.
Thomas Cooper was born at Clerkenwell, and enlisted at Holburn.He is buried at Bois-Guillaume Communal Cemetery.
Comes with research which states that Cooper was killed in a Railway accident that happened on 13th February 1917-the train was at a level crossing at Epinay when it was hit by trucks from a supply train-a coupling broke and 36 trucks crashed into the leave train behind it. Two first class and one first class carriage were completely destroyed. Lt E. Greenfield and 26 men were killed,54 men were badly injured, most of the injured put onto a hospital train that had been standing nearby. Personel from the 7th and 15th Hospital trains that arrived shortly afterwards, helped in the rescue of men trapped in the wreckage-three men pinned under the wreckage were released after 5 hours. Major E.S. Smith, the Railway transport officer at nearby Serqueux took command of the scene and billeting arrangements for most of the 23 Officers and 1151 on board, were found in the nearby villages. The bodies of the dead were taken by road to the 8th General Hospital at Rouen.
Sold with further research and a photo of his grave.

Code: 53577