Percy Beauchamp Astley Cooper

Lieutenant-Commander Percy Beauchamp Astley Cooper, R.N. (17 January, 1876 – 4 August, 1916) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Cooper was born in Barbados, the son of a Major.

Cooper was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1898.

Beginning in 1904, it was noticed in inspections of Vengeance that Cooper drank a lot. He was sent home in Barfleur in May-September 1905. He was also found drunk on board and warned that his retention in the service would be called into question in case of repeated infractions. He was made first officer in the second class protected cruiser Æolus on 8 September 1905. In this new ship, the Admiralty expressed its displeasure at Cooper's continued "heavy wine bills." In January 1906 he was placed in the battleship Queen and subjected to being reported on in three month intervals.

Cooper was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 June, 1906. He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 13 January, 1908.

Cooper was in command of a yacht named Wistaria from 30 November, 1914. He was found to be unsuitable to command an armed yacht and was relieved of command on 12 February, 1915. He then joined the Army on 24 March 1916.

Cooper died as a private in the East Kent Regiment in France on 4 August, 1916.

See Also

• Service Records