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I have letters from the above written to my husband's mother in Brierley Hill 1918/19.

The only ref to the family I have found is a Miss C Couper who organised and took part in the entertainments for the May Fayre, Brierley Hill Parish Church in 1936.
her name is ''Miss C. Couper & Club, Songs, Dances etc.
If anyone still living is related to either of these people I would like to hear from them.

Hi Elizabeth, I have found your man!!! I am a researcher who chases men who were in WW1 but seem to have gone astray. This is generally through name problems.
I have written to the Stourbridge News as I found a comment on there from you so they may(or may not) contact you.I also saw you on the V.C. piece on Yahoo. I'm always ready for a challenge so tracked your man down.
Under 'trade or calling' section on his Army records it reads 'Comedian, Lecturer and Vocalist - has to be him!!!!! His mother's name was Olivia. They came from Southampton. I also think that he went on the ships as I found another record of him as a member of the crew ( maybe as an entertainer) for 14 years!!!!. I would be happy to send all I have found if you would like. Patricia Hunt, Surrey

AND ...Now you need to 'find your woman' Tricia !!

Elizabeth posted this over 4 years ago - she may no longer be a member!

Click on her name and send her a personal message! - If she still has the same e-mail address she will receive a message from GR to tell her you wish to speak to her!

Dea Xxx

You are a 'professional researcher' Tricia - I am sure you can do it !!!

Dea x

The first post is four years old


Soz Dea....just noticed you mentioned this!

Id like to think that professional researchers.........checked the dates :-0

:-D :-D :-D ;-)

Dea Xxx

:-0 remind me not to use a professional :-0

Roy :-D

Hi Roy !!! :-D :-D :-D

Dea Xxx

I'll c/p your post, before I RR it



Tricia Report 21 Jul 2012 17:53
Hi Elizabeth, I have found your man!!! I am a researcher who chases men who were in WW1 but seem to have gone astray. This is generally through name problems.
I have written to the Stourbridge News as I found a comment on there from you so they may(or may not) contact you.I also saw you on the V.C. piece on Yahoo. I'm always ready for a challenge so tracked your man down.
Under 'trade or calling' section on his Army records it reads 'Comedian, Lecturer and Vocalist - has to be him!!!!! His mother's name was Olivia. They came from Southampton. I also think that he went on the ships as I found another record of him as a member of the crew ( maybe as an entertainer) for 14 years!!!!. I would be happy to send all I have found if you would like. Patricia Hunt, Surrey



Tricia Report 21 Jul 2012 21:09
I did not use the term ' professional' - your words - not mine. Get up to speed with the reading classes!! Tricia


So....can you, just post the info, or do you charge?

Didn't take much finding...............

British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920

Name: Percy Couper
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1890
Age at enlistment: 25
Residence: 28 Wilton Road, Shirley Southampton
Document Year: 1915
Regimental Number: 22589
Regiment Name: Hampshire Regiment
Number of images: 14

Occupation: Comedian

1901

Name: Percy Couper
Age: 11
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1890
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Frederick Couper
Mother's name: Olivie Louisa Couper
Gender: Male
Where born: Southampton, Kent, England
Civil parish: Portswood
Ecclesiastical parish: St Luke
Town: Southampton
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England

Registration district: South Stoneham
Sub-registration district: South Stoneham
ED, institution, or vessel: 16
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 348
Piece: 1068
Folio: 76
Page Number: 51
Household Members:
Name Age
Frederick Couper 49
Olivie Louisa Couper 47
Harold Couper 19
Huley Couper 18
Reginald Couper 13
Percy Couper 11
Stanley Couper 8

Name: Percy F Couper
Birth Date: abt 1890
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1965
Age at Death: 75
Registration district: Winchester
Inferred County: Hampshire
Volume: 6b
Page: 946

AND 1891

Name: Percy Frank Couper
Age: 1 3/12
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1890
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Frederick Couper
Mother's name: Olivia Louisa Couper
Gender: Male
Where born: Southampton, Hampshire, England
Civil parish: South Stoneham
Ecclesiastical parish: St Luke
Town: Southampton
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England


Registration district: South Stoneham
Sub-registration district: South Stoneham
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 925
Folio: 74
Page Number: 32
Household Members:
Name Age
Frederick Couper 39
Olivia Louisa Couper 36
Arthur Harold Nelson Couper 9
Ruby Marion Couper 8
Cecil Frederick Couper 6
Reginald Maxwell Couper 3
Percy Frank Couper 1 3/12



I know it's an old posting...............but I've sent a PM, in the hope that Elizabeth will return and see the info

My Ancestry sub doesn't stretch to viewing the following........

