100 Stories > The Cooper Brothers

James Cooper (1881-1950) and Robert Cooper (1882-1971) were both recipients of bravery awards; Robert the Meritorious Service Medal and James the Military Medal and Distinguished Conduct Medal, adding to his South Africa War campaign medals.

James Cooper medals

James was living in the USA when he decided to return to England and serve. His wife and baby son followed on the ship Lusitania. Both were drowned when the ship was sunk by a German U-Boat. The memorial card below was his.

Lusitania memorial card

Britain used the sinking to launch a massive propaganda effort by, among other things, copying a German medal struck to mark the sinking.

James gave one of the ‘Lusitania’ medals to Towneley Hall, which, unfortunately, was stolen in 1920. It was never recovered.