Percy Frank Couper
Honolulu, Hawaii, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1900-1959
Percy Frank Couper
Honolulu, Hawaii, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1900-1959
Percy Frank Couper
Honolulu, Hawaii, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1900-1959
Percy Frank Couper
Honolulu, Hawaii, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1900-1959
Percy Frank Couper
New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957

Name: P F Couper
Age in 1911: 20
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1891
Relation to Head: Boarder
Gender: Male
Civil parish: Rhondda
County/Island: Glamorgan
Country: Wales
Street Address: 71 Dumfries St
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Proffessional
Registration district: Pontypridd
Registration District Number: 589
Sub-registration district: Rhondda
ED, institution, or vessel: 05
Household schedule number: 254
Piece: 32333
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry Mundy 74
Ann Mundy 60
Alfred Thomas 26
Benjamin Mundy 16
P F Couper 20
S Couper 18 Male (Stanley Eustace)

Dear Reggie
I am absolutely bowled over with what you have done. I do not know how Percy's connection to the Packwoods began. The correspondence that I have are letters from Percy to my late husband's mother, Annie Lillian May Packwood and her mother.
Annie was known as 'May' or Maisie. She was born in 1898. At one time they lived next to or near the Dog and Partridge public house on Brierley Hill High St. May was 'walking out' with Hubert Benton at age 16. He joined up and did some training before leaving for the Front. He wrote letters to May, which she kept all her lie. He was killed in action, in 1915PC TROUBLE I WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW

At least four members have Percy in GR trees - send them contact messages.

Is this Hubert?

BENTON, H

Rank:
Private
Service No:
14494
Date of Death:
09/05/1915
Regiment/Service:
Worcestershire Regiment

1st Bn.
Grave Reference
E. 15.
Cemetery
LE TROU AID POST CEMETERY, FLEURBAIX

EDIT:

No.............it wasn't



Name: Henry Harry Benton
Birth Place: Birmingham
Death Date: 9 May 1915
Death Location: France & Flanders
Enlistment Location: Birmingham
Rank: Private
Regiment: Worcestershire Regiment
Battalion: 1st Battalion
Number: 14494
Type of Casualty: Killed in action
Theatre of War: Western European Theatre


Further EDIT:

No birth on freebmd for a surviving Hubert Benton until 1930

Percy's brother married............

Marriages Mar 1914 (>99%)
BENTLEY Phyllis D Couper Pontypridd 11a 906
Couper Stanley E Bentley Pontypridd 11a 906

Check freebmd for possible offspring

Name: Stanley Eustace Couper
Birth Date: 19 Jul 1892
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1980
Age at Death: 88
Registration district: Manchester
Inferred County: Greater Manchester
Volume: 38
Page: 1514

Here's an example of one of those shipping lists that Reggie found:

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
Name: Percy Frank Couper
Arrival Date: 28 Nov 1930
Birth Year: abt 1890
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Ethnicity/Race­/Nationality: English
Port of Departure: Southampton via Quebec, Canada
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Empress of Australia

He was a ship's waiter. Height 5' 11" and weighed 170lb.

(More or less the same info on all the other records).

On his army service records he was 5' 10" (perhaps he grew a bit!).

Name: Arthur Harold Couper
Age in 1911: 29
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1882
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Southampton, Hampshire, England
Civil parish: Southampton
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England
Street Address: Eslinore, Bath St, Southampton
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Line Printer
Registration district: Southampton
Registration District Number: 99
Sub-registration district: Southampton Eastern
ED, institution, or vessel: 19
Household schedule number: 109
Piece: 5953
Household Members:
Name Age
Arthur Harold Couper 29
Ellen Couper 30
Nora Marion Couper 5

Name: Reginald Maxwell Cooper
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1888
Age at enlistment: 18
Birth Parish: St Lukes
Birth County: Hants
Document Year: 1906
Regimental Number: 6296
Regiment Name: of Dragoons of The Linc
Number of images: 53

This could explain the Brierley Hill connection***********

Name: Cecil Frederick Couper
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1883
Age at enlistment: 32
Residence: Queens Hall, Brierley Hill Staff*********
Document Year: 1915
Regimental Number: 10702
Regiment Name: Royal Regiment Of Arty (Royal Garrn Arty)
Number of images: 6

Name: Cecil F Couper
Birth Date: abt 1885
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1937
Age at Death: 52
Registration district: Chelsea
Inferred County: London
Volume: 1a
Page: 453

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966 about Cecil Frederick Couper
Name: Cecil Frederick Couper
Probate Date: 29 Sep 1937
Death Date: 28 Jun 1937
Death Place: Staffordshire, England
Registry: Birmingham, England

Residence: 122 High Street, Amblecote. Staffs

Died in the Brompton Hospital, London

Probate to Mary Maria Couper (widow)

Name: Olivia L Couper
Birth Date: abt 1855
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1937
Age at Death: 82
Registration district: Southampton
Inferred County: Hampshire
Volume: 2c
Page: 109

Name: Olivia L Couper
[Olivia L Churcher]
Age in 1911: 56
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1855
Relation to Head: Wife
Gender: Female
Birth Place: Southampton, Hampshire, England
Civil parish: Portswood
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England
Street Address: 100 Portswood Road, Southampton
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 32
Estimated Marriage Year: 1879
Registration district: Southampton
Registration District Number: 99
Sub-registration district: Southampton Eastern
ED, institution, or vessel: 12
Household schedule number: 27
Piece: 5946
Household Members:
Name Age
Frederick Couper 59
Olivia L Couper 56
Lousia Churcher 77
Florence M Churcher 33

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966 about Frederick Couper
Name: Frederick Couper
Probate Date: 29 Oct 1923
Death Date: 7 Sep 1923
Death Place: Southampton, England
Registry: Winchester

Administration to widow